Talk Story - Puna Rising Ohana

Across the Punaverse July 2026

By Petra Wiesenbauer Summer is coming along, and I hope you are enjoying some time off with family and friends. July starts with Independence Day – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Since the holiday…

The Land is Ready, Are We? Part 2

By Maria Sherow Confessions of a Lazy Gardener: Starting with Scraps After years of watching food prices rise and knowing my meals depended on barges to reach the island, I started thinking about sustainability and choice. The problem was that…

Crafty Raccoon Art House

Story & Photos by Joshua Dimand Tucked into the creative heart of Pāhoa, Crafty Raccoon Art House blends art, community, and what many regulars describe as some of the best coffee in town. Located just past Kaleo’s as you drive…

Stars Over Puna – June 2026

By Norma Jean Ream Enjoy the Extended Summer Theme of Family and Community The end of May had a few bumps in the road. Honestly, with Mars so amped up after all the Aries partying, it was hard to hear…

What’s Swimming in Kehena: Ecstatic Dance in Lower Puna

By Ekahi Aloha Michaels CELEBRATING LIFE ECSTATICALLY: Ecstatic Dance in Lower Puna Tracing its roots back to Kalani Retreat Center (Now Kalani Honua), this movement began in 2001, 25 years ago, founded by Max Fathom. A participant from a conscious…

Around the Punaverse, June 2026

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…

The Land is Ready. Are We?

Story & Photos By Maria Sherow In one of the most fertile places on earth, most of us still depend on ships crossing the Pacific Ocean to feed us. That gap between what is possible and what we have accepted…

Puna Hongwanji: “The Temple of the Primal Vow”

By Karyn Chambers Photos By Karyn Chambers and Courtesy of Puna Honwanji “Namu-amida-Butsu: I entrust myself to the Amida Buddha” Have you ever wondered what goes on inside the exquisite Buddhist temple in Kea’au next to Long’s Drug Store? What…

Your 2025 Taxes Are Done. Your Refund Might Not Be

By Maria Sherow The tax season is over, but did you leave up to $220 on the table because you skipped Form N-311? If you live in Puna and you already mailed in your 2025 Hawaii state tax return, you…

Stars Over Puna : May 2026

By Norma Jean Ream May Provides Opportunities for Growth and Socializing May is the month in North America when evidence of new life is everywhere in nature. In the astrology of 2026, we experience more than a little intensification of…

Across the Punaverse – May 2026:

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…

What’s Swimming in Kehena: The Heartbeat of Kaimu: Saturday Open Market

Story and Photos By Ekahi Aloha Dale Michaels WELCOME! TO THE SATURDAY KAIMU OPEN MARKET! Located in Kaimu, across from Uncle Robert’s, is the Saturday morning Kaimu Open Market! It’s located up on the lava flow with a wide variety…

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,…

Around the Punaverse- April 2026

By Petra Wiesenbauer March presented us with the 43rd episode of Halemaumau Crater with tephra, Pele’s Hair, and road closures. Most impactful for many of us were the two Kona Low weather systems with high winds and heavy rains, causing…

Vipassana as Taught by S.N. Goenka in Hawaii

By Karyn Chambers “Unless we investigate the world within, we can never know reality–we will only know our beliefs about it. . .” A couple of months ago, I discovered Vipassana meditation. I had heard of it many times over…