Don’t forget that Summer is soon upon us and the Obon season begins. Mark your calendar for the Oban at the Haleiwa Shingon Mission… it’s a real nice nostalgic experience for those who know about Obon Dance and those who want to know.
Kyle H.
Classificação do local: 5 Honolulu, HI
My great grandmother used to frequent the Haleiwa Shingon Mission when she lived in the nearby senior citizen’s residence. She’s no longer with us, but my family still returns to the Haleiwa Shingon Mission to get omamori’s. Recently, though, I picked up a new car. The day of the pick up, I decided to head out to Haleiwa to get the car blessed. I’d suggest calling before you actually head out to make sure Sensei is available. When we got there, Sensei was already outside cleaning the yard and instructed us to park in a spot near the temple. Then, my fiancée and I were invited inside(remove your shoes please). Inside we were blessed, which involves you handling powdered incenses, chanting, and being hit on the shoulders by prayer beads. After we were blessed, we then returned to the car. Sensei chanted more, then asked to have all doors and the trunk opened. Once done, he then threw Holy Rice at and in the car. After that, we were invited back in for tea and cookies and to talk story. Sensei has a heavy Japanese accent, but is very nice to talk to. While there’s no fee for getting you and your car blessed, it is proper to leave a(monetary) offering.
SENORA F.
Classificação do local: 4 Kaneohe, HI
Also a review for the bon dance 7÷15÷11 We arrived about 8:00ish. Just me and the kids. It wasn’t super crowded but there were lots of people there. Sometimes the dancing area below the yagura gets so crowded at other bon dances that its kind of not fun to be dancing, expecially when you have small kids dancing with you, and I hate just sitting and watching. I must PARTICIPATE. So I’m glad that my daughter got to dance at her 1st bon dance even though I was carrying her half the time. Like Michael C. said, lots of prerecorded music. My son was hoping for the Pokemon Ondo or Electric Slide but they didn’t do those. But thats okay. We also had the Shave Ice. It was so good and refreshing and the people making it were very nice! They had condensed milk topping and the nice lady totally drenched my son’s shave ice with all that creamy goodness. I don’t know if I can go back to regular shave ice anymore!
Michael C.
Classificação do local: 4 Honolulu, HI
This a review for the bon dance on Friday, July 15, 2011. EDIT: Okay, these past couple of days I have been snacking on the pickled onions and the taste only gets better. So I thought I needed to come back and add an extra star. This alone I would drive all the way back here for. Parking wise.(4⁄5) Get choke parking in the lot next door to the temple. Just come early like any other bon dance before it starts to make sure your able to find a spot. Just know that they do double park cars so plan to stay a while atleast. Food wise.(5⁄5) Okay the first thing I noticed was the pickled onions and the pickled cucumbers being sold for $ 1.50 to $ 2.00. Okay to say it was good was an understatement and I could go on and on. But I will talk about the pickled onions. It cost $ 1.50! $ 1.50! It was pickled just right, not to vinegary, not to sweet, but just right. There was just the right amount of chili peppers to give it a nice kick. They only had 2 for sale when I got to the booth so it does go fast. Other then that had the usual fair of hotdogs, hamburgers, saimin, etc. Music wise.(2⁄5) A lot of recorded music, especially very very old recorded music. Personally I prefer live music and the only live music I hearded was by provided by Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi. Overall it is a nice quaint country bon dance. The food was awesome especially the pickled onions and cucumbers.
