By Petra Wiesenbauer
Here we go again! As I started writing this article, we expected storm Nolo to approach the islands. The Big Island and East- and south-facing areas are always first in line! Thankfully, it was not as severe as expected. Please, always look out for your neighbors, friends, and families to stay safe and have what you need. Our communities are still in recovery mode from the last storm, Lala, and now bracing for the next threat. Organizations and many volunteers have come together in incredible ways to help with repair and rebuilding work, but many projects will take a long time, and it is important for the rest of us to remember that and offer continued support.
While the Kona side is always featuring the annual Ironman during the month of October, the East side offers many smaller, more intimate activities and events. Monday, October 12 is Indigenous People’s Day, and at the end of the month, spooky trick-or-treating Halloween happenings create fun for our keiki and families.
Throughout the month, our community of local artists, practitioners, food lovers, and musicians are sharing their talents and offerings with you to find joy, connection, and creative resources.
Last but not least, don’t forget to register for the general election, which will be held on Nov. 3, if you are not registered yet: https://www.elections.hawaiicounty.gov/voter-registration.
Malama Pono – please, be safe, stay dry, look out for your neighbors, and may you all be well and enjoy the festivities, activities, and events of this month!
Wyatt’s Place – Karaoke – Every Tuesday
Come to Wyatt’s Place for the best Philly on Island and all your fresh, made-to-order sandwiches and tallow-fried fries. They are at 17-4003 Ahuahu Pl, Mountain View, on your way up to Volcano. There is Karaoke every Tuesday from 6 pm – last call. Follow their FB or IG for current events and specials.
Marzo’s Country Sports Bar and Grill
Over the months, Marzo’s has established itself as a great place for the finest Hawaiian music and dance, to gather with friends, and enjoy country-style local food. Happy hour is from 4- 6 p.m. Besides delicious Sunday morning breakfast, the restaurant has now introduced Hot Kupuna Nights on the last Friday of the month. It’s been a great success, and you’ll need to make reservations. Follow them on FB and IG for their live-music schedule.
Tin Shack Bakery
Notice their new sign! Looking at their pictures of delicious food, pastries, and breads makes my mouth water. The Tin Shack Bakery is open Wed-Sat and on Mondays from 8 am to 2 pm, with the kitchen closing at 1 pm. They are closed on Tuesdays and Sundays. On Friday nights, the café & bakery now offers Open Mic Night, starting at 5 pm. Come and enjoy live music, food, and drink.
Koa’s Lounge – Uncle Charlie – October 3
Koa’s Lounge is the cool place for live music in the center of the Punaverse, downtown Pahoa. HAPPY HOUR AT KOA’S: Every day from 5–7 PM, when they are serving up some seriously good deals: $5 Well Cocktails, $5 Cocktail of the Week featuring Truly Vodka, $5 Domestic Beers — Budweiser, Bud Light & Coors Light, $5 Plain Hot Dogs, $10 Kona Beer, etc. They offer good drinks, good prices, and Island vibes.
Uncle Charlie is coming to Koa’s Lounge. If you know, you know. And if you don’t — October 3 is the night to find out. Saturday night in Pāhoa. 6:30–9:30 PM. Get there early and stay late.
La’akea Permaculture Community Pahoa, East Side Seed Exchange October 3
On Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, from 10 am – 4 pm, La’akea Permaculture, 13-3844 Alaili Rd, Pahoa, is putting on this free community event to exchange and give away localized seeds, swap growing information, meet your neighbors, other eco-growers & innovative thinkers, and let people know about your current projects and groups related to permaculture and gardening by setting up an information table. The community is encouraged to bring seeds, plants, cuttings, or keiki, etc., to exchange and give away for free. Please be sure to clear all plants of fire ants first. Bringing seeds or plants is not required. This’s an opportunity to share information about your business. More details are posted on our website. Please register to bring a display table or enter a local foods dish in our cook-off! Consider doing a short presentation about your project or farm, or how to grow certain foods, or deal with certain pests. You can apply to do a presentation by contacting us. We will also open an imu pit bake to enjoy. https://permaculture-hawaii.com/east-side-seed-exchange/
Volcano Art Center Keiki Camp – October 5 – 9
The Volcano Art Center, in collaboration with Liko Aʻe Keiki Art Camp, offers a Fall Camp for Keiki ages 8 – 14, October 5th – 9th at the Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus from 9:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. Call 808-967-8222 for more information and to register. You can also register online. Cost: $250/ $230 for VAC members. Financial scholarships are available for those in need. https://volcanoartcenter.org/fall-camp-for-keiki-ages-8-14-october-5th-9th/
Hawaiian Sanctuary – Candlelight Concert Series – Featuring Roy Dahan – October 10
Join them for a magical evening of music, creativity, and community at Hawaiian Sanctuary, in collaboration with Crafty Raccoon Art House! Kick off the evening with a creative community gathering hosted by Crafty Raccoon Art House. Sip, paint, connect, and let your creativity flow. Slow down and prepare for the evening with a beautiful meditative piano experience. Experience the soulful and captivating music of Roy Dahan in an intimate candlelit setting. Come early, get creative, and stay for an unforgettable evening of music and connection.
