Learn How to Make Portuguese Stone Oven Baked Bread in Kona

When planning unique vacation activities, or some out-of-the-box things to do with your family on the Big Island, try Portuguese stone oven bread baking! Every week, the Kona Historical Society invites guests to partake in the lost art and historical re-creation of baking traditional Portuguese sweet bread in a forno, a large wood-fired oven (from the motherland Portugal) that was introduced by Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century.

Without a doubt, bread making with the Kona Historical Society will not just be a rare experience, but it will be educational and engaging for all that participate. Adults, and children will love this Big Island activity, but it is also a great idea for Hawai’i culinary students, and those with a passion for learning about Hawai’i’s unique local culture. By the way, this event is FREE to the public, although donations are most definitely appreciated.

Portuguese stone oven bread baking events take place every Thursday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Kona Historical Society. Guests should reserve space ahead of time, and be prepared to show up at least 15-minutes early. The communal forno can hold up to 30 loaves of bread at a time, and is quite large. In fact, a volunteer begins to heat the oven at 6 a.m. so that is ready once guests arrive for the event. Together, participants can talk story and get to know each other as they mix and roll dough, and get ready to bake their sweet bread.

If you’re not interested in learning how to bake Portuguese sweet bread at the Kona Historical Society, but you still want to eat it, bread loaves are for sale after 1 p.m., and sold for $8 a loaf until sold out.

The Kona Historical Society is a community based nonprofit organization. Founded in 1976, this group aims to collect, preserve and share the amazing history of the Kona district of the Big Island. Besides offering a handful of educational events and activities throughout the year, the society also maintains two historical sites and the Jean Greenwell Archives, the largest photograph collection on the Big Island. The archives also include: historical films of Kona, oral history reviews and pamphlets, records and manuscripts, a host of rare and out-of-print books, and over 140 maps of Hawai’i.

For more information about Portuguese Stone Oven Making and additional events at the Kona Historical Society, please call 808-323-3222, or visit www.konahistorical.org. To make a donation, please go to http://store.konahistorical.org/products/To-Make-a-Donation.html