Fragments from a Bon Dance: A Visual Diary:
In the late 19th century, Hawaiʻi’s agricultural economy was booming. The first influx of Japanese immigrants arrived to work on the sugar plantations. They brought with them cherished cultural traditions, including Obon, the Japanese Buddhist custom of honoring the dead. During Obon, families pay respect to their ancestors by making offerings to family shrines and visiting local temples. It is believed the first Bon dances in Hawaiʻi were held in sugarcane fields and plantation villages.
This article is filled with beautiful photography by the talented Michelle Mishina.