Events Story - Puna Rising Ohana

Across the Punaverse – October 2026

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…

SEEN: Faces of Puna Makai

Story & Photos By Dawn Hurwitz Kristen McCormak is a name you are going to want to keep on your watchlist. She is part of the team organizing The Red Road Resilience Network. They have become a galvanizing force in…

Uncle Robert’s Wednesday Night Gathering — Revisited

By Ekahi Aloha Dale Michaels Kaimū Saturday Open Market — Moving to a New Location A change is coming to the Saturday Kaimū Open Market. Saturday, August 22, the weekly market, operating from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon, will no…

Around the Punaverse- August 2026

By Petra Wiesenbauer I hope you all have been enjoying your summer with lots of activities and fun. For the families with children in DOE and Charter Schools, August 4 is the beginning of the new school year (please check…

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL at HAWAIIAN SANCTUARY

Story and Photos by Raydiance Joy Grace From the inviting sign announcing the Earth Day Festival at Hawaiian Sanctuary, excitement began to build in the community about the festivities planned to celebrate our Earth! Puna is an earth-based community with…

World-Class Music in Our Backyard

By Maria Sherow Some music entertains you for an hour, while some music follows you home and changes how you hear the world. On Saturday, July 18th, 2026, Puna’s own Roy Dahan brings the second kind of music to Kalani’s…

IN LOVING MEMORY: STEVEN ANTHONY HIRAKAMI; 7.10.46-11. 26.25

Story and Photos by Raydiance Joy Grace Additional Photo Credit to Livestream of the Event The Celebration of Life for Steve Hirakami at the HAAS Campus in Pahoa was a heartfelt event attended by over 250 well-wishing friends, associates, students,…

Seeds of Innovation: A Puna Rising Entrepreneur Hub Gathering

By Maria Sherow March 21st, 2026, started with a bright, sunny Puna morning, a welcome sight just a week after a big storm rolled through the state of Hawai‘i. But as the day wore on, and with whispers of another…

Around the Punaverse, March 2026

By Petra Wiesenabuer This last month brought us Kilauea’s episodes 41 & 42 with tephra, ash, Pele’s hair, and higher SO2 levels. For most of us in Puna, this meant making sure our catchment tanks were unhooked from our gutters…

Greggor Illagan, Puna Town Hall in Seaview

Story and Photos by Raydiance Joy Grace SEAVIEW TOWN HALL MEETING AT SPACE Greggor opened with, “I want to encourage you to think about what you want to see Hawaii look like in the next 5 years, and I…

Imu Mea ‘Ai Food Tour

Video By Beth Block Imu Mea ‘Ai is more than just an eco-tourism initiative—it’s a social enterprise owned by the Men of PA’A, a nonprofit committed to holistic healing and reintegration for Native Hawaiian men. All profits from Imu Mea…

Across the Punaverse, February 2026

By Petra Wiesenbauer I hope your New Year has been going well, and you were able to start with renewed energy and purpose. Our community of local artists, practitioners, food lovers and musicians is active and alive. The message I…

Smoke It Up 808 Festival

Video Story By Beth Block SMOKE IT UP The inaugural Smoke It Up Festival transformed Puna’s feral pig challenge into a celebration of local food innovation and community solutions. The festival explored how feral pigs can support food security and…

Puna Rising Ohana; 2025 Wrap-Up

By Dawn Hurwitz, Managing Editor for Talk Story 2025 has been a stellar year for Puna Rising Ohana. Here are our highlights in review. The year started with a bang, a new political climate to navigate, and much to look…

Across the Punaverse January 2026

By Petra Wiesenbauer Editor’s note: We welcome Petra Wiesenbauer as our new editor of “Across the Punaverse.” Many may recognize her from her Facebook page, “Pahoa Community Resources,” where she regularly shares important information about East Hawaii. We are so…