In the heart of Oahu’s rural North Shore lies Kahuku Farms, a five-acre attraction that offers a welcome respite from the urban hustle of Honolulu. Managed by Kylie Matsuda-Lum, the farm is a testament to her family’s rich farming history that dates back to the early 1900s when her great-grandfather emigrated from Fukuoka, Japan, and began cultivating pineapple.
Over the years, the Matsuda family expanded their agricultural endeavors, with Kylie’s father, Melvin, growing papaya and apple banana for 50 years. Today, the family operates Kahuku Farms, where they focus on creating a sustainable and educational farming environment.
Kahuku Farms is family-friendly, offering free admission and an expansive lawn perfect for children to play while adults unwind under the shade of neem and hau trees. Visitors can explore a diverse garden filled with flourishing fruit trees that captivate audiences of all ages.
The farm’s café stands out as a prime example of farm-to-table dining with a menu featuring pizza, salads, sandwiches, soups, and smoothies made from fresh ingredients harvested from Kahuku Farms and its parent company, Matsuda-Fukuyama Farms.
For those looking to take home a piece of their experience, the Cocoa House invites souvenir hunters to browse through a delightful selection of edible treats, bags, hats, shirts, and even doggie treats, alongside gourmet coffee and tea drinks.
One of the highlights of a visit to Kahuku Farms is the Grand Wagon Tour, a 90-minute excursion that educates guests about the farm’s growing practices and challenges. Given the tour’s popularity, visitors are encouraged to book online well in advance, as it often sells out quickly.
The tour, led by Judah Lum, Kylie’s husband and the director of operations, takes participants on a tractor-pulled wagon through about 30 acres of production fields and orchards. Along the way, Judah shares insights into the Matsuda family’s farming legacy and discusses the various challenges faced by local Hawaiian farmers today.
“Farming in Hawaii may seem easy due to the beautiful weather year-round, but that’s a common misconception,” Judah explains. “Around 85-90% of our food is imported, and invasive pests thrive in the warm climate, which presents a constant battle for local farmers.”
Judah mentions that the warm and humid conditions of Hawaii are not only favorable for crops but also for pests like mites, aphids, and beetles that can disrupt production. The need for vigilant pest control, alongside managing weeds, is crucial for maintaining healthy crops that can compete in the market.
Farmers in Hawaii face additional hurdles from natural disasters like floods and droughts, which can severely impact crop yields, illustrating the resilience required to sustain agricultural operations.
Throughout the tour, participants learn about the intricate details of different crops. The banana grove visit reveals that a banana plant produces only one bunch of fruit in its lifetime, and the process of managing the growth cycle involves careful replanting of shoots following harvest.
In the papaya field, tourists discover that papaya trees can exhibit three distinct sexual forms—male, female, and hermaphrodite. Only the hermaphrodite plants are kept for production since they yield tasty, symmetrical fruits.
Furthermore, the tour includes a stop at the cacao orchard, the only location in the U.S. where cacao is grown commercially. Due to Hawaii’s perfect climate, cacao trees flourish, producing pods that can be harvested multiple times throughout the year.
“Typically, we harvest cacao pods from February through May and again from October through December,” Lum explains as he shares some freshly opened cacao pods for tourists to taste the pulp surrounding the beans, which hints at the chocolate-making process.
The cacao’s flavor profile offers a delightful contrast, complementing Kahuku Farms’ own chocolate, available for purchase at the Cocoa House.
Kahuku Farms provides more than a simple farm experience; it offers a space for visitors to connect with nature while promoting education about sustainable farming practices.
Judah invites everyone to enjoy the slow-paced country living that Kahuku Farms embodies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding where food comes from and appreciates the labor that goes into ensuring quality produce reaches consumers.
Kylie and her family have cultivated an environment that fosters good vibes and hospitality, making every visit special. Whether relaxing on the lawn, indulging in delicious farm-sourced food, or exploring the vast fields, visitors are guaranteed an enriching experience that highlights Hawaii’s strong agricultural roots.
For anyone seeking a peaceful getaway while appreciating local farming traditions, a trip to Kahuku Farms is not to be missed.
image source from：travelagewest
