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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/events/2018/08/04/5700/

Obon Festival - Valley of the Temples Memorial Park

Community Event
In Person
Valley of the Temples Memorial Park
47-200 Kahekili Highway Kaneohe, Hawaii, United States of America

Date: Aug. 4, 2018

Time: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.



Hundreds of people flock to the Byodo-In Temple every year to celebrate Obon, a festive time to pass on ancient traditions and celebrate the loved ones and ancestors who came before them.

This year, Valley of the Temples Memorial Park is honored to host a one-of-a-kind event in celebration of both Obon and the 50th anniversary of the Byodo-In Temple, which was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. As a replica of the 11th-century Phoenix Hall in Uji, Japan, the temple had a major facelift ahead of the 50th celebrations — so don’t miss all the free bonus activities of this two-in-one event:

  • Traditional Japanese customs
  • Delicious food: Bento and Andagi
  • Taiko drumming
  • Bon dance
  • Historical photo exhibit
  • Magical floating lantern ceremony
  • Time capsule to be prepared and opened on the temple’s 75th anniversary

Plus, you could be the lucky winner of a chauffeur-driven day tour for four people to explore the beauty of Oahu (valued at up to $1,500).

The Byodo-In Temple was established on June 7,1968, to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arrival to Hawaii 150 years ago. The Byodo-In Temple is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-In Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan. The Byodo-In Temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple that welcomes people of all faiths to worship, meditate or simply appreciate its beauty.

Saturday, 8/4 - 4:00-9:00 p.m.

Learn more about Valley of the Temples Memorial Park

Phone: (808) 762-1931


festivals Hawai'i Kaneohe matsuri Oahu Obon

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daniyang8 Updated Dec. 7, 2024

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