Kahuku Farms
Kahuku Farms is a family run farm that also operates a roadside Farm Cafe & Country Store, farm tours and wagon rides.
These are new steps of an already long journey. Here’s a bit of their history from their website:
“Kahuku Farms is a result of two farming families spanning back three generations in Hawaii. Descendents of the Matsuda/Fukuyama families migrated to Hawaii from Japan to work in the sugar plantations back in the 1900’s. Shinichi and Torie Matsuda started farming bell peppers, papayas, watermelon and bananas in Kahuku back in the 1940’s and were later joined by their son Melvin in the the 1960’s. During a similar time Masatsugu and Nora Fukuyama, also of Kahuku, were farming watermelon, eggplant, papaya and cucumbers and were later joined by their son Clyde in 1965. Clyde and Melvin became long time friends and did several farming ventures together, one of which took them to Australia where they both worked for a year growing watermelons. With similar philosophies and goals, they both decided to merge the Matsuda and Fukuyama Farms in 1986 creating Kahuku Brand. Kahuku Brand is a company dealing primarily with growing and distributing Hawaii wholesale fruits and vegetables.
With the love of agriculture deeply rooted with both Mel and Clyde, they felt compelled to create a way to diversify and share the wonders and bounty of farming with friends and family, to educate, share and offer hands-on experiences that would enhance the quality of life and result in a deeper appreciation of agriculture as their purpose.
Thus, Kahuku Farms was created. A place intended for learning, enjoyment, and experience of diversified agriculture at its finest.
In 2005, the daughter of Mel and Momi Matsuda, Kylie Matsuda agreed to champion the task of running the operations for Kahuku Farms. “I feel honored and grateful to perpetuate our family’s future in farming,” says Kylie. “To share our generations of knowledge and history with others, in this amazing place that I’ve known as home is a dream I’m passionate to live.” Kylie is a graduate of Kahuku High School and the Travel Industry Management School at the University of Hawaii