A trip to
Uncle Robert's
on the Big Island of Hawaii
Words & Images Mike Hipple
A trip to
Uncle Robert's
on the Big Island of Hawaii
Words & Images Mike Hipple
A trip to
Uncle Robert's
on the Big Island of Hawaii
Words & Images Mike Hipple
I'm an outsider here, but I don't feel like one.
I’m miles from the nearest resort, cell service is nonexistent, and getting here is as easy as taking the last exit before the end of the road.
You arrive and park your car next to a giant black lava field that resembles the cracked and shiny surface of the perfectly baked brownies your mom would make. You walk down to the gate and hand over your ten bucks to the person standing by the entrance and enter.
The smells of freshly grilled meats and other goodies float in the air, groups of people standing around laughing, children chasing each other on the gently sloped hillside. It feels like you’re at a family reunion or a wedding – everyone is relaxed, happy, and friendly. Glancing around, it’s hard to distinguish the tourists from the locals.
The road to Uncle Robert's.
The party's in full swing.
There’s a small band playing on the stage – there’s no set schedule of bands you can look up, it’s just locals and family playing music. An older man gets up and walks up to the foot of the stage, whispers something to the musician who smiles and says he has a request – they know one another well and smiles are exchanged. He gently starts to play his guitar, and the older man slowly dances a traditional Hawaiian dance to the song, a soft smile on his face.
A group of kids from New Zealand are in town for a canoeing competition in Hilo and they perform a traditional song and dance. Seamlessly, another band sets up their instruments and starts to play. Traditional Hawaiian songs and cover songs of popular 70s and 80s hits co-mingle as one in the warm night.
Happy dog at Uncle Robert's.
Another happy dog.
Either the band sounds bad or this girl has just spotted a plate of corn skewers.
This one's a hungry dog.
As the late afternoon turns to night, more people fill the concrete dance floor – dancing in fancy dresses with Crocs on their feet, people barefoot running across the dance floor with a drink in their hand, an elderly woman wearing a string of lights around her head. I’ve got a plate of Mexican street corn skewers from Jay Satay in my hand. The chunks of flavorful grilled polenta with cilantro, smoked paprika, and lime parmesan aioli is probably the best thing I’d eaten on the Big Island, as well as a bargain at five bucks.
Hitting the dancefloor.
This is Uncle Robert's Awa Bar and Farmers Market, a weekly get-together held every Wednesday night near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii. We had heard of this magical weekly event and were told it was a must-do while we were on the Island and it did not disappoint.
Robert “Uncle Robert” Keliihoomalu passed away in 2015, but the family still continues the much-loved tradition.
"Uncle Robert" is Robert Keliihoomalu and back in 1990, a lava flow surrounded his home here but did not consume it. Robert was always known for his aloha spirit, family gatherings, and welcoming vibe and a few years after returning to his family home, he opened a small shop selling shaved ice and other sundry items.
This eventually turned into Uncle Robert's Awa Bar and became a local gathering space. Uncle Robert’s sons soon incorporated the farmer’s market and added a stage for music as well since most in the family played music. It grew to become one of the most popular gatherings on the Big Island.
Delicious skewers from Jay Satay.
Keliihoomalu passed away in 2015, but the family still continues the much-loved tradition. Before Covid happened the weekly event was much larger, hosting numerous food, craft, and plant vendors. It has scaled back considerably and there are fewer vendors, but it is still a uniquely Hawaiian experience. Each week promises something new.
Everyone's welcome here.
Memorial to "Uncle Robert" Robert Keliihoomalu.
This way to Kaimu Beach.
Be sure to arrive early and take the short hike down to Kaimu Beach, which is the “new” black sand beach created after the lava flow. It’s a gorgeous place to watch the waves crash against the black lava and observe how nature is reclaiming the land here.
get in the know It's possible to mail a coconut from Hawaii. It's not wrapped or anything, it's literally just the coconut with an address label on it.
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