4:00–6:30 PM — Community Sip & Paint
6:30–7:00 PM — Piano Meditation
7:00–9:00 PM — Roy Dahan in Concert
Entry: $25 for the entire event
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/candlelight-concert-series-feat-roy-dahan
Listen to Roy Dahan on Spotify:
Sustainability, Performance, and Arts Center for Education (S.P.A.C.E) – Walking Globe – 5-week Youth Series, October 2 – 30.
S.P.A.C.E. offers a new youth series – a 5-week Walking Globe class, where you learn Walking Globe with Cheryl Taylor in this five-week discipline-specific series. This is a one-hour focus class where students (ages 7+) will learn Walking Globe mounts, dismounts, walking, jumping skills, incorporate the use of other props (like rings or jump rope), and create choreographed routines. All 5 Fridays in October, 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Register in advance. $30-$50 sliding scale for the whole series. No drop-ins! Registration link:https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/walking-globe-5-week-series
Big Island Meadery in Keaau – Special Events October 17 & 31
Big Island Meadery never disappoints with its delicious mead made from its own honey and its special events calendar: On October 17, Mead & Magic offers a bookish Makeke for you to celebrate the spooky season with your book besties! Join them for a romance-only pop-up bookshop and makeke. On October 31, the Big Island Meadery invites you to a Halloween Party with a costume contest at 7 pm. More event details are on the flyer, and you can book tickets through the QR code on the flyer or at www.bigislandmeadery.com. They are open Tuesday- Saturday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. In October, they have the following schedule (flyer) for food vendors adding their special touch.
12th Annual East Hawaii Jazz & Blues Festival – October 25
Save the Date! The 12th Annual East Hawaii Jazz & Blues Festival returns Sunday, October 25th, 1–6 pm at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Enjoy an outstanding lineup of featured artists, great food and drinks, and an after-party to keep the good times going. Every ticket sold supports our mission of helping provide affordable housing and healthcare for Big Island veterans. Buy tickets online: www.ehjazzbluesfest.com
Volcano Art Center in the Park – Aloha Fridays & October 17
Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week (October 2, 9, 23, 30) from 11 am – 1 pm on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Activities 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. October event calendar: https://volcanoartcenter.org/ep-events/?epc_month=2026-10
The Volcano Art Center (VAC) welcomes the community to celebrate Hawaiʻi’s unique rain forest, its plants and native birds at the Annual Niaulani Forest Fair. Join us on Saturday, October 17, from 10 am to 3 pm at Niaulani Campus, 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., in Volcano Village for a day filled with nature, culture, and family fun.
This family-friendly gathering invites everyone to connect with Hawaiʻi’s unique natural heritage while exploring the restored old-growth rain forest along the Niaulani Nature Trail. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy hula, educational displays, local food vendors, hands-on workshops, free keiki face painting, guided forest tours, and the always popular native plant sale.
The Forest Fair celebrates the importance of caring for Hawaiʻi’s precious ecosystems and inspires us all to help protect the health of our Hawaiian rain forests for generations to come.
Mahalo to our Community Partners who help support this year’s Forest Fair event: Hawaiʻi Forest and Trails, Fleming and Associates, LLC, Creative Arts Hawaiʻi, and CU Hawaii.
Maker’s Market – October 18
The Maker’s Market invites you to its monthly event on October 18, 12- 5 p.m., at The Stables, in Hawaiian Shores, 15-859 Kahakai Blvd, Hawaiian Shores. The market is covered and sheltered from the weather vendors do not have to provide a canopy. All the products and wares are handcrafted, cooked or grown, caught or harvested, produced and offered by local Makers, Growers and Doers. There is also a Garden Table Project for Gardeners and Homegrowers. To reserve your 6’ table ($5 donation) and join us at our monthly market, SNAP/EBT is accepted. More details about the market are available at https://MakersMarketHui.com.
6th Annual Trunk-or-Treat – Shipman Park – October 24
Swing on over to the 6th Annual Trunk-or-Treat on October 24, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 PM at Shipman Business Park! This free community event, hosted by Big Island Substance Abuse Council, brings kids, families, and our community together for a fun, safe Halloween celebration. Community partners will set up themed tents and pass out candy through our drive-through experience. We’re so excited to host this event again this year! A big mahalo to all of our participating organizations and to everyone who has already submitted their registration. We appreciate your support and can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with this year!
The Crafty Raccoon Art House – Pottery on Sundays 2 pm
Ready to get your hands dirty? Whether you want to try the pottery wheel or learn the art of hand-building, our Sunday pottery class has something for everyone! This session is perfect for absolute beginners who want to play with clay for the first time, as well as returning makers working on ongoing projects. When: Sundays at 2:00 PM. Price: $35 (Includes everything!). Drop-ins welcome! What we’ll be doing: (1) Throw on the wheel: Learn the basics of centering and shaping clay. (2) Hand-build: Sculpt a unique, custom piece from scratch. (3) Glaze & finish: Paint and finish your ready-to-go pieces with brilliant colors and textures. What’s included in your $35 ticket: Clay for your new creation, Step-by-step guidance from our instructor, All glazes and kiln firing for your finished pieces. Grab a friend and come create with them this Sunday!
The staff is 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.
Rozette’s Nursery, Saturday Market every Saturday, 9 am-1 pm
This market offers vendors with local products, crafts, food, and coffee at Rozette’s Nursery on Kaloli & 28th in HPP.
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; has moved to Uncle Robert’s location
Hi Vibration – Orchidland Farmers Market: Wednesdays 3 – 6 pm, 16-281 Pohaku Dr.
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.