Your Insider Guide to Megabon 2024

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

Get excited for JCI Honolulu and Hawai‘i Todaiji’s Megabon presented by Hawaiian Telcom. Last year’s inaugural Megabon was a mega success with more than 15,000 in attendance. It’s back this year and promises to be even bigger.

Enjoy local food and craft vendors, Japanese festival games, live entertainment and, of course, a mega-sized bon dance. New to the lineup this year is a drone show featuring accompanying music and Japanese-themed visuals. You’ll also notice a revamped event layout to allow for better flow and less crowding, more vendors, a larger beer garden and a shaded seating area.

The festival was created in 2023 to rekindle the interest in bon dances in Hawai‘i as well as provide a space to promote local performers and vendors. The JCI Honolulu organizers have coordinated with their sister chapter in Osaka, Japan, to bring authentic games and merchandise to the event.

Click to the info you want to explore:

• When & Where
• What to Do
• What to Eat
• What to Buy
• Entertainment
• Tips

SEE ALSO: O‘ahu Bon Dance Schedule 2024

When & Where

Megabon will take place on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Aloha Stadium’s Lower Hālawa Parking Lot.

Image: Courtesy of Megabon

How Much It Costs

Admission is free. Food, beverages, crafts and merchandise will be available for purchase with cash or credit card. The VIP passes, including early event entry, VIP lounge access and VIP parking, are already sold out.

The festival games will require scrips, which can be purchased at the scrip booth with cash or credit card. Scrips will be sold for $30 per sheet of 25 scrips ($1.20 per scrip). Here are the game prices:

• Shateki (Shooting Game) – 6 scrips for 10 corks
• Yo-Yo Sukui – 6 scrips (automatic win)
• MegaCarp – 5 scrips for 1.5 min round
• Ring Toss – 5 scrips for 5 rings (max 3 wins)
• Omocha Sukui (Toy Sukui) – 4 scrips (max 3 wins)

There will also be a Plinko Game at the JCI Honolulu Booth that is cash only ($3 for 2 balls).

Where to Park

Parking at Aloha Stadium is $9 (cash only). If you want to ride share, there will be a drop-off area on Salt Lake Boulevard located outside the venue entrance to the Lower Hālawa Lot.

You can also take Skyline to the event. The Department of Transportation Services has extended the operating hours especially for this event until 10 p.m. A one-way single fare is $3 for adults and $1.50 for youth aged 7–17 (must have a Youth HOLO Card for the reduced youth rate). One child 5 years and under is free when riding with a fare-paying rider and not occupying a seat.

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

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 Chinagu Eisa and Ryugen Taiko, then jump in the circle to follow the lead of four bon dance groups.

Shop for traditional bon dance merchandise such as uchiwa (fans), omamori (amulets), tenugi (towels) and even dog happi coats. Local vendors will be selling crafts and products too.

Play traditional Japanese games, such as Shateki “Shooting Game,” MegaCarp Fishing Game, Yo-Yo Sukui “Yo-Yo Fishing Game,” Wanage “Ring Toss,” most hand-built locally for the event. You’ll be rewarded with prizes sourced from Japan.

A highlight of the night will be the drone show by Sky Elements Hawai‘i kicking off at 8 p.m. You’ll need to be within the Megabon event space to hear the accompanying soundtrack.

What to Eat

Come hungry so you can taste your way through the festival. Enjoy traditional Japanese festival foods, like skewers, taiyaki, udon and adagi, as well as local favorites served by O‘ahu small businesses. At the beer garden by Aloha Beer Co., sip on local brews, Japanese chu-hi (hard seltzer) and sake.

