Farmers’ Dinner Set At Cactus

A Windward restaurant and a hui of local farmers are joining together to showcase island agriculture through a Farmers’ Dinner, a unique dining experience April 4 in Kailua.

The event is booked for 6 p.m. that night at Cactus restaurant, 767 Kailua Road next to Mu’umu’u Heaven.

As part of a quarterly series, this Farmers’ Dinner will feature a five-course tasting menu developed by Cactus owner and executive chef John Memering, using ingredients provided by Hanohano He’eia, a collaborative of Paepae O He’eia, Kako’o ‘Oiwi and Papahana Kuaola. Price is $65, or $95 with wine and cocktail pairings for each course. The samplings may include Samoan crab, he’e, limu, kalo, sweet potato, fern fiddleheads and more, harvested from the ahupua’a.

Seatings begin at 6 p.m., and tables are available throughout the evening by reservation only. For more information, call 261-1000 or visit cactusbistro.com.

Cactus bistro already is known for its use of local produce, pork from Shinsato Farms in Kahaluu, meats from Hawaii Island and sustainably caught or farmed island seafood.

A highlight will be talk-story sessions with the Hanohano He’eia organizations, which are working together to restore the ahupua’a of He’eia to ‘Aina Momoa (a land of abundance and plenty) via traditional and modern management techniques.

Paepae o He’eia cares for the 88-acre He’eia Fishpond owned by Kamehameha Schools; Kako’o ‘Oiwi is working to restore productivity on 405 leased acres of Heeia wetland, across Kamehameha Highway from the fishpond; and Papahana Kuaola is steward to the lands in the upper Heeia Stream region, restoring native plants and sharing ways to protect and enhance the native ecosystem and cultural values of the land.

(Hanohano He’eia also has a booth at Windward Mall Farmers Market from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Find them on the second floor by Macy’s.)