Pumpkin Patching at Aloun Farms

Last weekend the kids and I went in search of a pumpkin patch on Oahu. It’s something that we do every year when we pick our pumpkins. Something about going to the store and picking a pumpkin off the shelf is devoid of the experience of going to the pumpkin patch, it’s just not for us. I didn’t think there would be one but I was happily surprised to find that not only is there one pumpkin patch on Oahu, but there is at least two pumpkin patches that I know of on this island. One in Kapolei and one in Waimanalo on the Windward Side. Kapolei is closer to us and when you live on an island, driving to the other side can be a haul. It took longer for us to get to Aloun Farms because the directions were nebulous. iPhone GPS directions and online mapping directions were both a bust so I was driving everywhere on the Leeward Side looking for a patch of land with pumpkins. If you’re wondering, you want to take the Kapolei/Ewa exit to Farrington Hwy and Whoomp! There It Is! A patch of land with pumpkins, ON AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN!!! How Wonderful!! Perfect place to take some photographs of my children, my little family. We arrived one hour before closing so we were on a mission.

There were a couple of bouncy houses for the kids, a few food vendors, a rock climbing wall, food donation/ info station, a beautiful sunflower garden, Cinderella size pumpkins, mini pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!!! Orange and white pumpkins! I was really happy to see pumpkins on the stem rooted into the ground and not a faux field with pumpkins flown in from the mainland placed on dirt. These are actually Oahu, Hawaii grown pumpkins. Happy! Happy! Happy!

We took the tractor hay ride for 1 dolla to take us around the farm… a good opportunity to check out what’s out there… we saw a few squares of land with crops of onions, corn, banana’s and of course pumpkins. The tractor made stops at the onion and corn fields for you to pick your own fresh produce. It was a quick ride with beautiful views of the mountains and the sky.

We walked through the patch and most of the pumpkins had already been cut off the stem for convenience and we picked through them…

Isabella found her perfect pumpkin. It had personality just like her!

Marlena went off on her own in search of her treasure… that’s the Waianae Mountains in the distance, I love those mountains.

Jensen found a companion mini pumpkin to go with the big pumpkin he chose.

This will be our first Halloween here so it’ll be a first experience, just like this pumpkin patch visit is.  I’m so glad I brought my camera to photograph everything.  My kids are used to these impromptu photo sessions and with a little coaxing they oblige me.  It was interesting to go to a pumpkin patch in shorts and slippahs (flip flops to you mainlanders) AND in warm weather. It’s our life now, perfect weather all year round.

Lots of mini pumpkiny gourdy things… very cute little mini  pumpkins… those are my boots you see… I finally found the perfect place to wear them and I didn’t feel ridiculous!!!

Cute little mini orange pumpkins!

My little guy was soooo disappointed that we didn’t have time to jump into the bouncy houses. We made our pumpkin purchases (they charge by the size) right at closing so they were deflating the bouncy houses and closing up shop…. sorry buddy…

Jensen was not happy… but mom had to squeeze in one LAST picture before we left…. in front of the sunflower garden… I haven’t seen a sunflower patch since I left California, so I was really happy to see this and I’ll be happy to visit it again next year.

Have a great Wednesday!!! Much Aloha, ~jennifer