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E Komo Mai - Welcome
Becoming part of Honokaa's community through authentic connection and cultural exchange
Written by a Local Cultural Expert
Leilani AkoThe Deepest Travel: From Seeing to Connecting
The deepest travel experiences come not from seeing a place, but from connecting with it. E komo mai means "welcome," an invitation to enter. Here are a few ways to move beyond being a visitor and become, even for a short time, a part of Honokaa's community.
Talk Story: The Heartbeat of Honokaa
In Hawaiʻi, history is not just written in books. It is passed down through moʻolelo (stories). The tradition of "talk story" is the living, breathing heartbeat of the culture.
Authentic Opportunities: The best place to hear these stories is from the kūpuna (elders) and keepers of tradition themselves. During Western Week, the Cowboy Talk Story event offers an unfiltered look into the lives of local paniolo. The Honokaa Library also hosts events, such as a recent session where members of the Dias and DeLuz families shared what life was like growing up in the old Paauilo Stable Camp on the plantation.
Preserving the Voices: The Honokaa Heritage Center serves as a vital repository for these narratives. It draws from extensive oral history archives, including a University of Hawaiʻi project that interviewed families affected by the closure of the Hāmākua Sugar Company. Visiting the center and engaging with these recorded histories is another way to listen to the voices of the past.
🤠 Western Week Talk Story
During May's Western Week celebration, local paniolo share authentic stories of ranch life, cattle drives, and the old days.
When: May annually • Where: Town center during Western Week
📚 Library Sessions
Honokaa Library hosts regular community storytelling events where local families share plantation-era memories and family histories.
Check library schedule for upcoming events
🏛️ Heritage Center Archives
Access extensive oral history collections from University of Hawaiʻi interviews with plantation families.
Open during Heritage Center hours
👥 Community Gatherings
Informal gatherings at local businesses and the farmers market where residents naturally share stories.
Sunday farmers market is especially social
Sunday Ritual: The Hāmākua Harvest Farmers Market
Every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, the corner of Highway 19 and Mamane Street transforms into the town's living room: the Hāmākua Harvest Farmers Market. As local writer Cassie says, it's where you go to "reconnect, stock your fridge, and catch up with people you haven't seen in a while".
You'll find everything from farm-fresh produce and local honey to handmade crafts and live music. During Western Week, the market even hosts a Farmer/Cowboy Fashion Show. A uniquely Honokaa celebration of its agricultural and paniolo roots. Shopping here is one of the best ways to support local farmers and feel the rhythm of community life.
Your Sunday Market Experience
🥕 What You'll Find
- • Farm-fresh produce
- • Local honey & preserves
- • Handmade crafts
- • Live music
- • Food vendors
🕘 When & Where
- • Every Sunday
- • 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- • Highway 19 & Mamane St
- • Free parking
- • All weather (covered areas)
💫 Special Events
- • Western Week fashion show
- • Seasonal celebrations
- • Cultural demonstrations
- • Community announcements
- • Keiki (children) activities
Mālama ʻĀina: Giving Back to the Land
For travelers who want to leave a place better than they found it, there are meaningful ways to contribute to the preservation of Honokaa's culture and environment.
🌱 Sustainable Farm Tours
Connect with the modern agricultural story of the Hāmākua Coast by visiting a farm focused on sustainability. The Nakihalani Farm in Laupahoehoe, for example, offers small-group walking and tasting tours that highlight their efforts to restore the land and practice responsible farming.
🏛️ Community Support
While short-term, direct volunteer opportunities can be difficult to arrange, one of the most impactful ways to give back is by supporting the organizations that are the guardians of Honokaa's heritage.
Consider making a donation or becoming a member of the Paniolo Preservation Society or the Honokaa Heritage Center. Simply shopping at their stores and galleries, like the Māmane Street Mercantile and Waipio Valley Artworks, also directly funds their preservation work.
🤠 Paniolo Preservation Society
Dedicated to preserving Hawaiian cowboy culture and ranching heritage through education, events, and cultural programs.
Support through: Membership, donations, attending Western Week events
🏛️ Honokaa Heritage Center
Preserves and shares the multicultural history of the Hāmākua Coast through exhibits, oral histories, and educational programs.
Support through: Visiting, shopping at Mercantile, donations, memberships
🗺️ Navigate Honokaa
📅 Farmers Market
- Day: Every Sunday
- Time: 9 AM - 2 PM
- Location: Hwy 19 & Mamane St
- Parking: Free
🗣️ Talk Story Events
Western Week
May annually • Cowboy stories
Library Events
Check schedule • Family histories
Heritage Center
Daily • Oral history archives
🤝 Give Back
- Heritage Center
Shop, donate, visit - Paniolo Preservation
Memberships, events - Local Businesses
Support local economy
🌺 Cultural Tips
- Listen more than you speak
- Ask permission before photos
- Show interest in family stories
- Respect sacred places
- Support local businesses
The Art of Authentic Connection
True connection with Honokaa's community comes through patience, respect, and genuine interest in the stories and traditions that define this special place. It's about quality over quantity - a single meaningful conversation with a local elder can be more valuable than checking off a dozen tourist attractions.
🕰️ Slow Down
Honokaa operates on "island time." Embrace the slower pace and don't rush interactions. Some of the best stories emerge when you're not in a hurry to get somewhere else.
👂 Listen Actively
When someone shares a story, give them your full attention. Ask thoughtful follow-up questions that show you're genuinely interested in their experiences and perspective.
🙏 Show Respect
Understand that you're a guest in someone else's home community. Approach with humility and appreciation for the privilege of hearing personal and family stories.
💝 Give Back
Whether through purchasing local products, making donations to cultural organizations, or simply treating the place with care, find ways to reciprocate the hospitality you receive.
"ʻAʻole hana nui ka aha malama ʻana"
No task is too big when caring for something beloved.
This Hawaiian saying reminds us that true care requires effort and commitment. When we invest time and energy in understanding and supporting Honokaa, we become part of its ongoing story rather than just passing through it.
Plan Your Authentic Honokaa Experience
Get practical information, addresses, and insider tips for making the most of your visit to Hawaii's most authentic cowboy town.
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