Uncle Robert's Awa Bar and Farmers Market

Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers Market is one of those must-experience spots on the Big Island. It’s not just a market — it’s a whole vibe. The energy here is amazing, filled with live music, local food, and a real sense of community. The stalls are packed with local vendors offering everything from fresh produce and handmade crafts to incredible island-style plates. The smells alone are enough to make you hungry! I grabbed some food, a fresh drink, and found a spot to sit and take it all in — the music, the dancing, the laughter. You can tell this is a place where both locals and visitors come to connect and unwind. The Awa Bar itself is such a unique experience — the drinks are fun and playful, the vibe is so chill in the best way. The staff and vendors are so welcoming and genuinely happy to have you there! If you’re in the area, do not skip Uncle Robert’s. Go hungry, bring cash, and plan to stay a while — it’s the perfect blend of local flavor, culture, and good vibes.

Maybe we were here on the wrong day. But all we saw were hippies and a few drunks hanging around looking at us with an unwelcoming look. So we got back in the car and left after a few minutes. Very strange atmosphere.

Super nice staff is serving delicious smoothies and coffee. Unfortunately we had no time to check out the Wednesday evening event. We got some socks from the small local store as well. He are looking to come back.

This is a very special place. Our ohana really enjoyed our visit and were warmly welcomed. Approach with respect for the land and the residents, they are sharing a sacred space. Lots of live music and food vendors. Plenty of dry seating, bring a rain jacket! Aloha muhalo to the ohana for the hospitality and kindness.

Cash preferred. This place is a local spot and that needs to be respected. If you’re seeing mixed reviews - it’s because you are not going to be “served aloha” here. This isn’t the space for that. You have to bring the aloha with you. My husband & I had the most amazing time Wednesday evening, which happened to be our last night on island. We brought the remaining food & drinks from our trip to give to people who wouldn’t let them go to waste. There was always a handful of talented local musicians playing. We bought fairly priced & handmade gifts from local vendors. We tasted home-cooked cuisines & enjoyed a pour from the bar. Keiki (children) running around, a grooving dance floor, and some all natural hippy vibes.✌️It was a perfect send off and we feel so lucky to have been guests in this vibrant communal space.

Did not visit during the wed night market. But we had the most delicious smoothie on the island during the day. Well worth a detour if you are heading to the "red road".

The best local market on this side of the island on Saturday mornings. Get there early, things start winding down around 10-11. Also a really great spot to spend a Wednesday evening with live music and good food. Worth the trip if you’re debating it either day!

Stopped and checked this place out, but didn't look like anything was going on. Beautiful spot that a local told me was a really cool spot to hang out and watch bands play. The smoothie shack was open so we got a few of those and looked around. Definitely will be back to check it out again in the future. Black sand beach just a short walk away, convenience store next door and farmers market on Saturday

Love this place! Visited solo in June of 2023 on a cycling training trip and was recommended this market. Local delicacies & love music made the evening memorable after a long day of triathlon training! {note: there is a $10 cover charge... in my opinion, it's worth it!}

Very cool local flare, food, beverage, arts, music etc. Can be super hot since most of it is on the lava flow. I really liked the fermented pineapple juice

A must if you visit the big island. We have enjoyed this lil spot twice now in the last year and both times it's been so much fun! Bring cash!

Uncle ROBERT'S is a fun place to experience! Kinda stopped during the Pandemic but, my local friends have put it back together! There's a charge, but it's getting better and more vendors are coming back. The location is very beautiful!

I'm a local Braddah and Must've been there on the wrong night (Wed Dec 4, 2024) wasn't too much going on. Came all da way from Waimanalo, Oahu in hopes of hearing some TRUE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN MUSIC--instead ended up listening to more contemporary songs. Was expecting to seeing Aunties & Sistahs do hula, but no as only had other women dancing to Fleetwood Mac songs??l! The young local sister sang some good Jawaiian songs - but what about TRUE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN MUSIC?! Plus you gotta pay $10 per person! AUWE!! And da sistah who checked us in that night was NOT friendly and LACKED ALOHA. The only thing that made the evening is the food was ONO & they were generous on the bar pour (4 stars). However, would NOT recommend taking your time to drive all the way out there. Again this is coming from a LOCAL BOY who's been born and raised in Hawaii!! SAD EXPERIENCE...

