Food. Family. Culture.
Pā'ina by Ocean is a program with a purpose of evoking culinary inspiration, agricultural awareness and food security on Hawai'i Island.
Our passion for food drives everything we do, from culinary exploration to mitigating the disconnect between local families and food production. We believe that "knowing your farmer" cultivates stronger communities, a more sustainable future, and recipes that have the opportunity to become stories.
Our Roots
Pā'ina by Ocean was founded by then 14-year old Kamaha'o Ocean Kanekoa and 'ohana in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Hotels, restaurants and businesses were closing their doors as the island headed toward lockdown.
We witnessed the immediate affect on our hometown farms as lettuce wilted in the soil, tomatoes rot on the vine, and over-ripened strawberries littered the fields. Many vendors filled the local food banks and still, food waste was becoming an inevitable reality across Hawai'i Island. There were few outlets to move local produce, yet we were impacted by supply chain shortages. We knew we had to take action.
Pā'ina by Ocean was born.
What started as an idea for an eight-week online farmer's market catapulted into a 52-week endeavor. The creation of Pā'ina Boxes - curated bundles of produce paired with homestyle recipes - became a staple within our Waimea and Waikoloa communities. Families were able to support local purveyors while enjoying quality, wholesome foods from over 60-island vendors including farmers, ranchers and fishermen.
Our partnership with organizations, such as the Ironman Foundation and Hawaii Lodging Association, propelled our reach even further. In one year, Pā'ina by Ocean paid out over $750,000 to Hawai'i Island vendors, keeping many of our stewards afloat. This movement was possible due to the unconditional support of our community, whose generosity surpassed all expectations.
Today, many of our vendors are in a better place and we've been able to realign our efforts. While we concluded our online market, we continue to offer Pā'ina Boxes for bulk-purchases and support local growers through our chef services.
As Seen on TV!
Ocean's time in the kitchen with Pā'ina paid off once he got a call from the hit television series, Top Chef!
Along with sister Jaydene, Ocean starred in the first season of Top Chef Family Style, a spin-off of the franchise that paired talented young chefs from across America with a family member.
The opportunity to cook for a number of celebrities and world renowned chefs, including head-judge Marcus Samuelson, was a dream come true for Ocean. It was also a chance to show the world the diversity and culture behind Hawaiian and local cuisine.
You can stream the entire season of Top Chef Family Style on Peacock.
