By EVAN MURANAKA and TROY KADONAGA
HONOLULU – On July 11, ten young representatives from the Valley Japanese Community Center (VJCC) and Valley Buddhist Temple in Sun Valley attended the 2026 Bon Dance at Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.
The group received a warm welcome to the temple and spent the evening participating in the local Obon festivities.
The night began with the Buddhist sermon by Rev. Steven Toyoshima followed by a candle-lighting ceremony. Two representatives were invited to present candles on behalf of the VJCC and Valley Buddhist Temple.
Members of the Hawaiian temple were surprised by the group’s travel from the mainland and expressed their gratitude by greeting them with open arms.
The VJCC representatives participated in the Bon dances unique to the Oahu temples as well as to the Southern California favorites “Tanko Bushi,” “Shiawase Samba,” and “Ei Ja Nai Ka.”
Live music and taiko performances accompanied the dancers as the odori continued uninterrupted for the entire evening.
The Obon featured a wide variety of food booths, including chili dogs, Spam musubi, takoyaki, and the local favorite, Shimazu Shaved Ice.
For these young representatives, the experience has added special meaning to this year’s Obon season, reinforcing the importance of youth in carrying forward the traditions and values of the community. It has helped strengthen the bonds between the Japanese American communities in Southern California and Hawaii.
As the group has continued to attend Obon festivals across the Los Angeles area, they bring with them a deeper appreciation for a cross-cultural exchange and a new perspective on the values of kindness and community that define Obon.
VJCC and Valley Buddhist Temple extend their sincere appreciation to the members of Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and the Honolulu community for their warm hospitality and for making this memorable experience possible for the youth representatives.
