2025 Maui Bon Dance Schedule: honoring ancestors, celebrating community

The spirit of summer returns to Maui with the 2025 Bon Dance season, a cherished cultural tradition that blends Buddhist reflection with joyful community celebration. Beginning in early June and running through mid-August, temples across the island will once again open their grounds to the public for evenings of dancing, music, food and remembrance.

The Bon Festival, or Obon, is rooted in Buddhist tradition and honors the memory of loved ones who have passed. At its heart is the Bon Dance—a circle of dancers moving together under the glow of lanterns, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of taiko drums and Japanese folk songs. It’s a time for families and friends to reconnect, for newcomers to experience aloha in motion, and for all to reflect on the lives that came before.

Each temple will host an evening service prior to the dance, welcoming attendees to join in offering prayers for departed loved ones. The dances that follow are open to the public—no experience necessary. Local food booths, taiko performances, and community fellowship make each event a unique celebration of culture and connection.

Residents and visitors alike are invited to join in on this meaningful journey of gratitude and joy.

2025 Maui Bon Dance Schedule: