Rebekah’s Studio

Creator Ira Ono has put together the most charming fine arts gallery in a garden I have ever seen. A friend insisted on taking me there today. Now I agree it’s a must see when you visit Volcano on Hawaii island, where I happened to be for a high school class reunion.

The place is called Volcano Garden Arts and Cafe Ono. I was first attracted to the whimsy of interesting objects d’art mixed within the landscape, such as the colorful tea garden.

A pair of extra large blue-and-white pots stand like sentinels at the beginning of a path

Ono Tea Garden

Nearby, a small clearing ringed with mature pines offers a meditation space with a wooden bench at one edge and an altar at the opposite end.

Other sculpted figures provide additional oriental touches.

Large prayer flags decorate a secluded space for a luncheon or tea.

Mister Rabbit

Bird house spigot

Umbrella-ed tables

Two different lizards

Besides the garden there is an indoor space selling fine art by local artists—2D, jewelry, glass, textiles, an array of gift items. I ran into Ira Ono himself, and we had a delightful conversation that ended with him offering to rep me and my hand-dyed tissue paper collages. The artist has good taste.

~ Rebekah