Great local vibe and amazing food as well as entertainment ..be prepared to dance the night away

Oh my goodness! The Smashburgers and the Lava Fries (2) different vendors were awesome! It's a very authentic Hawaiian experience with the wonderful music and location out by a huge lava field. There is a lovely little boutique around the back near the Country Store that should not be missed! Nice local wares

My favorite place to go on a Wednesday night! Live music, food vendors, fun crowd! I've tried the local plate lunches, so Ono! The smoothies. I've spiked the smoothies. The bar and several of the vendors too. Everyone is super nice.

Great place for the local scene. The music, the food, the community are all delightful.

No Aloha for me and my deaf service dog tonight. I flew over from Maui, and was staying up the road. I walked down with my trained service dog Molly. I am deaf, so I take her with me everywhere. I probably could not have walked that stretch of road without her because she tells me when there's cars coming. I walked all the way down there and the two haole guys at the gate told me I could not come in tonight. They told me that the dogs who live there would attack my service dog! It's really hard, every day, to have an invisible disability, and they just made it that much harder for me today. Not only that, but they are violating federal disability law by not allowing me and my service dog in, and also violating Hawaii law by not having their dogs on a leash. I'm super disappointed. No aloha. Not Pono.

Cover is $10 Food vendors with a great variety. Beverages are also available. The highlight was the amazing band. Great time. Loved the dancing.

What's great gathering of great people , great food and great live music! If you've never been make sure to check dates and times. Had some very delicious Vietnamese Noodles and egg rolls! Was also introduced to Calamansi drink, which was so delicious! Shamefully I also came across the best mini pineapple upside down cupcakes and let's just say after practically swallowing it I returned for a breakfast one (wink wink)! Make sure to bring cash for entrance fee $10 and for all the amazing food to try there! It's very come as you are and come with a chill attitude because you will have to wait for your food sometimes but definitely go!

I have been here over years, and never been disappointed but didn't know what to expect and was disappointed to not find a more recent review. GO to support the local economy. (I have to laugh at the locals saying it's not for locals - there are ONLY locals here). The people watching, the food and the music and dancing are all on point. Tourists: #1 Photo the directions you get coming in so you can confidently reverse out - you won't have any wifi signal leaving, for a bit (even if GPS gets you here). #2 Come with aloha, and a full hippy heart - that is the soul of Pahoa. #3 YOU showing up is what will bring this back to the wild Thailand night markets it was once compared to. There used to be an amazing selection of vendors. If you come back, they will too. All of you giving lame reviews: Setting up a 6-piece band, a door man, security, a full bar, and food is no small thing. Pay the $20 entry fee and support community - the more that show up, the more likely it will return to its glory.

Not the same as it useto be. Charging money to get in to spend money doesn't fly with me. $20 to get in. Rip off

Wednesday night- 5 stars for food, music and and great MaiTais ($6). Best food: green papaya salad and Hawaiian stew (2 different vendors). Thursday- 2 stars for surly service from Uncle Roberts food stand, fatty Kalibi rib dinner, and package gravy on MocoLocos. Saturday afternoon- 3 stars for coffee and smoothies: unfriendly service. Sunday - 1 star for $10 MaiTais. Rip off. We obviously were outsiders and paid the price. Only Wednesday did we feel welcome.

We were there 2/15/23, after reading reviews I was not sure what to expect. Cover charge is $10 I thought reasonable, we got there at 5. They open the vendors at 6, there are now 10 places to choose from all reasonable. Nice variety, from pizza to Thai. Full bar, reasonable prices. The crowd was full of energy, you will be see all kinds just a great vibe. Love the band they sound great. Just happy they are getting back to what it was before Covid.

