Obon season highlights legacy of early Japanese immigrants in Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With summer in full swing, so is obon season in the islands — an annual tradition that began more than 140 years ago.

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For both young and the young at heart, obon is a time to get together with friends and family, and to remember those who are no longer with us.

“This is a tradition where we celebrate our ancestors and people who have passed away. And I think it’s always important to remember those who came before us and to celebrate their lives,” said bon dance participant Karen Nishigata.

Obon was officially introduced to Hawaii in the late 19th century by early Japanese immigrants working on the sugarcane and pineapple plantations.

The first bon dance in Hawaii is believed to have taken place at a plantation in Wainaku on Hawaiʻi Island, shortly after the arrival of the first large group of Japanese immigrants, known as gannenmono.

“They left their families, and their familiar way of life to journey across the Pacific in search of hope and opportunity,” said Lynn Araki-Regan with the United Japanese Society of Hawaii.

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Each year, many gather at the Makiki Cemetery during the summer obon season to remember these immigrants.

“Their path was not an easy one. They endured tremendous hardship, prejudice, uncertainty, yet through their perseverance, their courage, and their unwavering spirit, they laid the foundation for generations of Japanese Americans who followed,” Araki-Regan said.

Many in the Japanese community credit these pioneers for bringing cultural observances to the islands, including obon.

“As we continue to honor the sacrifices that they made, and while we honor our own ancestors during this obon season, let us pay tribute to the gannenmono,” Araki-Regan said.

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