By Petra Wiesenbauer
“May Day is Lei Day”, on May 1, sharing love and Aloha with our families, friends, and communities. Our schools usually have May Day performances with hula, songs, and lei giving. May 9 will present Activate Puna – our big annual block party in Pahoa– initially started the year after the Kilauea eruption to bring our community together and celebrate resilience, creativity, and pride of our place. Cinco De Mayo – May 5 – we enjoy our Mexican community. May 5 is also Boy’s Day! Mother’s Day on May 10 offers special events celebrating and honoring the moms in our community. At the end of the month, we have Memorial Day on May 25 – a Federal Holiday with businesses and schools closed.
Throughout the month, our community of local artists, practitioners, food lovers, and musicians is sharing their talents and offerings with you to find joy, connection, and creative resources.
Malama Pono – may you all be well and enjoy the activities and events of this month!
May Day – Lei Day Celebration, May 2
There will be a May Day – Lei Day celebration at Uncle Roberts on May 2 from 11 am – 4 pm with musical performances and a raffle. Donations $5-$20. Bring and share your craft, barter, trade, and $$.
Activate Puna ,May 9
Activate Puna was born in the aftermath of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, at a moment when Lower Puna needed gathering, joy, and a reason to come back together. What began as a single event quickly grew into a beloved series of town parties that re-energized Downtown Pāhoa and reminded us of who we are when we show up for one another.
Party with a purpose! Over the years, funds raised have been reinvested back into the community – supporting academic scholarships for graduates of Pāhoa-area high schools, community service projects in Pāhoa in partnership with the Rotary Club of Pāhoa Sunset and South Hilo, school project support at Lower Puna campuses, public art and creative placemaking in Pāhoa, operational support for the Pāhoa Lava Zone Museum, and other initiatives that strengthen our local community.
The main music venue is a ticketed event with no re-entry permitted. Food trucks will be available along Pāhoa Village Road, inside the music venue, and at neighboring YBA. Ticketed guests will have access to the YBA area.
Schedule of Events
- 3:00 PM – Music venue gates open
- 3:30 PM – Opening ceremony featuring pule and hula
- 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM – Live music performances
At 5:00 PM, a Special Awards Presentation honoring Pāhoa students with academic scholarships and recognizing outstanding community leaders.
Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Please note that venue gates close at 9:00 PM. Guests may exit at any time; however, no additional ticket sales will occur after 9:00 PM.
We are proud to once again feature local fire dancers, aerialists, and the return of the Imua Puna Hope Flag installation as part of this final activation.
Tickets can be purchased on the Activate Puna website: https://www.activatepuna.com/
Tin Shack Bakery
The Tin Shack Bakery, one of our favorite places in Pahoa, reopened in April. They are open Mon-Sat from 7 am – 3 pm, the kitchen closes at 2 pm. Closed on Sundays. They are currently still looking for bakers – so, go and apply if you are interested. All their bakeware and dishes are delicious! Please, visit and support them! Follow them on their social media for daily specials. We are thrilled to have them back serving our community.
Marzo’s Country Sports Bar and Grill
Marzo’s has created a wonderful space to experience the finest Hawaiian music, dance, gather with friends, and enjoy country style local food. It is located in the Puna Kai Shopping Center across from Malama Market, open 7 days a week between 11 am and 12 am. Follow them on FB and IG for their live-music schedule. Happy hour is from 4-6 pm. Friday Mornings at 9 am, Marzo’s offers Line Dancing classes for beginners with a $5 donation and line dancing on Monday Evenings, 7-9 pm.
Big Island Meadery in Keaau
Big Island Meadery – our first meadery on the Big Island, making mead (honey wine) from their own honey. Big Island Meadery offers a special Lei Po’o workshop on May 9, 4-6 pm, for Mother’s Day to celebrate mom and create a beautiful wili style lei po’o. Supplies are provided ($75). On May 23, there will be a watercolor & sip event with Gary Palm, all supplies provided ($65). More details for events are on the flier, and tickets can be booked online. They are open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 am – 6 pm. During the month of May, they have food vendors, adding their special touch. See flyer for offerings.
