South Kihei Road echoed Saturday evening as the booming rhythms of taiko drums beckoned seasoned veterans and curious first timers to the annual Azeka O-Bon Festival. A tradition brought over to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants, today’s o-bon festivals cross cultural boundaries with people of all ethnicities and religions joining in. Maui Taiko kick-started the celebration just before 7 p.m. with drum and dance performances for a wide-eyed crowd, many of whom arrived at the Azeka Mauka parking lot more than an hour earlier to snatch a seat. It wasn’t long before the audience became the show, as one by one dancers of all ages made their way to the yagura (tower) to mark their place in the lineup. It’s pretty easy to tell the pros and amateurs apart at any given o-bon dance. The experienced dancers are oftentimes decked out in stylish kimono or happi coats, and are closest to the yagura showing the outer layers of dancers how it’s done.