Island Treasures: Hawi Gallery
When Richard Bodien first opened the Hawi Gallery in 2011, he had no idea that this self-proclaimed Hawaiian museum would evolve into one of the most unusual shops on Hawai‘i Island.
“We started selling stuff people wanted, like ‘ukuleles. From a solitary ‘ukulele, the business has grown into what I think is the best ‘ukulele shop on the island,” he explains.
At the time, he had moved from the mainland with his then-wife Lee Bodien to learn more about Hawai‘i, its culture, and its people.
“You don’t come to Hawai‘i to get a job; rather you create a job,” he says with sincerity. And that’s just what Richard did, turning his hobby into a way of life.
“Here’s the crazy thing; music had always just been a hobby for me,” he explains. “We’re not just a music store, we’re a gallery featuring a range of different items.”
His first sale was an ‘ukulele from Big Island Ukulele Company with some Santana mini-bongos.
The first sign featured in the gallery was a spray-painted cutout of a baritone ‘ukulele; the image still hangs above the door today.
Now his business is full of distinctive Hawaiiana that he’s collected over the years, featuring everything from vintage Hawaiian aloha shirts to vinyl records featuring music from the 1960s
and 1970s.
“I have items you can’t find anywhere else in the world,” he says proudly.
People love it.
“I get Native Hawaiians who come to the gallery from Honolulu. They visit my shop and are just flabbergasted,” he exclaims. “Because this is the stuff they grew up with.”
Currently, some of the special items in the shop include a 1920s Paul Summers’ ‘ukulele and a 1940s custom lap steel guitar. According to Richard’s website, the instrument is “Unbelievable. See it to believe it.”
Hawi Gallery also features a variety of locally sourced items—books by local authors, instruments by on-island luthiers, and CDs by local musicians—on which Richard prides himself.
Anyone interested in playing the ‘ukulele can call Richard for a free lesson. During such instruction one may, according to Richard “discover something about the history and evolution of the ‘ukulele, and also learn to play a little too.”
The Hawi Gallery is located in Hawai‘i Island’s Kohala District. In this area, Richard says, “old Hawai‘i is still very much alive.”
55-3406 Akoni Pule Hwy, Hawi
808.889.1282 store
206.235.1648 cell
