What is it? Where is it?

[ironyak]

Edge - There was some guessing about the left-right lettering, as it was too blurry.  But knowing it was coffee she was fairly certain the left side said bitter.  She said that’s an aspect of coffee which is popular in Brazil and now in Japan.  Her first guess for the right side was sour, but that sounded like something was lost in translation so I asked for clarification and she said, yes, subtle sourness, more like umami.
In looking at it closer, I think that's right, and mirrors this 5 Basic Flavors in Japanese blog. On the x-axis, the left character is most clearly 苦味（にがみ, nigami) - bitter flavor and the right character is likely 酸味（さんみ, sanmi）– sour/acidic/tart flavor. You'll have to let us know how different they all actually are in taste.

And yes, be sure to start the reverse engineering of that Shinkansen Ice Cream vending machine one sample at a time. Can't let the Puna Express line fall behind in traveler accommodations - why sit in traffic on 130 when you can ride in style with Lilikoʻi アイスクリーム!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I call this one Old & New.  It’s cropped close, I’ll bring more into view as need be.
It’s in Puna. 

   

[TomK]

First thought was the Pahoa police and fire station, but the background trees don't seem right, and the foreground roof doesn't either. Am I close?

[HiloJulie]

The roof on the building in the foreground keeps saying to me Kilauea Visitors Center?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Kilauea Visitors Center?

We have a winner!
Here’s a photo with the chimney which I cropped out in the first photo, I didn’t want to make it too 

the background trees don't seem right

Yes, you noticed that clue.

   

---

Here’s one from the side facing the picnic area.  The row of skylights are on both sides of the roof peak.

   

[Durian Fiend]

Good eyes.  

But...it's in Ka'u. 

[HiloJulie]

What triggered my fading memories was the very sparse use of an asphalt shingled roof, which, an old time Hawaiian guy once told me years ago was for better sound deadening of the rain for the benefit of what's going on inside the building as well as the acidic damage potential from volcano fallout. 

I don't know if either is really true - it just you sure don't see a lot of asphalt shingled roofs on the east side of Hawaii!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

But...it's in Ka'u.  

You’re right, it is!  The district lines up there get a little squiggly.  There is a national park sign on the road before you exit Volcano Golf Course, and I was told that houses on Maealani Place, first road on the right as you enter Golf Course subdivision were in Puna.  But now I’m not so sure about that.

Just goes to show you can get it right, even with misinformation!

the acidic damage potential from volcano fallout. 

After the most recent episode with southerly winds that dumped ash all over Volcano residential areas, I spoke with someone who checked the pH of the water in a tub where he collects rain for watering plants - - the pH was 4.0.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Just a cropped photo to start. No hints.  I have a few different views which I will post if necessary, or after the building and location are guessed.  I liked the way the wooden planks (or hollowed trunks?) are attached to the posts.

   

[ironyak]

I'd guess it's some building on the Kamehameha school campus (they seemed to like those rain chains in the past) - in the right neighborhood?