On my visit to The Big Island last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Violet Love at an outdoor…read moremarket. I was fascinated by her art and drawn to her beautiful soul. We talked for quite some time and I chose one of her paintings to bring home. When I look at it, I see the essence of this talented artist, and feel the bond of spirit we all share. Thank you Violet . . . I hope our paths cross again one day.

Amazing Papale! I stopped at the Hilo Farmers Market last Tuesday because we had a one day stop…read morethere (Norwegian Cruise Line). Her hand woven coconut leaf papale caught my eye and I got one. So many compliments! Well made, looks great, authentic Hawaiian look and it keeps the sun off of my face. The open top is awesome for breathability and great for when I put my hair in a bun. Love love love this product! Thank you Violet Love

Leandra is amazing! My son has attended many paint & snack classes as well Spring Break classes…read more During the week long class he made a variety of things, including a mural, learned to make a lei po'o, snow globes & even Christmas gift of drink coasters! He has enjoyed the variety of what was offered and we continue to sign him up at any classes offered to his age! Recently my entire family (husband, daughter & son) attended a family oriented paint & snack/sip and we had so much fun! Leandra was patient with the large group, provided positive and amazing help to the group and had given everyone some one on one time! We had so much fun I am planning my own private party and have had fun working with Leandra in planning this event! Leandra works with you as well as offers different prices that are all affordable. My intention was always to have my son involved in with Circle of Life and never thought I would enjoy the classes as much as I did and look forward to attending more events! Anyone who hasn't attended a class should reach out to Leandra and plan something, they won't regret it!

From the owner: Circle of Life seeks to inspire creativity in students of all ages and levels. We have classes for…read moreToddlers, children ages 5-12, teens and adults including the elderly and college students. Check it out monthly calendar for all the amazing classes we have available. Discounts for kama’aina, colleges students, elderly over 60, and siblings.

They offer ceramic classes, sell clay and tools for sculpting clay, and have a great selection of…read morejewelry, ceramics, and other kinds of art that are done by local artists. REVIEW #281

I've been taking classes here for a few months now and really enjoy it. The facility is well…read moreorganized and clean. It's fun to learn and socialize. I especially appreciate the open studio times. My first two classes were with Shannon, who is a force of nature. One needs to have a lot of strength and determination to have a ceramics studio open for as long as she has in an area like Hilo. At times she can be a bit gruff but she's had to put up with a lot of careless students who don't pay attention and cause tremendous damage (destroying kiln shelves, destroying plumbing, etc etc etc). Just have some patience and don't take her tough love personally and you'll be right as rain. I love this place and am super grateful to have a space to learn how to throw. Also, she sells equipment, clay and glazes for those who are setting up their own space.

Garimo's Real Soap Studio and Classroom is a treasure hidden in the mountains of Santa Cruz. Not…read moreonly is the product truly amazing but the artisan Garimo is also an amazing person. He is very patient as a teacher, and is the impetus behind the First Friday Felton Art Walk. His shop is a delight to walk into because of the lovely scents of soap making with pure essential oils, and sustainably sourced, natural ingredients. You simply can't go wrong by buying soap and bath products from greatbarsofsoap.com. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, you can visit his shop and take his classes.

We ordered custom bars of soap as wedding favors. Our friends and family loved the soap! Garimo…read morecreated 3 scents and custom labels for our special day. We've received a ton of positive feedback on the soap - gentle, effective and long lasting. Garimo was pleasure to work with and I highly recommend his soap! Cindy

I didn't make for the E-dance or Holiday Festivities or New Years Festivities but I met some people…read morewho partook in them and expressed a good time. I went for a yoga class led by Marcia, 90 minutes flew by. There's places to stay, a store etc

Michael the bald guy who works at kalani is so rude…read more He told me to fuck off this morning because I pulled into the "wrong" entrance Because two women and two dogs were standing in the entrance He met me with such aggression first thing in the morning, I asked for an apology and he refused. I'm amazed that they want to treat their customers this way, I live nearby and go there every day. This is not okay, I'm not sure why he can get away with treating people this way living right in the front of the retreat center. Not Pono.

We saw a thought-provoking, well cast production of the musical "Next to Normal." It was an…read moreimpressive cast, and the venue lent itself to sharing cultural arts. The seats are comfortable. The restrooms and vendors are hope more arts programming continues in this space. It's an asset for the community!

Young at Art is a student art exhibit which will be at the Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art,…read moreA.K.A. East Hawaii Cultural Center until March 26. This yearly event showcases so many beautiful and amazing pieces of art created by students all over the Big Island. Every piece in this exhibit is so awesome, but I just couldn't take my eyes off of this spectacular ceramic octopus. Wow..

We visit Hawaiʻi Island every year from Oʻahu and are always on the lookout for new experiences -…read morethis one was a standout for local residents and visitors. The class was fantastic, and it's easy to see why this small, family-run business has earned its 5-star reputation. What we especially loved is that when you book a class, the studio is all yours. For us, that meant just the three of us learning under the warm, expert guidance of Sheri and Doug - no crowds, no distractions, just a relaxed and personal experience. It's a wonderful activity for families or small groups -- whether you're two people or more. Everyone gets hands-on guidance and walks away with a beautiful stained glass piece they created themselves. A meaningful and memorable way to spend time together -- and take a little piece of the islands home with you.

Fantastic experience. We went twice and we're going again. At first it might feel a little…read moredisorienting to try to remember all the steps, but then when you get into the Zen of cutting, sanding, and foiling your glass pieces, you feel very much at peace. At the end, when you get to see your final piece of art assembled, you feel very proud. I highly recommend this as a unique, fun, and positive experience.

Pretty good art center on the Big Island of Hawai'i, and although they were in the process of…read morechanging exhibits during my particular visit, they have quite a bit to offer in terms of different kinds of local art. Classes and workshops are also offered at this location.

Me and my family LOVE the Mill! Awesome classes. Our whole family of four has taken different…read moreclasses here. Very community oriented, friendly staff, great classes and events!! Love supporting the Donkeymill. Great place to have on this side of the island!!

This was such a fun activity to do with my friends and the final product looked better then I could…read moreimagine! The ladies working were not only helpful but they were enthusiastic about being there! Would highly recommend!

The best art experience ever! Teresa was so great ! & so cool!! My 12 year old son and his friend…read moreloved it! They made a beach scene and flow art on a heart and they came out so good! I was really glad we did at this location although they do have art studios near us in San Diego and LA. We plan on going back to the Big Island and doing this again. Teresa was so kind and patient working with the boys and educating them on the whole process while making it so fun! It's worth every penny and such a creative process that I am so happy it's offered to the public. It looks like a professional artist made them! Thank you Teresa can't wait to be back !

Cute gift shop in downtown Hilo! Anytime I want to send a cute Hawaii themed item to my best…read morefriends in the states, I like to stop here. They have things for both keiki and adults. They do like supporting local businesses as well, so make sure to support them to support other local businesses too! How perfect!

Shopping in Hilo Town, Hawaii…read more.. I remember the name of this store... I was here decades ago when I was active with the Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce). We would have meetings on the Big Island every so often. After our gatherings, we'd roam around the town! This store still has amusing gifts, practical items, and cute stuff! It has postcards, jewelry, t-shirts, plushies, baby items, children's toys, Aloha shirts, soaps, lotions, books, Hello Kitty merchandise, tote bags, greeting cards, and more! Service is very friendly! The nice lady at the cash register asked me about my Shohei Ohtani shirt... LOL! Note: this store didn't have air conditioning... shucks! However, there's free street parking all around the area!