Hawaii’s Plantation Village Bon Dance Honors Former Supporter

Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu hosted its 22nd annual bon dance June 2, dedicating it to the late Richard Takayuki Hirata.

A former president of Hawaii’s Plantation Village board of directors and a longtime supporter of the village, Hirata is credited with leading HPV out of financial troubles by donating funds to the village. He passed away last October.

Yumi Itoga

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Yumi Itoga (left) joins in the bon dance with the help of her mother, Miho. Photos by Lawrence Tabudlo, ltabudlo@midweek.com.

The obon festival featured a variety of food booths and, of course, dancing by six different groups: Hawaii Shin Kobukai, Iwakuni Dance Group, Hawaii Eisa Shinyuukai, Waipahu Hongwanji, Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi and Mililani Hongwanji.

The celebration moved to the Village lawn this year because of construction on the Major Okada building.