We came to the Big Island starting from Tuesday afternoon to Friday morning and, let me say, it was one of the best decisions that we made because it allowed us to stop by Uncle Robert's Farmer's Market Block Party. At Uncle Robert's there's small shops and places to eat daily (starting from breakfast), but on Wednesday's and Saturday's is when the evening block party occurs. We spoke to several locals prior and they all directed us to come in the evening and it was such a beautiful sight. There were live music, dancing, a variety of food choices that allow you to appreciate island cooking and shops to buy small souvenirs. It was a opportunity to mingle with the locals and get cultured. As far as parking, you can park along the street for free but you have to walk and it can be a long walk depending on what time you arrive or you can pay $5 and get close parking to the shops. We decided to pay the parking fee because we were starving. The locals that we spoke with mentioned that the best time to go there was around 5pm, we got there around 7pm and it was still going (closes at 10 but some shops begin to close at 9pm). Not a lot to shops are open around the area so we suggest buying extra snacks for the next day adventures. Pro tip, go visit Uncle Awa's Hut if you're 420 friendly :)

Just be open and you'll enjoy yourself. There is a cover charge but if you want to enjoy your Wednesday night, pack a couple of beers, it seems they allow this... or there is a bar with drinks that aren't too expensive. The food is authentic and really good, try the vegan curry! Go in a group or with a person you can talk to through the night and enjoy the local live music.

$20 cover charge when you arrive. It's more of a music venue with maybe 1 food vendor. It's not like it use to be with multiple craft and food vendors. This is the result of the pandemic. Their website did not explain this and after driving there we met many others at the front entrance that had no idea about the $20 charge to enter, we all left disappointed. Save your gas and drive time. It's not worth $20 to listen to local entertainers.

The end of the road leads to music cocktails and food. The music was great. Mostly locals enjoying the hippy vibe of the area but we were welcomed with open arms. It was a fun night.

This place was awesome. A little out of the way, but worth the drive. Parking in the lot is $3 (I thought it was 2, maybe they charged us an extra buck cause we're tourists, but oh well) but parking on the street is free. The market has tons of food vendors with Hawaiian, Filipino, Cajun, Chinese, and all sorts of other types of food. There's also a live band and dance floor. The vendors are all pretty unique and it's fun to see all the creative stuff they're selling. This place is PACKED, so be prepared to squeeze. Not good for people who don't like crowds or loud environments, but for everyone else, it's definitely worth checking out.

What an awesome gem on Wednesday's!! Most tour books won't ever mention it but if you're in the area, this is a must do. While it's filled with 90% locals, you'll get through it just fine as a visitor. If you've ever been to an Asian night market, it's eerily similar but with an addition of a live band. Tons of food options from local Hawaiian food to Thai to Filipino, Indian, burgers, wings, you name it. Not only that but most all food options were actually very well priced, most plates in the $10-15 range.

Heard this place was a "must go" so we tried it, and it was dead. Looked kind of scary to even go in, I'm sure before COVID hit it probably was the place to be, but now it's not. Don't waste your time going here.

