Your Insider Guide to Megabon

Experience Osaka vibes at this this massive Japanese festival on Saturday, Sept. 12.

September 3, 2026

Laura Dornbush,

Photo: Reid Shimabukuro

Now in its 4th year, Megabon presented by Pacific Media Group brings bon dance culture to Hawai‘i in a big way. Shop more than 60 local food and craft vendors, play Japanese festival games, listen to live entertainment and, of course, participate in a mega-sized bon dance. Last year, 12,000 attendees joined in on the fun, but organizers are aiming for 20,000 this year.

If you’ve attended in the past, you can expect a similar experience, with slight tweaks to the location of booths and a couple of new bon dance groups performing. This year for the first time, there will be an admission fee of $1 to help cover event costs.

The festival was created in 2023 by Todaiji Hawai‘i and JCI Honolulu to rekindle interest in bon dances in Hawai‘i and provide a space to promote local performers and vendors. The organizing team works with their sister chapters from Osaka to bring authentic games, merchandise and the true essence of the bon dance to Hawai‘i.

Click to the info you want to explore:

SEE ALSO: O‘ahu Bon Dance Schedule 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

When & Where

Megabon will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 3:45 to 9 p.m. at Leeward Community College, 96-045 Ala ‘Ike Street, Pearl City.

How Much It Costs

The admission fee is $1. Children under 10 years old are free. An Early Access Pass ($10) will get you entry to the event at 3 p.m., so you can beat the crowds and snag a seat near the center stage. VIP Passes ($50) are already sold out and include early entry, VIP lounge access and parking.

Food, beverages, crafts and merchandise will be available for purchase with cash or credit card.

The festival games will require scrips, which can be purchased at the scrip booth with cash or credit card. Scrips will be sold for $20 per sheet of 25 scrips ($0.80 per scrip).

Here are the game prices:

Wanage (Ring Toss) – 5 scrips
Toy Sukui (Toy Fishing) – 6 scrips
Yo-Yo Sukui (Yo-Yo Fishing) – 6 scrips
Shateki (Shooting Game) – 7 scrips

Where to Park

No parking will be available at Leeward Community College, so here are your options:

Ride Skyline. There is a rail station at the front entrance of Megabon. Park for free at the rail stations and ride to the event for $3, which includes a 2-hour transfer period. Plan your route here.
Park for free at the following locations and take a complimentary shuttle to the event. Shuttles will run from 2:30 to 10 p.m.
- Waipahu High School (3 lots including the football field lot in the back)
- Pearl City Elementary
- Pearl City Library

Take Lyft or Uber. The rideshare drop-off area will be at gate 2, lot 2 on the left side of Ala ‘Ike Street. Refer to the map here.

Photo: Rolo Tamasi

What to Do

You’ll feel like you’re strolling through an authentic Japanese street festival as you explore the food, craft and game booths. Gather around the giant 16’ by 16’ yagura (stage) to watch the heart-pounding taiko drum performances from Ryugen Taiko, then jump in the circle to follow the lead of five bon dance groups.

Shop for traditional bon dance merchandise such as uchiwa (fans), omamori (amulets), tenugui (towels) and even dog happi coats. Local vendors will be selling crafts and products too. Play traditional Japanese games, including Shateki (Shooting Gallery), Yo-Yo Sukui (Fishing Game) and Toy Sukui (Toy Fishing), most hand-built locally for the event. You’ll be rewarded with prizes sourced from Japan.

Visit community booths to gather information and learn something new. Here’s a list of who will be there:

Hamada Financial Group
Hi Point Roofing
Hitachi Rail, Department of Transportation (DTS) & Skyline
Japan Airlines
Japan-America Society of Hawai‘i (JASH)
Kaiser Permanente
Kawaii Kon
Leeward Community College
Moanalua High School World Language Learning Center
O‘ahu Transit Riders
Pacific Media Group Radio
Pan-Pacific Festival
SafeRide Hawai‘i
Searider Culinary
United Healthcare
United Japanese Society of Hawai‘i (UJSH)
Waipahu High School Culinary

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

What to Eat

Come hungry so you can taste your way through the festival. Enjoy traditional Japanese festival foods, like skewers, taiyaki, udon and andagi, as well as local favorites served by O‘ahu small businesses. The beer garden by Aloha Beer Co. will serve local brews on tap, Japanese chuhai (hard seltzer) and sake.

