Pumpkins
Pumpkins serve both holiday and culinary needs, often grown for fall festivals and local pie markets. Sunny leeward areas of Hawaiʻi Island provide suitable conditions if pests like pickleworm are managed.
Planting typically starts in mid-summer to meet the October–November demand for decorative and pie pumpkins. Varieties range from classic Jack O’Lantern types to Kabocha hybrids that cater to cultural preferences for sweet, dense flesh. As the season ends, many farms pivot to other cucurbits or keep a smaller patch of pumpkins for local consumption. With a festive draw, some producers capitalize on agritourism by hosting pumpkin patches. Although official data reflect modest acreage, the combination of Halloween-themed activities and year-round culinary interest in roasted or pureed pumpkin supports a short but pronounced market season.