Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii

Five stars. The Winter Bazaar was held today, on 10−06−13. It was really fun, not crowded at all, however it rained a bit. A lot of snack foods in the parking lot and a white elephant and craft sale in the Hall. All in all, it was fun!

10÷02÷13 I just attended my first Bön dance class which are held every Wednesday at 7:00 pm –9:00 pm. For the true beginner you may want to shop around for classes that will teach at a slower pace and will have helpers to call out steps.
The class-​size is large and there is ample space to move about. However, it can be frustrating but the setting is similar to a Bön dance in which the more experienced dancers are in the inner circle and beginners are situated at the outer circle. My impression is that everyone has had some experience at a Bön dance or have attended Bön dance class before. There isn’t time set to clarify steps or explain. Tonight I was able to dance 6 routines (I became brain frazzled by the 7 & 8 routine)
This is a two hour class and there is a donation of $ 5.00 per month! This includes snacks. Break time last 30 minutes. My suggestion is to bring a towel and water. Shoes or slippers must be worn. Everyone is pleasant and encouraging. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Parking is recommended backside of the temple because it makes it leaving easier. Come dress for comfort and have a open mind to Bön Dance.
If you want my recommendations of other Bön Dance Classes that are suited for the beginner, hit me up and I can assist you. HELPFUL TIP*** There is one regular there by the name of Michael he is really cool and even calls out the steps!

what: the mission of honpa hongwanji mission of hawaii is to share the living teachings of jodo shinshu buddhism so that all beings may enjoy lives of harmony, peace, and gratitude.
something good: this review is for the yearly bon dances held at this temple! but first i have to talk about how beautiful the temple is! it has to be one of the most beautiful buildings in hawaii! this bon dance is huge and has many, many people in attendance! however, parking is not really a big problem, it was actually pretty convenient! i loved the way the event was set up and getting food was very easy! i love how spacious the grounds are, so that when you want to watch the dancing you don’t feel so squished up and out of place! i can’t wait to come back to this event! also, if you want to learn a little about bon dancing, they hold little «classes» every week! we tried the classes for a month and i really enjoyed it! they are not formal classes but still fun nonetheless :) !
something not so good: only good things!
something to try: bon dancing or bon dance classes!

The Honpa Hongwanji is certainly an architectural icon in the Honolulu scene and its recognizable domes from the Pali Highway certainly stand out among the crowd.
Their Bön Dance is one of the larger ones on the island and you really attend their bon dance to dance. While you often hear about bon dances and their food, Honpa’s is really about the dancing. They do offer a good array of food options, but it is nothing truly wowing that makes me drop dead.
The food area is a bit chaotic with a lot of different lines and a menu that seems to be changing by the minute. Their chili was hands down one of the best I’ve ever had and their corn on the cob with furikake well cooked and seasoned, but a bit on the saltier side. Their fried noodles, BBQ beef, and hot dogs were decent, however nothing wow-​ing like you would find at other bon dances.
Parking is pretty good with their ample parking lots that are available if you go early enough, otherwise plan to drive around the neighborhood for a bit.

This is a review for the Bön Dance on Friday, June 24^th. Parking wise there is a lot of parking if you go early, they even have handicap parking set aside for the disabled. The bon dance gets very crowded very fast. Some people bring their own chairs since it is popular that seats go quickly. There is a lot of different food sold. They even have a booth selling tshirts. There is a lot of live music with many different groups performing.