Two dates on this fall's calendar at The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay benefit people who live along this stretch of Kamehameha Highway. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the 6th Annual Halloween Surf Off raises money for the Kahuku High School Surf Team. One week later, on Saturday, Nov. 7, the Town & Country Chef Series holds its final 2026 dinner, which includes a fundraiser for North Shore farms damaged by the March storms. The Surf Off's entry fees go to the team, and each Chef Series dinner holds a fundraiser for Chef Hui's farm relief.
Oct. 31: Costume heats for the Kahuku High surf team
Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience presents the Surf Off. Surfers of every age compete in costume, and contest entry proceeds go to the Kahuku High School Surf Team. According to Honolulu Magazine's October Halloween roundup, entry costs $20 and there are three divisions: tandem/all ages, 14 and under, and 15 and over. All skill levels can enter, and spectators are welcome.
The format and fee are unchanged from 2025. When Hawaii News Now covered the fifth annual contest last October, it reported the same $20 entry, the same three divisions and the same Kahuku High beneficiary.
Here is how the afternoon runs, from the resort's event listing:
- 1:00 p.m. Participant check-in and event opening
- 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Free face painting
- Through 5:00 p.m. Surf Off competition
- 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunset DJ set by Makana Pang and DJ Chris Pineapple
- Evening DJ Curtis at Off The Lip
The two event pages disagree on a couple of times. The resort's page starts competition at 1 p.m., and the organizer's page starts it at 2 p.m. The resort's page puts the Off The Lip set at 6 to 10 p.m., while a separate "Halloween After Dark at Off the Lip" listing shows 7 to 10 p.m. with DJ Curtis. If you're entering a keiki in the 14-and-under division, plan to arrive at 1 p.m. for check-in. Neither page says which break within the bay the contest will use.
Why a resort dinner series raises money for farms
The Chef Series fundraiser exists because of the March 2026 storms. The National Weather Service reports that back-to-back low pressure systems, widely reported as Kona Low storms, brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and damaging winds to Hawaiʻi from March 10 through March 24. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that the second storm sent chest-high floodwater into fields in Kahuku. Hawaii Public Radio reported that a North Shore cacao orchard measured nearly 21 inches of rain, along with damage to fencing, water lines and its access road.
The two main damage estimates from spring cover different areas:
| Estimate | Date | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| About $40 million in agricultural damage, from roughly 1,600 farmer reports | April 2, 2026 | Statewide, Hawaii Farm Bureau, via Hawaii News Now |
| More than $26.5 million in reported damage | June 4, 2026 | Oʻahu only, via Civil Beat |
Civil Beat's June report also found that public cleanup help did not cover private agricultural land, and that the city was still assessing farm cleanup across the island. That gap is what the restaurant series is set up to help with.
The resort announced the series on April 15 and said a portion of proceeds would go to Chef Hui. The resort's May 13 release announcing the series made the commitment firmer: "a fundraiser will take place at each dinner, with proceeds donated to Chef Hui to provide North Shore farm relief and community-led resources to farmers affected by the storm." Chef Hui's Kona Low relief campaign says donations pay for flood-relief meals and buy local ingredients from displaced farmers. The campaign describes plans to store surplus produce as frozen meals at partner kitchens and to connect affected farmers with kitchen space. Neither Chef Hui nor the resort has published how much the first two dinners raised.
Nov. 7 is the Harvest Session
The May release laid out three 2026 dinners. Chef Sheldon Simeon opened the series on May 23, Chef Lee Anne Wong cooked the "Late Summer Session" on Sept. 5, and Chef Mark "Gooch" Noguchi closes the year with the "Harvest Session" on Nov. 7.
Chef David Fernandez of Alaia, the resort's signature restaurant, hosts the dinner. The resort describes Noguchi as a chef, educator and advocate for Hawaiʻi's local food community. He'll cook with Fernandez, the resort's culinary team and a group of local farmers and producers. The dinner is multi-course with pairings and runs from 6 to 8 p.m. As of this writing, the event page doesn't list a ticket price. Reservations for the series have gone through Alaia's OpenTable page.
Recovery is still underway outside the resort, too. Honolulu Magazine reported on Oct. 2 that the North Shore is still recovering, and that a 90-day shuttle pilot bringing visitors to Waialua and Haleʻiwa booked up quickly. It was extended after positive feedback from businesses and riders.
Building both Saturdays around Kahuku
Both events fall on Saturdays, which makes them easy to pair with stops in Kahuku. The hours below come from Honolulu Magazine's Aug. 20 North Shore drive unless noted.
- Kahuku Farms Café is open Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The magazine's farm pizza and salad cost $15.50.
- Kahuku Sugar Mill trucks: Taro Hut is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with taro fries at $5.50. Seven Brothers is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Kuilima Farm Stand is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Kula Shave Ice North Shore offers a 10% kamaʻāina discount. Its own site lists seasonal hours, and they change between the two Saturdays. It's open noon to 6 p.m. through October, so a stop after the Surf Off works. From November it closes at 5 p.m., before the Nov. 7 dinner starts.
For parking on Oct. 31, Kuilima Cove beach access is free, and a small public-access lot is free on a first-come, first-served basis. If those spaces are full, resort parking may cost money. Expect the public stalls to fill early on contest day.
The rest of the season
The resort's calendar has more dates through the end of the year. Most listings show no price.
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 25 | Full Moon Crystal Yoga at Nalu Spa | 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 29 | Turtle Bay Foundation 13th Annual Golf Tournament | No details listed |
| Wednesdays | Paniolo, A Hawaiian Cowboy Lūʻau | 5:30 to 8 p.m. |
| Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving buffet, Kuilima Ballroom | 4 to 8:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving prix-fixe dinner at Alaia | 4 to 9 p.m. |
For golfers, Hawaiʻi residents get preferred rates by showing a valid ID at check-in. The resort doesn't publish the discount amount. Visitor rates start at $140 for nine holes and $250 for 18. The George Fazio course is still marked temporarily closed with no reopening date. It has been closed since 2020. In December 2023, GolfPass quoted a resort spokesperson saying there was "no set time" for it to reopen. Lei Lei's Bar & Grill is still open daily at the golf course.
If you own a home near Turtle Bay and host guests during the fall season, Hawaii Luxury Property Advisors can help put together a welcome guide covering the Surf Off, the Harvest Session and the Kahuku stops in between. We'll also keep it current as hours change after October. Schedule a Free Consultation and we'll go through your guest calendar together.
