Nature, people, community – Pyhämaa is a small paradise on the coast
- On the beautiful island of Pyhämaa, life revolves around a communal island lifestyle throughout the year. For the locals, being from Pyhämaa is a way of being, living, and seeing the world.
You feel it as soon as you park your car on a summer afternoon at the Telakanranta in Pyhämaa: there’s something special here. The salty scent of the sea gently lapping at the shore mixes with the sound of scrubbing brushes at the mat-washing station and the smiles on the faces of the people you meet.
When you talk to the people of Pyhämaa, beneath their dry island humor lies a sense of contentment. It’s as if they know something that the rest of us haven’t yet figured out.
Markku Junttila, who was named Pyhämaa person of the year, put it well: ‘We have everything here: forests, fields, the sea, the outer archipelago, and the people,'” says Kari Aalto, chairman of the Pyhämaa tourism association.
And the services!” adds Pyhämaa activist Mirkka Ali-Laurila.
-Two village shops, a good restaurant, our own school, and a daycare opening in August. We’ve worked hard for the school and daycare and will continue to do so. We’re not going to give them up.
Having a local school is a vital pillar for Pyhämaa.
-Everyone here understands that if the school closes, it’s not good for the community, says Juha Johtela, also an active Pyhämaa resident.
A village school with around twenty students sounds like just the kind of safe educational environment parents dream of for their children. The teaching is high-quality and individualized, and the whole village participates in raising the children.
-The strength of the school is precisely the community support. Organizations arrange various themed days for the students, including hunting, fishing, and water conservation. During PE classes, it’s easy to go swimming or kayaking at the nearby shore, Ali-Laurila explains.
The charm of Pyhämaa also captivates tourists – they eagerly visit the island’s two churches, beautiful nature, and summer theater, and there are even enthusiastic newcomers who would like to move in. If only there were suitable houses available.
-We’re constantly thinking about this issue. We’re compiling a list of available homes and considering the best way to address the housing shortage, Kari Aalto says.
Developing solutions seems to be a core part of being from Pyhämaa. If something is needed for the common good, the locals roll up their sleeves and get to work. Volunteer efforts have created the Pyhämaa cultural steps, the terrace at Telakanranta, and the renovation of the youth center, as well as the restoration of the Fräkäli fish hut and two beaches.
When a critical situation arises, a village meeting is called.
This happened, for example, with the disc golf course. The plan was to get a few affordable baskets for the students to practice with. When someone suggested that if they were going to buy baskets, they might as well get good ones, a village meeting was called.
At the meeting, the idea of a few baskets expanded into building a full course.
-It was only after the decision was made that we went to Lokalahti to see how this game is actually played. None of us knew, Kari Aalto chuckles.
Behind this eager teamwork is a desire to move things forward for the benefit of the community. No one is forced to join, but many new residents have found a pleasant way to volunteer.
What’s a better way to get to know the locals than by doing something together? muses Mirkka Ali-Laurila.
The conversation with the Pyhämaa activists is relaxed and inspiring – new ideas are developed on the fly at every meeting. Even now, ideas for future winter snowshoeing and weekly coffee gatherings for Pyhämaa residents are emerging.
-We have a lot of events, but we’ve noticed that people just want to meet and catch up. Maybe we could set a weekly time for people to gather here at Telakanranta for coffee, Aalto suggests.
The conversation is always kept light-hearted. Local humor can sometimes be quite rough, like giving a cemetery plot as a birthday present instead of a material gift.
Of course, the plot is from the Pyhämaa cemetery.
-Yes, our humor is a bit unique,” admits Juha Johtela.
The whole charming island and its people are unique. Perhaps the area’s long history and traditions mixed with modern ways and local character create the special atmosphere of Pyhämaa.
-Hey, look, Aalto calls out, showing his phone to the others. I just got a message that we’re getting a rescue boat and oars for the shore.
Another local project is nearing completion.
