Photography by S. Gomez
Bring your partner, your tutu grandmother, aunties, uncles, the kids and even your Ex. Don’t forget the dog. All are welcome at Uncle Robert’s anytime but especially on Wednesday nights.
An icon of Hawaiian culture and aloha spirit, Uncle Robert’s is a destination for generations of kama’aina, locals, and non-locals, and visitors, called malihini.
Come early to squeeze into limited parking along the narrow road leading to the complex. Missing the primo free spots, you’ll have head your vehicle up the lava driveway, a short incline to the paid parking area. From there, you can visit the shoreline just a short hike across a barren lava field, stark evidence of the 1986 volcanic eruption that destroyed Kalapana.
Gabriel, the twinkly-eyed gate keeper, takes your $10 admission, sending you off into a haphazard cluster of small buildings adjacent to an open-air covered bandstand, draped in colored lights surrounded by picnic tables. On this night, high winds had knocked out the power which no one seemed to mind if they even noticed. “No worries,” says Gabriel. “We got generators.”
The opening band, Junior, Glenn and Joyce with Robert in the rear on drums, played a set of oldies, leading off with their Hawaiian version of Satin Doll, no apologies to Count Basie. When asked the group’s name, Glenn jokingly replied, “Not-the-Awa Band. Da Other Band.” This “Other” Band regularly plays around Puna and at Uncle Robert’s Sunday services, 10:30 a.m. where you can enjoy a pidgin Hawaiian service and sometimes hula dancers.
Dress is slap-dash comfortable to creative casual with the older crowd arriving early, claiming their spots with coolers and colorful cloths laid on the picnic tables. Bringing your own ‘whatever’ is totally acceptable although the food booths provide a scrumptious array of ethnic and vegan dishes, all delicious. A shout out to Carlos, Michelle and daughter Maria, whose Argentinian empanadas were the best we’ve ever tasted.
After the early arrivals have settled, the younger people slowly filter in, anticipating the famous Awa Band. On this particular Wednesday, the band graciously allowed a local fellow to play and sing a sampling of Neil Young tunes before Awa began their set.
floor in front of Ava Band
The worn but serviceable concrete dance floor with cracks running north and south, is inlaid with two stone angel fish in the center, a perfect place for a dozen or so prancing keikis. Centered above, hung from what might have been a makeshift basketball hoop – or not- long ribbons of red flowers move gently with the Trades blowing in from the Pacific.
When Awa finally began to play, the vibe became electric. People streamed onto the floor. From shuffling to the music, arms waving in time with the beat, swaying in place, to more energetic partnered two-stepping, dance styles varied. With half-closed eyes, one solo dancer totally immersed in the music, performed an interpretive modern dance while another, Jan, from Canada, swirled around, a beatific smile on her face.
Jan, a regular, who spends six months on island every year, says she comes for the authentic Hawaiian atmosphere, the food and the music. “Family values matter here,” she said before swirling off.
Uncle Robert’s is a microcosm of Puna, old Hawaii, true Aloha, where one feels welcome, happy and loved. Just the way Uncle Robert and his wife, G-girl would have wanted.
For more information on the Awa band, Uncle Robert, his family and the many events at Uncle Roberts, please visit their web site. https://sites.google.com/site/unclesawaclub