Check out the list of food and beverage vendors:

• 808 Island Cravingz
• Ahi + Vegetable
• Aloha Bento
• Aloha Scoops
• Bakudan Poke
• Celine’s Best
• Corn Onoz Hawai‘i
• Da Bald Guy Food Truck
• Kealoha Seafoods
• Da Lemonade Squad
• Da Ultimate Grindz Hawai‘i
• Dick’s Lechon
• Dragon Teagirls
• Fujiyama Texas
• Happy Belly Eatery
• Harders Hawai‘i
• Hawaiian Honey Cones
• Hit the Spot Sweets
• Honolulu Rose Cake Shop
• Hott Potstickers
• Ilea’s Kitchen Hawai‘i
• Island Patty
• R’s Jamaican Jerk
• Kaua‘i Food Co.
• Khan Skewer
• Khao and Papas
• Krazy Dogs
• Macaderoz Cocina
• Makanai HNL
• Mega-Load Burgers
• Moore4u
• Munchie Factory Hawai‘i
• Nick’s Sweet Treats
• Olay’s Thai-Lao Express
• Ono Viet
• Pitch Sports Bar
• Reecie B’s
• Rissaz Killa Konez
• RMD Hawai‘i
• StrEats of Aloha
• Sugah Daddeh’s Kane Juice
• Sugar Mami
• Takoyaki Yama-chan
• Tea Spot
• The Mililani Hops
• Twisted Lumpia Hawai‘i
• Waba Snacks
• Wrap n’ Roll
• Zigu

What to Buy

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

• Aloha Below Zero
• Aloha Charms 808
• Aloha Crisps
• Beads & Things by Kori
• Belly Rub Kitchen
• Chibi Confectionary
• Clint Honolulu
• Creations by Shell
• Crochet Corner Creations
• Crystal Enchantment
• Cute Loot Arts
• Da Mochi Guys
• Dear You,
• Happy Sea
• Haroodles
• Hello Sushi
• I Am Tanukis
• It’s About Time!
• Kinoko Kreations
• Kissy Hawai‘i
• Kolohe Kids
• Krystin’s Picks
• Ku‘uipo Collection
• Mise Kimono
• Miyako & Co
• Mizmatched Star
• Mocheeks
• Momo Terrascapes
• My Sweet World 808
• Nanstar
• Noms
• Ooohmami Beef Jerky
• Pawloha
• Paws & Stitch
• QPP Collective
• Serenitys Dream Treats
• Sticky Fingers Snacks
• Sumofish
• TinyCrabApples
• Toys & Things HI
• Unik Gifts and Things
• Valley of the Temples Memorial Park
• Yo Mama’s Mochi & Snacks
• YuzuKuzu Crafts

For updates on vendors, visit the website.

Photo: Courtesy of Megabon

Entertainment

Here’s a tentative schedule:

3 p.m. Early event access for VIP Passes

4 p.m. Event opens for general public

4:15 p.m. Bishop Cosmo Hirai (Todaiji Temple) offers opening prayers

4:25 p.m. Chinagu Eisa Performance

4:45 p.m. Bon Dance starts with Waipahu Soto Mission Bon Dance Club

5:10 p.m. Hawai‘i Shin Kobu Kai

5:30 p.m. Iwakuni – Hawai‘i Shin Kobukai

5:45 p.m. Hawai‘i Eisa Shinyuu Kai

6:10 p.m. ‘Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club

6:35 p.m. Ryugen Taiko

7 p.m. Bon Dance round 2 with Waipahu Soto Mission Bon Dance Club

7:25 p.m. Hawai‘i Shin Kobu Kai

7:50 pm. Hawai‘i Eisa Shinyuu Kai

8:15 p.m. Drone Show by Sky Elements Hawai‘i

8:30 p.m. ‘Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club

8:50 p.m. Closing Speech

Note: Times are subject to change.

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.
• Bring cash for parking. Most vendors will take either cash or credit card. There will be an ATM machine if you need it.
• Wear sunscreen and a hat, especially if you come at 4 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.
• Leave pets at home. Only ADA compliant service animals will be allowed per Aloha Stadium rules.
• There will be bag checks at the venue entrance. Per Aloha Stadium, the following will not be allowed: illegal drugs, poles and sticks, weapons, lasers, balloons and confetti, animals, outside food and drinks, bicycles, smoking, motorized remote-controlled devices (including non-permitted drones), rollerblades, skateboards and large bags. Backpacks are not to exceed 18” x 13” x 8.5”, and purses and handbags are not to exceed 12” x 6” x 12”.

Megabon, Saturday, Sept. 7, 4 to 9 p.m., Aloha Stadium’s Lower Hālawa Lot, 99-500 Salt Lake Blvd., megabonhawaii.com, @megabonhawaii