Celebrating at bon festivals

WAIMEA — The sound of taiko resonated off the cinder wall cliffs and melded with the aroma of grilling flying saucers as the Kauai Buddhist Council hosted its first bon dance of the season at the Waimea Shingon Mission.

The Buddhist temple was scheduled to host the final bon dance of 2014, but the event which would have been the final event for Rev. Leonard Abeshima before retirement was canceled due to the threat of Hurricane Iselle.

Rev. Kohtoku Hirao, arriving from Shikoku, Tokushima, Japan, picked up the reins of the tiny church and officiated at the commemorative bon service which preceded the festive and colorful dancing around a yagura, or raised platform housing the taiko.

Bon dance moves to the Koloa Jodo Mission on tonight and Saturday with the dancing to start at 7:30 both nights, with the bon service preceding the dancing.