"The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook" says this about Pahoa: "Known as the Big Island's outlaw town, this is where guerrilla gardeners, dreadlock enthusiasts, FBI fugitives, and the never-bathe crowd coexist." Uncle Robert's is where the aforementioned types -- plus retirees and a smattering of tourists like Yours Truly -- gather on Wednesday nights to eat, drink, be merry, and co-mingle. I was fortunate enough to have some local friends take me to enjoy a Wednesday there. We arrived a little before sunset. Parking is $3, with the lots carved into the recent lava flows, which seem to have split to encircle and spare the Uncle Roberts buildings. A quarter mile walk past the parking and along the lava gets you to a beach of sorts; while it's less black sand and more black rocks, the sunset views and crashing surf there are pretty. Around sunset, the long picnic tables under a massive roof begin to fill up and the Hawaiian band, which I understand some permutation of which shows up every week, starts to play. In addition to the tables there is a long row of elevated seats, which seem to have been liberated from a tour bus. Surrounding this gathering place are food vendors. Food is served from trucks and beneath tarps, and is reminiscent of the type of place you'd find in South America or Southeast Asia. I had some pretty unremarkable chicken and beef skewers and fried lumpia, all available at first-world pricing. There's a bar, but it's OK to BYO -- we brought wine and whisky. On the path to the "beach" there's a this-land-does-not-belong-to-the-USA mural. The band also made a comment while introducing a song regarding theft of the lands from the natives. Regardless, the vibe is extremely friendly and the people are very inclusive. And the crowd was incredibly diverse, with all ages, shapes, sizes, and skin tones laughing it up and dancing it up. There's a kava hut nearby, for those who want to try a cupful of mouth-numbing murky brown liquid under a thatched roof. I'm really thankful to my hosts for showing me here and I'd implore you to include an Uncle Roberts Wednesday Night on your trip to the region.

I really like this spot. It'd close to where I am staying and the people working here are really nice and friendly. I can see this is a market on certain days but every other day they are open just the same. Uncles food shack was pretty great. I went in again and told him, what is something that would be considered local type food. His suggested the Lau Lau. He then told me it was pork, wrapped in Tea Leaf, then wrapped around a banana leaf that was cut from this location and cooked for Hour's! I never would have know to order this The pork was really good! Fully cooked but soft and broke apart so well. Full of flavors, I was really happy to eat this!

This place has not 100% come back from the pandemic. We went on a Wednesday night and there was a $20 cover. There were no vendors just one for food and that was it. The food was amazing but I was definitely expecting more vendors. It's cash only also so that's something to note. The cover didn't feel accurate for what you were getting. Portapotties were the bathrooms.

Love this magical place ! Great music ...rockin band with extra good singers I was a bit apprehensive, being a tourist , that people might not be super friendly, but it was a comfortable spot to hang out ...And , the food was wonderful , home style , tasty and a large amount . The ladies taking care of the food counter were lovely , making everyone feel at home

Night market is on Wednesday with a $10 entrance fee. There were 9 vendors selling food, a full bar and the live music. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, the music was fantastic and the food was delicious with so many choices. Highly recommend.

This place is located in a hippy part of town. The best thing about this place is that it is located in a short walk to the newest black sand beach. I have no idea why it is rated as the best place to visit on the Big Island. There are many other things much nicer to see.

What the heck happened to this place? It was once THE place to be on a Wednesday night. Now it is a tourist trap of the worst kind. $20 entry fee? F U. The local vibe is gone. Uncle would be rolling over in his grave. Just another casualty of the lava flow, but without the harm. Not for me.

Epic I love Uncles Every Wed night in Kalapana on Big Island Music, food, community. Check out the awa bar atoo a mound just outside the market. Just sit at the picnic tables and see who you meet. Also, check out the coastline nearby if you can.

Definitely party place to contrast those quiet beach days. I can't say I was prepared for it but there's plenty to eat, plenty to shop for and plenty to drink while there's music playing.

Puna's best (not kept) secret, every Wednesday night it's like a Jawaiian ( Jamaican Reggae and Hawaiian) music at near- Mardi-Gras level of excitement! At the end of Kalapana find Uncle Roberts and Let The Party Begin!!! Dancing, food no cover but you can burn through $40 in less than 2 hours by yourself! Bring a date? Plan on blowing a hundred bucks between food n 3 drinks each, deserts, trinkets and whatever else you wanna buy! Private security monitoring all around and especially in the privacy of the smoking hut, no alcohol or tobacco out there!! Get it? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Even if it's not fully open, the live music is really good and on the day I went two dancers showed Hawaiian dance too! Kava wasn't strong but cocktails were good and strong. All dishes were good too so please try them!

This is no-longer a farmer's market with vendors. We heard great things about this place but was told because of COVID they no longer have vendors. It is now just a outdoor place to listen to local music and pick up a lunch plate with alcohol drinks. Why I gave it two stars- Its not a farmers market & they charged $20 cover charge really should be $10.

