The 18th Annual Pumpkin Festival kicked off Saturday at Aloun Farm.

Families got to enjoy free hayrides, live entertainment and a petting zoo.

But the biggest draw is the pumpkins. You can pick that perfect one for your jack-o-lantern.



Organizers expect some 60,000 people to visit the farm during this month’s festival.

Event coordinator Michael Moefu said, “It’s the pumpkin festival but more than just pumpkins. We invite the people to the farm to come out and see what we’re about, where we’re located. They can pick corn, string beans, sunflowers and a dozen different varieties of pumpkins.”

Linda and Pat Oka said, “When we heard about being able to pick our corn and do all this, we thought it would be like an adventure to come out and gather our own food and then feed our family with the food we gather. So we thought it’d be fun. And is had been yah? Very much.”

The festival will take place over three weekends in October: Oct. 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all days.

The following are special days:

Oct. 20: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Member Appreciation Day offers free entry and special giveaways to its members. Also visit Dr. Healthy Hounds Obstacle Course, available all three weekends with prize giveaways and a photo booth for the entire family to enjoy.

Oct. 27: Free farm activities at the new Keiki Fun Zone activity booth.

Cool off at the Family First Solar’s Growers Pavilion with Pacific Breeze fans, free wifi hot spot, and DirecTV streaming live games all weekend.

Taste freshly harvested pumpkin honey at the activities center, select fruitful bounty at the Ewa Sweet Farmers Market, score a free mini gourd at the pumpkin pay station exit when you present a Pumpkin Festival postcard, and stop by a photo station to snap the perfect farm family photo.

Aloun Farm proudly partners with Hawaii Foodbank, who will be accepting canned food donations throughout the month of October. With each donation of canned food, visitors receive a free mini-pumpkin or colorful gourd from Aloun Farms.

Donate, Save and Win: Bring two garbage-size bags of gently used clothes or other cloth goods and receive free entry. Also, enter to win a daily family four pack to Wet n Wild Hawaii. Your donation benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hawaii, United Cerebral Palsy of Hawaii, and National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.

Otherwise admission is $3 per person and kids ages 2 and under are free.

Aloun Farms is located on Old Farrington Highway between Kapolei and Waipahu. Use Exit 3 North/South Road and follow the orange pumpkin flags.

Call (808) 677-9516 for more information.