Worth the Drive: Kahumana Farm Café in Lualualei Valley

Photo: Maddy Chow

Few places in Hawai‘i offer a farm-to-table experience like Kahumana Organic Farm and Café. It’s almost two miles off Farrington Highway in Wai‘anae, where you’ll start to see lush fields on Lualualei Homestead Road.  The nonprofit originated in this valley in the 1970s; now it grows local and organic produce on 25 acres, houses and employs homeless residents and runs a summer feeding program for keiki and a day program for adults with disabilities and autism. The fresh produce goes into meals and desserts that you can order for pickup or delivery—or even better, stop in for lunch on a sunny beach day.

The food at Kahumana Café reminds me of summer dinners at my grandparents’ house. In their small backyard farm in Canada, I remember pulling carrots out of the ground, snapping beans off vines and digging up potatoes to make French fries. They grow broccoli, garlic, basil and Japanese ingredients like gobo and shiso, all the produce they need. Some of my favorite dishes even now are the ones my grandparents make from their garden: fresh salads with leafy greens, tomatoes and radishes; and stew made with my grandma’s canned tomatoes and whatever veggies need to be harvested.

Eating home-grown food is a comfort. So I have a passion for finding restaurants that feed people with ingredients as local and fresh as what my grandparents grow. Kahumana Café fills that niche. It’s open most days for lunch and Saturdays for brunch and dinner. And needless to say, the money they make goes back into supporting the community.

Here’s a sampling of the food:

Banana Bread French Toast, $15

Photo: Maddy Chow

At breakfast, I always need something sweet to balance the savory. After eyeing this dish on a nearby table, I knew this was what I wanted. Four huge slices of Kahumana Farm’s freshly baked banana bread are fried in eggy batter and topped with caramelized bananas and a drizzle of maple syrup. The thick slices are warm, and each bite is filled with bananas that are crisp and toasty. If you are a sweets lover, this is the perfect breakfast, and it can definitely be shared by two.

Portuguese Sausage Omelet, $15

Photo: Maddy Chow

This omelet is loaded with veggies and hefty pieces of Portuguese sausage. The onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and delicious, chunky zucchini all come from the farm; so do the fresh eggs. All this is topped with cheddar cheese and green onions and served alongside a piece of toast with fresh garlic butter. The flavors complement each other perfectly. I could have eaten another omelet, this was so good.

Shakshuka, $15

Photo: Maddy Chow

My first time trying shakshuka was well worth the trip by itself. It’s a special, though you can request it—this would be a good option for vegetarians or anyone looking for a healthier breakfast. Two poached eggs are cradled on a bed of tomato stew richly flavored with cumin, garlic, onions and paprika. Lucky for us, this dish comes with two slices of bread with herby garlic butter, which is the perfect amount to scoop up all of the gooey goodness. It is served in a cast iron skillet extremely hot, coming right out of the oven.

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I will be going back to try the banana crepe with liliko‘i butter and the fresh catch of the day. There are also volunteer days when you can help out with projects at the farm and food hub. Check the website’s events page for dates.

Open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 686-660 Lualualei Homestead Road, kahumana.org, @kahumanaorganicfarm