Wild and wooly! This place is a phenomena to be experienced! Here are people of all ages crammed into this one little market listening to Hawaiian music, chowing down on authentic food from the stalls, buying odd items from booths, dancing, shouting, drinking and carrying on as if there were no tomorrow. I kid you not amigo! The heat of the night adds to the excitement of sounds, smells, pheromones and god knows whatever else is in the air that makes people want to scream, wriggle and shout with joyous rapture. Uncle Robert's is a magical place. The music! These Hawaiian musicians and a female vocalist were pounding out the songs that seemed to feed the experience like dry wood to a hot fire. The music was a cross between the Harry Owens TV show of the 50's (https://goo.gl/MNkbXX) and Buck Owens of the 60's ( https://goo.gl/9NtK0o ). There were lots of old people hanging out at the picnic tables listening to the music and a small crowd dancing to the tunes. I remember listening to Harry Owens and Royal Hawaiians when I was a little kid. No doubt the old people hanging at the picnic tables were thinking of that group... and perhaps Buck Owens also. (I do not think they are related.) The vibe here is warm and good. You will think that you have somehow crawled under the fence and back into the Garden of Eden where all is free, easy and happy. Everyone smiles, lots of hugs, kisses and good natured jostling. People who would likely not give you the time of day back in the big city are suddenly your best buddy because at Uncle Robert's everyone's best friends forever... until you leave anyway... or if you want a beer at the bar and have no dinero.

Loved loved loved this local hangout on Wednesday night. Great craft and food vendors. The food was soulful and the crafts were homemade. The alcohol and beer prices were even reasonable. The local band was unique, entertaining and playful. I wanted to get up and dance but I was already sweating profusely. I only wish I could have stayed longer but the drive back to Kona is a long one. I happily left full and broke!

If you happen to be visiting (or living on) the island, you have to visit Uncle Robert's Farmers Market! This is not your typical farmers market. If anything, this feels more like a neighborhood block party with live performances, good local style comfort food and arts and crafts available for purchase. Located near Kaimu Beach, this is held every Wednesdays from around 5 pm to 10 pm. The roads around the area aren't well lit so either attend the festivities early or bring a flashlight. If you had to try one dish at this farmers market, get the pasteles. The lady selling it makes it herself from scratch, which is more of a stew rather than its traditional form (similar to a tamale). Anyways, get a to-go container for $8, which comes with a bowl of rice. Eat half of it and save the rest for breakfast, which is what I needed before venturing out to Volcanoes National Park. Uncle Robert's is definitely worth the drive over.

I have been here many times, always felt welcome and loved it. Great atmosphere, music and friendly people. Until last night. One vendor, vegan food. I've never met anyone this dismissive and rude in HI, much less Uncle Roberts. Claudias Creations, certainly wouldn't waste my time ordering from her again. She seemed offended I was eating a chicken skewer, after ordering she said she was "selling out fast" then proceeded to serve the people who ordered after I did. She certainly could have sold me a small serving of black eyed peas. Maybe Uncle Roberts should have vendors a bit less dismissive and impolite. It was a very strange atmosphere there last night, don't think I'll be going back. Maybe if Uncle Roberts is going to have vendors maybe they should make it clear not to be a petty vegan snob and be rude to the patrons. It was amazingly rude.

Park on the lava flow ($3 in 2016) and walk 10 minutes across a weird blasted landscape of recently laid down lava to a brand new stony beach. Afterwards there is pizza, smoothies and street-food. Local craft stores with the usual fare - excellent glass sculpting. All the locals are there to chat to each other: you're welcome as a tourist, but not central to the gig, which is cool.

Awsome place to spend the evening. Live music and many many food stands. Delicious food every where!!! Make sure to come for sunset and walk to the nearby beach at the end of the parking lot. The views are gorgeous!!!

