KAPA‘A — People have come to recognize that the Mahelona bon dance is really the end of the season, said one spectator Thursday night. “Every summer, we bring our residents to the different churches to attend their respective bon dances,”
KAPA‘A — People have come to recognize that the Mahelona bon dance is really the end of the season, said one spectator Thursday night.
“Every summer, we bring our residents to the different churches to attend their respective bon dances,” said Josie Pablo, recreation director for the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
“But because not all the residents can go to the bon dances, we decided to bring the bon dance here so everyone can enjoy this traditional event.”
Thursday night marked the 14th year that Pablo and her crew of volunteers from Mahelona Hospital opened up the courtyard to the sounds, aroma and atmosphere of the obon celebration, a tradition born from the Japanese Buddhist culture.
“Doing the bon dance year after year would not be possible without the help of so many people,” Pablo said, noting the hospital’s effort is spearheaded by Sharla Hasegawa, Elaine Morita, Colleen McCracken and Greg Planas.
In addition to the individual efforts, the hospital’s maintenance department prepares the yard, sets up the groups and even made a trip to Hanalei to cut bamboo which effectively concealed the rebar stakes setting off the dance area.
The hospital’s housekeeping department set up the area for the food booth which included the favorite bon-dance menu of hot dogs, saimin, chili and other snack foods.
And yes, there were flying saucers, the unique morsel that has become associated with bon dances on Kaua‘i. These were prepared by Arnold and Aimee Leong with volunteers from the Lihu‘e Missionary Church.
Sushi is another bon-dance delicacy and was created through the efforts of Fusako Tamashiro, Elaine Hiranaka, Ellen Taogoshi and Betty Matsumura.
Pablo expressed her appreciation to the nursing department, whose members stayed some extra hours to help tend to the residents who were lined along the dance ring while others enjoyed from the protection of the courtyard lanai.
Jaime Pablo, a strong goalkeeper with the Kaua‘i Inline Hockey Association, created special bon-dance T-shirts for the event, and Betty Matsumura and the Mahelona Auxiliary members were on hand dispensing cold drinks and helping with the cash registers at the food booth.
Joanne Parongao and the Tsunami Taiko, many of whose members come from the Westside, opened up the festivities that included the gamut of dances including “Iwakuni Ondo,” and closing with “Bettcho.”
Alton Miyamoto and the West Kaua‘i Men’s Group punctuated the dancing with a presentation about the Mount Aso volcano during the brief intermission.
But the biggest smile came from 10-year-old Angela Gushiken, a visitor from Macedonia, who was allowed to vend lemonade and a variety of baked goods towards her effort at helping the Kaua‘i Humane Society care for its horses.
“We let her set up so she could sell her things,” Pablo said. “There was a person who was so impressed with what she was doing she wanted to present her with a lei.”
Angela’s great-grandmother is a resident at the hospital and, during the hospital’s 95th birthday celebration for the resident, Angela discovered the plight of the Kaua‘i Humane Society.
Society leaders are still caring for 16 horses found malnourished and dehydrated and taken from leased land in Kapaia. The owner has pleaded not guilty to animal-cruelty charges.
“She goes home Sunday,” said Jack Gushiken, Angela’s grandfather. “And she still wants a horse.”
Pablo said following the bon dance, the hospital will enjoy its final beach outing Tuesday with the aid of student nurses from the Okinawa College of Nursing, and on Thursday she has plans to bus some of the residents to the opening night of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair.
“Every year, we say ‘it’s the last time,’ but the residents like these activities and the volunteers keep coming so we keep doing it,” Pablo said. “It just never ends.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
