Hale Hālāwai O Puna to open with a celebration of Hawaiian culture this weekend

Hale Hālāwai O Puna Cultural Mākeke & Hub will demonstrate Puna’s potential with a free, family-friendly celebration of Hawaiian culture, community and resilience at the former Akebono Theater lot in downtown Pāhoa this Saturday.

The celebration will feature more than two dozen hands-on cultural demonstrations and experiences, live music and hula. Traditional Hawaiian food will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the Pāhoa Lava Zone Museum.

Some of the cultural practices featured include:

• holua sledding
• ʻohe kapala (bamboo stamping)
• lei making
• kuʻi kalo (poi pounding)
• lāʻau lapaʻau (plant medicine)
• ulana niu (coconut frond weaving)
• kapa making
• kōnane (two-player strategy board game)
• ulumaika (a traditional game involving a ball or disc and rolling it at a target)
• coconut milk making

The event will be free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday to mark the 7th anniversary of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, a defining moment that transformed the landscape and community of Lower Puna.

The celebration will continue that evening with the Activate Puna Town Party, a benefit concert from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The concert features an all-star lineup of island reggae and contemporary Hawaiian music including:

• Kalapana Awa Band
• The Drew Daniels Band
• The Project fr. Damon Williams
• Postive Motion
• Kanaka Fyah

Advance tickets for Activate Puna are $15, with a $5 discount using code ALOHA through May 1. Tickets will be $20 at the door, and keiki 12 and under are free. The evening will feature local food trucks, select craft vendors, and a 21+ beer garden operated by Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant.

Following events on Saturday, Hale Hālāwai O Puna will open regularly as a dynamic community space with plans to host cultural mākeke and workshops, night markets and public gatherings.

“Hale Hālāwai O Puna is about strengthening connections, celebrating Puna’s strengths, and creating an economy grounded in community values – rooted in ʻāina, culture, and people,” said Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz. “Before Akebono Theater was lost to fire, it was a beloved gathering place. Hale Hālāwai O Puna will rekindle that spirit – establishing a space in the heart of Pāhoa to uplift our cultural practitioners, artisans, and entrepreneurs, and to cultivate a future shaped by shared values, resilience, and community vision.”

The hub plans to develop “Hawai‘i Island Grown and Made” labels to elevate Puna’s identity. Through regenerative tourism, responsible visitor engagement, and respectful practices, Hale Hālāwai O Puna will promote sustainable interactions, honoring its resources and culture while modeling economic resilience for the future.

Proceeds from the Activate Puna Town Party will benefit the Pāhoa Lava Zone Museum, supporting future town parties, cultural events, and academic scholarships for graduating seniors in Pāhoa.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Hale Hālāwai O Puna website.