The Orchid Table – Mother’s Day Retreat: May 9 or May 10
The Orchid Table – women treating women – offers a mini retreat designed to nourish the senses, calm the nervous system, and inspire creativity. The event is offered on May 9 as well as on May 10 (two separate events) in Hawaiian Beaches. It takes place in a beautiful, zen like garden and integrates some gentle yoga, nurturing hot towel and cacao face mask treatment, guided meditation, and tropical floral arrangement making. It brings all of the sensory touches together by offering a wonderful champagne brunch at the end of the experience. This is a perfect way to honor ourselves and to be treated as moms and women. The retreat cost is $90 per person; discounts available if there are two of you. Space is limited, please reserve in advance! For all the details and to make reservations, call (808) 269-9862 (Amanda).
Volcano Art Center in the Park – Aloha Fridays
Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week (May 8, 15, 22, 29) from 11 am – 1 pm on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Activites include lei making, botanical printing, ukulele instruction, and lauhala weaving. Topics occur on a rotating schedule. All supplies are provided. These free cultural events are supported in part by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. Although these cultural events are free, donations are appreciated and park entrance fees do apply. Call 808-967-7565 or email [email protected] for more detailed information. https://volcanoartcenter.org/events/aloha-friday-cultural-activities-2/2026-04-24/
The Volcano Art Center also offers ‘O ‘Ailā‘au: Reawakening a Sleeping God, a fine art exhibition featuring the paintings by Kanaka Maoli artist Carl Franklin Kaʻailāʻau Pao from April 4 to May 10, 9 am – 5 pm.
The Crafty Racoon Art House
The Crafty Racoon Art House is located right by Pahoa Kaleo’s, across from The Veli, and offers a great variety of classes, including pottery classes, acrylic painting, watercolor techniques, gel block printing, mending, etc. The art house offers a 2-day Glass on Glass Mosaic Class, May 23-24, all supplies are provided ($220). To sign up, go to their website www.craftyracoon.com. There is also space to do your own projects using the Raccoon’s resources, with guidance available from studio artists. Melissa Hargis and her staff are super friendly and welcoming. For all their weekly classes, you can make reservations through their website or in person (www.craftyraccoon.com). The shop features a coffee bar with reasonable prices and is open Mon-Fri 11 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm. Follow their FB page for their regular updates.
Pahoa Night Market – Live Music, Food & Vendors
The Pahoa Friday Night Market in Pahoa at the old Luquin’s/Akebono location has been a great success and continues to bring live music, great food trucks, market vendors and a restricted area, where alcoholic beverages are served. It is open from 3 pm to 8 pm every Friday and Saturday. May 15 will feature Josh Heinrichs & Friends. 5:30 pm – 10 pm. Their event site states: Out in the open and in the heart of Pahoa town – at the old Akebono grounds. It’s gonna be a fun time full of great vibes and cool people. The east side is repping hard for this with sets from Jah Sons, Merkaba Roots, and Vaughn Valentino. Whether you’re already a fan or ready to discover some new music . . . these boys are gonna light it up. For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/josh-heinrichs-and-friends-tickets-1987695371363. Follow the FB page for the Pahoa Lava Zone Museum for their event schedule.
SPACE – Lord of Juggling Rings May 23
The Hiccup Circus presents a juggling event at SPACE on May 23rd, doors open at 4 pm, with the show starting at 5 pm. Tickets are $20, free for keiki 12 and under, $5 parking, or free for carpools 4+. For all the details, please check the QR code on the flier.
Farmer’s Markets
Maku’u Farmer’s Market: Sundays 7:30 am – 2:00 pm, https://tendingourroots.org/story/makuu-farmers-market/.
Kaimu Farmer’s Market: Saturdays 8:00 am – Noon, Kaimu Beach Park
Volcano Farmers Market: Thursdays 3 – 6 pm & Sundays 6 am – 10 am, Cooper Center,
19-4030 Wright Road, Volcano Village
Petra Wiesenbauer
Petra grew up in Bavaria, Germany, and came to Oahu in 1997. She has lived in the Puna area for the last 27 years. Petra has worked in banking, non-profit social services, as an innkeeper, and business consultant & grant writer. She now has a private practice in Pahoa, where she sees clients as a Marriage & Family Therapist in person and via telehealth. She is the admin for the Pahoa Community Resources Facebook page, promoting information and resources that may be of interest to the residents of our Puna area.
Petra believes in strengthening communities, positive and constructive communication, collaboratively coming together as a community, developing resources to resolve issues, and promoting a spirit of respect, dignity, equality, and forward movement.
She loves the outdoors, spends much time in her garden, walking along the Puna cliffs, and hiking in the National Park. She is interested in the arts and culture, reading, and writing. She likes to travel and hang out with friends and family. She enjoys life, music, and community events and is an integral part of the Pahoa community.