Here in Hawaii the summer months are O-bon season. O-bon is a Buddhist tradition, where the spirits of those departed ones return during this time. Bon dances are held during the season because it pleases the ancestors' spirits. The finale of the season is the sending off the spirits in small boats or floating lanterns.
Tonight I went to the Haleiwa Jodo Mission for their bon dance and floating lantern ceremony. Last month a huge (40,000 people) one was held at Ala Moana Beach Park with the releasing of the lanterns. Tonight this was crowded, but very local. I ran into a lot of friends there, ate shave ice the old-fashioned way (in a bowl), got a towel and watched the people dance around the musicans...good fun!
the dancers going around the musicians. Even if you don't know the dance, it's still fun to get out there. There are many different dances that people do. Ladies in kimonos, men with the towels wrapped around their heads, little kids trying to follow along...just fun!
There was some recorded music, but most of it came from these musicians.
A lantern for a friends grandmother who recently passed away.
The towel that you could buy. Guess it would be a sweat towel, but pretty cool.
All of the lanterns floating out to sea.
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