Obon season...

July and August is Obon season, and with that come

Obon or Bon dances!  

Since there are three Hongwanji in Haleiwa/Waialua it's pretty

easy to go.  

Obon is a time for reflecting on our ancestors that are no longer here.

The festival has lots of great food, games, and other things going on.

The main activity is the dancing.  Oh the dancing...

the musicians are up in a stand above the dancers, who rotate around the

bottom.  

It really is a fun time.  Even if you don't know the dances, it's still fun to join in.

at the Haleiwa Jodo Mission, part of their Obon festival, is a floating lantern

ceremony.  

Floating lanterns with the names of the departed a floated from the shore (by Kaiaka).

There's a huge floating lantern ceremony in Honolulu (40,000+ ), so

this is nice that its out here close to home.

(thanks Marisa Vera for photos)

I love Obon season and
I just love the sight of the lanterns on the water...