Puna Obon

[Hotzcatz]

There are two parts to the Obon, the memorial service will be first and you'll probably be able to offer a pinch of incense in memory if you like. It is a quiet ceremony although not overtly religious. Buddhism allows for many ways to enlightenment. Then after the memorial service, there will be the community Obon dance. That has the big taiko drum platform in the center with the strings of lanterns going out from there. There will be someone who will announce which dance will be next, although many of them are Japanese so you may not recognize them. There are also dances such as the electric slide, or the big taiko drums going "BOOM chucka BOOM chuka" to "Sun, sunny Sunday". It can be a little surreal at times. Folks - all sorts of folks - will dance in a big revolving circle around the drum platform. It is a pretty slow stylized dance and you can follow what someone else is doing. Look to see which ones seem to know what's going on and imitate them. There are groups who follow the Obon during the season and will have matching hapi coats. The rest of the folks will stand or sit around the edges and watch and they usually have some sort of food for sale, too. Minor kind plate lunch sort, but it is good to get the plate lunch since that supports the Obon dance for next year. A mu'u mu'u or hapi coat are good at an Obon dance, or just nice-ish clothes. Nobody really dresses up but you don't want to be too slobby, either. Aloha shirts with long shorts - er, pants, that's always good for the guys. Mu'u mu'u or oriental or casual tropical is nice for girls.

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