Check out the list of food and beverage vendors:

Aloha Matcha Hawai‘i
Da Bald Guy
Currents Andagi
Fattitude
Hawaiian Honey Cones
HI Eats & Treats
Island Squeeze Lemonade
Kai’s Coolers
Kajiya
Kenny Boy Ice Cream
Livy’s Empanadas
Milky Way Shave Ice
Nicki’s Sweet Treats
Olay’s Thai Lao Express
Paddy Wagon
Pitch Sports Bar
Sato Seafood
Shantell’s Cocina
Slaybelles Fry & Grill
Str’Eats of Aloha
Sugah Daddeh’s Kane Juice
Supreme BBQ
Takoyaki Yamachan
Taqueria Hawai‘i
Tealicious Sweets
Teapresso Bar
Thai Lao Restaurant
The Local General Store
The Savellano’s Lechon
Waba Snacks
Waialua BBQ
Yamitsuki

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

What to Buy

Here’s a list of craft, product and snack vendors:

Aloha Charms 808
Aloha Senbei
Any Kine Skin’z & Tingz
Aunty Kendra’s
Beads & Things By Kori
Beahnna’s Printing Hawai‘i
Bit of Sugar
Clint Hawai‘i
Comfy Mars Studio
Da Mochi Guys
EMP Live Designs
Haroodles
Ho‘ohana Creations
Hui Mau Loa
JJ Art Boutique
K. Minamoto Hawai‘i
Kamiki Co.
Kawaiianart
Kissy Hawai‘i
Mise Kimono
Mizmatched Star
My Sweet World 808
QPP Collective
Teddy Bear Mobile Hawai‘i
The Henna Shack
The OldTaku
Toys & Things HI
Valley of the Temples
Vivisworld
Yo Mama’s Mochi & Snacks

For updates on vendors, visit the website.

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

Entertainment

Here’s the schedule:

4:10 p.m. Opening Ceremony

The Women of Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie and Men of Hālau Kahulaliwai
Ryugen Taiko

4:35 p.m. Welcome Address

4:50 p.m. Bon Dance Part 1

Hawai‘i Shin Kobu Kai
Waipahu Soto Mission Bon Dance Class
O‘ahu District Bon Dance Club
‘Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club

6:10 p.m. Halftime Performance

Chinagu Eisa
Ryugen Taiko and Honolulu Fukushima

7 p.m. Bon Dance Part 2

Hawai‘i Shin Kobu Kai
Waipahu Soto Mission Bon Dance Class
O‘ahu District Bon Dance Club
Hawai‘i Eisa Shinyuu Kai

8:40 p.m. Closing Speech

8:45 p.m. Fukushima Ondo

‘Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club

Note: Times are subject to change.

Photo: Rolo Tamasi

Tips

Feel free to wear Japanese festival attire such as happi coats or yukata. Megabon happi coats and other merchandise will be for sale at the JCI Honolulu booth. If you spend $50 or more at the booth, score a complimentary limited-edition Megabon trading card (first 100 customers).
Wear sunscreen and a hat, especially if you come at 3 p.m.
Bring your own chairs if you want to sit around the yagura to enjoy the live performances.
Jump into the dance circle and try some moves! Watch the instructors in the inner circle, and you’ll catch on.
The first 500 people to visit the Department of Transportation Services booth will receive a free (unloaded) limited-edition Megabon Holo Card with a 2026 design.

Megabon, Saturday, Sept. 12, 3:45 to 9 p.m., Leeward Community College, 96-045 Ala ‘Ike Street, Pearl City, megabonhawaii.com, @megabonhawaii

Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush