By Petra Wiesenbauer
May brought us school graduation celebrations, and some of them will carry on through the month of June. We are so proud of our students and wish them the very best for their future endeavors. During the Activate Puna event, seven graduating seniors from Pahoa-area high schools were awarded the Ka’iehina’i Future Leaders Award (four $500 awards) and the Ho’omau Scholarship (three $1,000 awards). All proceeds from the ticket sales went directly into youth initiatives and the Mainstreet Pahoa Scholarship Fund. The party was a great success, giving our Puna residents a fun way to come together and enjoy an evening of live music, good food, and wonderful company.
The month of June brings us King Kamehameha Day on June 11, and the State observes the Federal holiday of Juneteenth on June 19. The month of June marks the start of the traditional Obon festival season. Offices, banks, and some businesses will be closed.
Starting in June, schools are closed for the summer, and many of our families are looking for summer programs and child care for their keiki, trying to juggle their schedules between work, family, and other activities.
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!
Tin Shack Bakery
The Tin Shack Bakery, one of our favorite places in Pahoa, reopened in April. Connect with them on their social media, and you can see their delicious offerings every day – mouth-watering! They are open Mon-Sat from 7 am – 3 pm, kitchen closes at 2 pm. They are closed on Sundays. They are currently still looking for baristas – so, go and apply if you are interested. Please, visit and support them! We are so thrilled to have them back, offering their delights and creating such a cozy community space.
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 Mondays, 7-9 pm. Tuesday nights are reserved for Karaoke Tuesday, so if you think you can sing, come on down and test your skills and enjoy the ono vibz.
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 an Ocean Cake Decorating on June 19, 5-7 pm. More details for events are on the flier, and tickets can be booked through the QR code on the flyer or at www.bigislandmeadery.com. They are open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 am – 6 pm. For June, they have the following schedule (flyer) for food vendors, adding their special touch.
New in Pahoa–Beauty & The Barber
There is a new shop in Pahoa: Beauty & the Barber. Located just down from 7-11 in the same building as Habitat Tattoo, toward the back of the building. You will see a flag and sign on the side of Pahoa Main Street pointing toward the business. They are open Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9 am – 6 pm, Thursday and Saturday 10 am – 7 pm. They offer a wide range of services for your haircare needs. Their professional stylists will get to know you and your style, and make sure you leave their salon feeling and looking your best: Cuts, Color, Styling, Blow-outs, Undercuts, barbering services, braiding, etc. Feel free to use the QR on the flyer to book an appointment. https://www.beautyandthebarber.site. Please, come and check them out!
Mālama nā Kūpuna & Hale Halawai: Serving Kupuna & Community Free Meals
Rooted in the rich cultural soil of Hawai‘i Island, Mālama nā Kūpuna farm-to-table program fosters connections among the kūpuna and the larger community through monthly gatherings. Their next event will be on Saturday, June 13, from 10:30 am-2 pm at The Stables (Hawaiian Shores) 15-859 Kahakai Blvd, Pahoa. This event is for Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, and Wa’awa’a residents only. RSVP by June 9, contact: Petronilla – (209) 493-5369.
In addition, Hale Halawai will serve free meals to the community at the old Akebono location on June 10 & June 24 at 3 pm until Pau! This is a cooperation of the Pahoa Lava Zone Museum, Malama Puna, The Food Basket, Hawaii Commercial Kitchens, etc.
