Community Calendar

Farmers and Artisan market

Waimea Town Market at Parker School is home to over 50 highly curated vendors who offer a wide variety of terrific produce, food and locally sourced and hand made items. Please join us, talk story with our vendors, learn about their businesses and crafts, and enjoy breakfast or lunch at our picnic tables with the Mauna Kea view—where North Hawaii comes together.

The East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center will host the first ever Zine Scene Fest Hawaiʻi -- an event for community members of all ages to learn about, trade, sell, and make zines! We invite local zine-makers to apply to host a table where you can display, trade, and sell your creations: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbR7YlzSX7kpyibk8ReTKYx-MPNNKr6F_dqsMzPXOlvCgEtw/viewform

Celebrate zines! Zines are the intersection of art making, community building, and political action to create radical, intentional space. Zine Scene Fest Hawaii is created for community, by community, using zine-making as our shared tool for storytelling, education, and connection. Never heard of a zine? It's a small publication (short for magazine) that can have information, art or writing on any topic! At Zine Scene Fest, we will have zinemakers and community organizations sharing what zines are, their history, why they are important, and how they can aid and connect community. Some folks will be selling wares, while others will be focusing on education and outreach; we will also have live music and a zine making station so you can try it for yourself! This is a family friendly event, all are welcome!

Do You Love Sushi?

“I Love Sushi,” a traveling exhibition sponsored by the internationally renowned Japan Foundation, opens on June 27 at the Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo.

The world-traveling exhibit pays recognition to sushi’s immense popularity all over the world, dating back to its introduction to Japan over 1,000 years ago. “I Love Sushi” artfully tells the story of sushi’s key transformations over time and offers visitors a look into how sushi evolved from its ancient origins into a global culinary phenomenon.

The exhibition is produced by the prestigious Japan Foundation headquartered in Tokyo. The exhibit’s showing in Hawaii is coordinated by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu in coordination with the Hawaii Japanese Center. The visually stunning presentation includes ukiyo-e paintings, woodblock prints, video installations, and scale models of realistically depicted seafood, reproductions of sushi, and even a replica of a Japanese sushi restaurant.

“I Love Sushi” also touches on broader aspects of Japanese history and culture, as sushi has undergone many transformations as it adapted to the environment, climate, and lifestyle of Japan. Nigirizushi, for example, a small mound of rice topped with raw fish or other ingredients originated about 200 years ago in Edo (Tokyo). Hawaii itself is of course no stranger to its own multiethnic traditions involving raw fish and rice.

“I Love Sushi” opens Saturday, June 27 and closes Saturday, August 22 at the Hawaii Japanese Center (HJC), located at 751 Kanoelehua Avenue. HJC is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is free. For more information, email HJC at info@hawaiijapanesecenter.com or call (808) 934-9611.

A cornerstone of American musical theatre, Carousel follows Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan—two passionate, imperfect lovers whose choices resonate beyond a single lifetime. Featuring one of Broadway’s most luminous scores. Accompanied by the HPAF Orchestra

Experience Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival’s 2026 Season of Dreams, running July 1–19, with world-class performances, emerging artists, and special events on Hawaiʻi Island; visit HawaiiPerformingArtsFestival.org for tickets and the full festival schedule.

Hilo Hep Cats monthly swing dance event, hosted by the Elks Lodge. Every Second Saturday. Come for a quick lesson at 630pm, stay for dancing and socializing from 7-930pm.

A cornerstone of American musical theatre, Carousel follows Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan—two passionate, imperfect lovers whose choices resonate beyond a single lifetime. Featuring one of Broadway’s most luminous scores. Accompanied by the HPAF Orchestra.

Experience Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival’s 2026 Season of Dreams, running July 1–19, with world-class performances, emerging artists, and special events on Hawaiʻi Island; visit HawaiiPerformingArtsFestival.org for tickets and the full festival schedule.

Join us every Wednesday at 10:00am for a fun-filled story time! We’ll read a few simple stories, then make a craft or do an activity. Great fun for 2 – 5 year-olds and their parents or caregivers.

Do You Love Sushi?

“I Love Sushi,” a traveling exhibition sponsored by the internationally renowned Japan Foundation, opens on June 27 at the Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo.

The world-traveling exhibit pays recognition to sushi’s immense popularity all over the world, dating back to its introduction to Japan over 1,000 years ago. “I Love Sushi” artfully tells the story of sushi’s key transformations over time and offers visitors a look into how sushi evolved from its ancient origins into a global culinary phenomenon.

The exhibition is produced by the prestigious Japan Foundation headquartered in Tokyo. The exhibit’s showing in Hawaii is coordinated by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu in coordination with the Hawaii Japanese Center. The visually stunning presentation includes ukiyo-e paintings, woodblock prints, video installations, and scale models of realistically depicted seafood, reproductions of sushi, and even a replica of a Japanese sushi restaurant.

“I Love Sushi” also touches on broader aspects of Japanese history and culture, as sushi has undergone many transformations as it adapted to the environment, climate, and lifestyle of Japan. Nigirizushi, for example, a small mound of rice topped with raw fish or other ingredients originated about 200 years ago in Edo (Tokyo). Hawaii itself is of course no stranger to its own multiethnic traditions involving raw fish and rice.

“I Love Sushi” opens Saturday, June 27 and closes Saturday, August 22 at the Hawaii Japanese Center (HJC), located at 751 Kanoelehua Avenue. HJC is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is free. For more information, email HJC at info@hawaiijapanesecenter.com or call (808) 934-9611.