FALL 2022 GUIDE TO HAWAII FARMS WITH fall activities
Eia ke kau a ʻIkuwā
ʻAneʻane ka piʻina ʻo Makaliʻi,
He hōʻailona no Lonoikamakahiki.
He nohona mālie
He wā mālama pilina.
He wā mālama kekahi i kekahi
The season of ʻIkuwā has arrived,
Makaliʻi will be rising soon,
Which is the sign that Lono will be here.
It is a calm lifestyle.
A time to nourish our relationships,
A space where we care for each other.
Hawaiʻiʻs Fall Season starts with the month of ʻIkuwā, which is characterized by rough seas and stormy nights. The modern equivalent is the month of October, where the Makaliʻi (Pleiades) rises which marks the official beginning of the Makahiki season. Which was a time of rest and celebration, where families and communities participated in ceremonies and Makahiki festivities as Lono (one of the deities of Hawaiian agriculture and peace) travels throughout the islands. In present day Hawaiʻi, it is still a time of celebration as fall holidays means spending time with ʻohana and friends. Our guide below helps you to navigate the different farms and festivals that you and your ʻohana and friends can participate in together and create memories while supporting local farms! *Check with the farms ahead of time for information on safety & social distancing measures.
Photo: Kula Country Farms
Photo: Waimanalo Country Farms
Hawaiʻi Island - Onomea Farm Hub
Onomea Farm Hub is our Hawaiʻi Farm Trails headquarters. It is also here where we have our Onomea Country Market and Cafe, our local-and-farmer sourced cafe and market; and growing our educational agroforestry garden and butterfly sanctuary. We will be celebrating the Spooky Season on October 29 from 5-8pm with pumpkin carving, scary snacks, costume contest, and ʻohana friendly Halloween movie marathon. For more information and details visit Pūpū & Pumpkins.
Hawaiʻi Island - Hawaiʻi Green Earth
Hawaiʻi Green Earth is a small diversified farm established on Hawaii Island in 2012 that believes in natural farming that creates harmony with nature. Additionally they strive to create an ecosystem that produces and maintains the highest quality soil, produce, pastured products and impeccable hands-on education. Their lifeʻs work and passion is to help increase food availability on store shelves and in the backyards of our Island community, not just by supplying products, but by educating the youth, helping them become conscious global citizens and thoughtful land stewards. At Hawaii Green Earth, they are creating healthy solutions for food while keeping the future in mind. In collaboration with Big Island Pulse, they will be hosting this yearʻs Holoholoween 2022. There will be activities for the whole ʻohana, such as a pumpkin patch, farm animal feeding, music, vendors, fun crafts, a Cane grass maze, and much more!
Maui - Kula Country Farms
On the slopes of Haleakalā in Kula, Maui is the Kula Country Farms. A fourth generation family owned farm, that puts family first and farms with love. They are known for their strawberries, local produce through their on-site farmstand, fall pumpkin patch, strawberry U-pick, and many other farm related events. From October 1st through the 31st, they will be hosting their annual pumpkin patch every day from 9am to 4pm. In addition to their pumpkins, they will have drinks, snacks, and food available for purchase. Additionally, theyʻll have decorative gourds, sunflowers, and carving tools available for your ʻohana.
Oʻahu - Aloun Farms
From a small 18 acre family farm to currently over 3,000 acres of farmland in the ʻEwa Plains, Kunia, Waipiʻo, and Helemano, Aloun Farms mission is to provide Hawaiʻi with “highest quality of fresh island grown product.” This mission is part of a larger goal to help with reducing Hawaiʻiʻs dependency on imported produce through an increase of local production to be able to distribute to wholesalers across Hawaiʻi. Advocates for community outreach, they provide education tours and in collaboration with Future Farmers of America, provide school-to-work programs, educational farm visits, and practical training for FFA high school students have been implemented.
Pumpkin Festival: Their 20th annual Pumpkin Fest will be held on the last three weekends of October starting on October 15th and running through October 30th. The event will include Food and Craft vendors, free hayrides, keiki activities, and a farmers market. Take your ʻohana to spend the day at Aloun Farms to harvest pumpkin, string beans, and sunflowers! For more details and information please visit their website.
Sunflower Photo Sessions (limited time): Sunflowers are in bloom in Kapolei at the Aloun Farms. They will be doing a limited time special for photoshoots in their sunflower fields, on October 13th and 14th. The photoshoot will be up to 30 minutes and up to 6 people and receive. Visit their website to reserve your photo session with them.
Oʻahu - Waimanalo Country Farms
Fall Fest: Located in the beautiful Koʻolaupoko district is the Waimānalo Country Farm. Formerly known as Golden Melon Farm, was founded in 1948. The Waimānalo Country Farms is a 6th generation family operated farm on 52 acres. The pumpkin patch itself begin in 2010 along with the first batch of sunflower seeds. Their farm is well-known for their sunflowers, corn, and pumpkin patch and both their farm and ʻohana continues to grow. The pumpkin patch will be available during the weeks from Tuesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays) through October to November 20th.
Fall Rustic Nights: Waimanalo Country Farms will be hosting their Fall Rustic Nights, a date night type of event (but keiki 3yo and older are welcome). The Fall Rustic Nights will be held on various dates from October through November and will include: food, music, night-time sunflower field visit, and photo props and opportunities.
Oʻahu - Kuilima Farm
“Kuilima means "holding hands with the land." Kuilima Farm consists of 468 acres of agricultural land on Turtle Bay Resort's "ma uka" (toward the mountains) side of its property on O'ahu's North Shore and includes 34 community garden plots. Turtle Bay Resort, along with Pono Pacific, lead the mission of Kuilima Farm, which is to aid farmers and gardeners in bringing fresh, natural food, agriculture business incubation, food security, and agricultural and cultural education opportunities to local residents and guests.” Join the Kuilima Farm at the Turtle Bay resort for their Fall Festival. The event will include a pumpkin patch, tractor rides, farm tours, food & craft vendors, fall photo op areas, community performances, live entertainment, educational booths, and face painting.
Oʻahu - Mariʻs Gardens
Mariʻs Gardens is a family owned and operated farm that is located in Mililani, Oʻahu. Their mission is to promote sustainable living, urban farming, and buying local, with a dedication to aquaponic and hydroponic growing techniques to produce high quality vegetables, fruits, and fish for our community. In addition to a variety of ornamental plants for indoor and outdoor, they offer farm tours, farm-to-table dinners, workshop & private events, and more. This fall their annual mini-pumpkin patch will be open in Mililani, Monday through Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. If you are interested in further supporting locals, they will have mini-pumpkin planters, and other items, plants, produce, and workshops available.
Oʻahu - Keiki and Plow
Keiki and Plow is a family-run, educational, non-profit, and organic farm located in Maunalua* (Hawaiʻi Kai) on Oʻahu. They provide local families a hands-on farm experience to play in the dirt, harvest your own produce, and enjoy reconnecting with the ʻāina (land). They have weekly and open farm days every Friday from 9am-11am, registration is required. They do host private playgroups and private events from Tuesdays-Thursdays & Saturdays-Sundays.
On Friday, October 28, they will have a special Open Farm Day in celebration of the spooky season. Join them for a morning full of Halloween themed activities and farm play. Keiki are welcome to come dressed in their Halloween costumes. Click here to learn more and register for your spot.
