08/01/2026
As many of you know, whenever I travel, one of my first stops is the local record store. As the owner of Rockit Records, I love seeing how fellow independent shop owners keep the vinyl community alive.
While visiting Hilo, Hawaii, I had the pleasure of spending time at Still Life Books • Vinyl • Art, owned by Kirk Puʻuohau-Pummill, and I came away very impressed.
The shop has exactly what I look for in an independent record store—a carefully curated selection of vinyl, books, and artwork, all presented in a warm, inviting atmosphere. You can immediately tell this isn’t just a business; it’s a labor of love built by someone with a real passion for music and culture.
As a fellow record store owner, I naturally pay attention to the details: organization, the quality of the inventory, customer service, and the overall shopping experience. Still Life excels in all of those areas. It’s the kind of place where you can lose yourself for hours flipping through records and discovering hidden treasures.
If I could offer one friendly suggestion, it would be to consider expanding the heavy metal selection. From what I’ve seen, the heavy metal scene on the Big Island is growing and gaining momentum. The store already has excellent representation of jazz, classic rock, and many other genres, but I think a dedicated metal section could attract an entirely new group of collectors and become another strength of an already outstanding shop.
Other than that, I honestly found the experience to be first-class. Independent record stores thrive because of the communities that support them, and Still Life Books • Vinyl • Art is a wonderful example of why these stores matter.
If you’re ever in Hilo, stop in, say hello to Kirk, browse the bins, and support a great local business. From everyone at Rockit Records, mahalo for helping keep vinyl culture alive. I wish Kirk continued success, and I hope some of our followers have the chance to visit this outstanding store.