Volcano Art Center in the Park – Aloha Fridays
Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week (June 5, 12, 19, 26) 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. https://volcanoartcenter.org/events/aloha-friday-cultural-activities-2/2026-04-24/
The Volcano Art Center also offers Gathering Light at the Niaulani Sculpture Garden on Sunday, June 7th at 4 pm: It proudly announces an expansion of sculptural works titled Gathering Light at the Niaulani Sculpture Garden, located at VAC’s Niaulani Campus (19-4074 Old Volcano Rd.) in Volcano Village. The expanded collection opens on Sunday, June 7th at 4 pm. Artists with works selected for this juried exhibition include Emsy, Ingrid Fregeau, Renate Jaworska, and Patrick Sarsfield. The collection also features a community sculpture coordinated by Elizabeth Miller. The Gathering Light outdoor exhibition works were selected by sculptor Randall Shiroma and ceramist Emsy. The five new sculptures explore the dynamic play of light and shadow with other environmental elements, while also exploring the garden’s role in “gathering light” for growth and life. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on June 7th from 4-6 pm. Kumu Keala Ching will open the event with a blessing, followed by hula performed by members of hālau Ke ‘Olu Makani o Mauna Loa. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
The Crafty Racoon Art House
The Crafty Racoon Art House is located right by Pahoa Kaleo’s, across from The Veli, offering a great variety of classes, including pottery classes, acrylic painting, watercolor techniques, gel block printing, mending, etc. The art house offers an Intro to Block Printing on June 1 at 1-4 pm, all supplies are provided ($25). 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.
Soap Making Class: June 14, 12-4 pm, Pahoa
During the four-hour class, you learn about the process, chemistry, needed tools, and ingredients of soap making. Class size is limited to 6 participants. Class cost is $75 plus $25 for materials. For registration and more details, please check the website https://GreatBarsofSoap.com/soapclass.html
Pahoa Night Market – Live Music, Food & Vendors
The Pahoa Friday Night Market at the old Luquin’s/Akebono location 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. June 13 will feature the Second Saturday Nite Live. June 25 from 9 am – 3 pm, hosting a special youth-focused market, showcasing future entrepreneurs of the area, food, crafts, and live entertainment. Follow the FB page for the Pahoa Lava Zone Museum for their event schedule.
SPACE – Hiccup Circus Summer Camp:
June 2 – June 6, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 12-253 W. Pohakupele Loop, Seaview
Get ready for a week of fun, creativity, and circus magic—we’re thrilled to welcome you to Hiccup Circus Camp 2025! We do have a limited number of spots, and they will fill up, so reserve yours now.
Join us for a dynamic and progressive series of hands-on classes designed to inspire movement, imagination, and play. Throughout the week, campers will explore a wide range of circus arts, as well as explore Pottery and learning in our gardens: Aerial Silks, Juggling & Diabolo, Flower Sticks & Hula Hoops, Rolla Bolla & Walking Globe, Unicycling & Stilt Walking, Tumbling & Clowning, plus get their hands in Pottery & Gardening sessions!
Whether you’re balancing high, flying through the air, or planting your feet in the soil, every day brings new adventures and creative discovery. All skill levels welcome! Let’s make this summer unforgettable—see you under the big top at SPACE! Click here to register or take a photo of the poster and click on the QR code.
https://forms.gle/eUBmzmBJgCictTBL6
Big Wave – Dance & Music Summer Camp 2026, Hawaiian Beaches
This camp is offered for kids ages 4-10 in two-week session cycles, Monday through Thursday, 8 am-1:30 pm. Cost per session cycle is $375. Three session cycles are offered: June 1 – June 12, June 15 – June 26, July 6 – July 17. This is what participants receive: dance basics (Hip-Hop, Jazz, Bollywood, Tahitian & more), percussion & rhythm, culture dances, guest teachers, water play day, 2026 camp t-shirt. For more information, call 808-491-2605 (cell), 562-313-6171 (text), or go to their website https://www.bigwavedanceacademy.com/.
Puna Hongwanji Hatsubon & Bon Dance: June 27
Bon Dance Season begins in June. Many of the events also feature taiko drumming. On June 27, the Puna Hongwanji offers a traditional event honoring ancestors with a Hatsubon Memorial Service (4 pm), Memorial Parade (5:45 pm), and a community Bon Dance. For more details, check the Puna Hongwanji website: https://punahongwanji.org/. For a full schedule of Bon Dances, please see the flyer.
Maker’s Market June 18, 12-5 pm,
at The Stables, 15-859 Kahakai Blvd, Hawaiian Beaches/Shores
All the products and wares are handcrafted, cooked or grown, caught or harvested, produced and offered by local Makers, Growers and Doers. SNAP/EBT is accepted. More details can be gathered at httpw://MakersMarketHui.com.
Rozette’s Nursery: Saturday Market every Saturday, 9 am-1 pm
This market offers vendors selling 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, 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.