Uncle Robert's in Kalapana on Wednesday night is a festive gathering with music, a bar, food vendors, entertainment, a farmer's market and much more. Tourists, locals and many friendly "Punatics" are there. You will find every imaginable cuisine and even someone selling Tropical flavored Jello Shots. I go there for the best Pancit, Lumpia and Barbecue Pork Meat Sticks. If you're on the Big Island, head down to Uncle Robert's for a fun time and some delicious grinds!

What a hoot!! Weekly local event that welcomes everyone. Kids and grannies dancing to live music, lots of food choices, bar, flowers, crafts, art, jewelry, clothing...something for everyone. Thanks again to the flower lady who gave us better directions back to Kailya-Kona and a bottled water for the road. Only drawback was no bathroom on way back to parking area so best to make a pit stop before leaving. I will definitely return on every visit to the big island. Next time I intend to visit Black Sand Beach first (it was too dark later for me to trust the walk from the shared parking area).

Must visit the Night Market at Uncle Roberts... fun place to eat and people watch, listen to music, had the best Kombucha Ever from the guy who says this is the Best Kombucha you will Ever taste! Also had Amazing homemade ice cream that is actually vegan gelato with waffle cones (gluten free) pressed right in front of you. Awesome. Highly recommend especially if you appreciate local artisans and chill but festive crowds.

It's a good night farmer market if you haven't been to one. Good music, good selection of food, few stall of misc good. There a bar for beer and limited mix drinks (cheap). All in all is a good experience However, expected it to be overcrowded. There are a good number of bench but it was all pack and there really no place to sit and eat. That the only bad experience. So come early maybe 30-1hr earlier. We came right at 5pm and it was all packed.

I wouldn't really categorize this as a "farmer's market" because 2 fruit stands doesn't make it one. Parking is 2 dollars and before you enter the "market" there is a fruit (banana & papaya) vendor, a pizza and Thai food stands. As you enter the "market", music will welcome you and I thought it was pretty neat; I am convinced this is what people come for; you can also byob (bring your own beer/drinks) and food! You will see a bunch of food and maybe a couple or two accessories stands and also a mini bar and a Jell-O shots stand. The Filipino food stand sell food plates for 5-8 bucks with BIG portions; the brick oven pizza was okay for 7/8 bucks and the baked goods sections was okay but I advice to just save your cash and make your own. There is also a nearby grocery store where you can buy your drinks or snacks. All in all, if you're looking for a farmers market, this is probably not your best bet BUT if you want to listen to live Hawaiian music on a Wednesday and have a beer or two, this is the place for you.

Talk about a great experience!!! For anyone wanting to truly see what a locals night out is, CHECK. THIS. OUT. Food choices make you question what you want! Lots of handmade local gift options, or personal use things. Live music. Adult beverages (regular drinks galore too)! Totally kid friendly, we took our stroller (have 2 10 month old babies) but next time would probably wear them in carries just due to space. It's that busy!! We had several locals tell us it wasn't even busy yet. So I can't imagine what it is usually like! $3 to park in close parking lot, other wise you park on road and have to walk in, which that fills up quick. So worth the $3 personally! Again... this is our 3rd time on the island and 1st time here. We will be back!

Uncle Roberts Farmers Market is a really awesome place to visit on a Wednesday night especially if you're a visitor to the island and want a place to let loose. This is not your typical Farmers Market as there's a live band and a dance floor in the area that sets the mood for the venue. Everyone there was so kind and just had a great vibe going. Other than the band playing, there were various food vendors and arts and crafts being sold. They even have a bar with everything priced decently. There were tons of people walking around so if you're claustrophobic, I'd suggest you stay on the outer parts of the market as this place tends to be pretty crowded. Parking is $3 so bring cash as that's the only form of payment they accept as well as many of the vendors in the market. Or you could park alongside the road for free and walk about 5 min to the market. Great place to spend your Wednesday evening with friends and family!!

Love everything about this place! Also super happy that Nicoco Vegan Ice Cream is located here!