This was a fun place to stop. When you are touring the island, learn about all the sites (May 2016)
Lisa P.
This is a part training school to teach handi capable adults skills in food service. I find the hours vary and often find a closed restaurant like the Red Lantern - I took a pic of below. It's a nice drive and u can always drive to Dole Plantation next door if everything at Helemano Plantation is closed.
Hays Potts
Now a nursing home per a security guard. No longer a5 gift shop or restaurant.Could not rate quality of new facility.
Pam A.
My favorite place to go for Christmas Norfolk greens--trees, wreaths, swags. Awesome helpful and friendly personnel and beautiful lasting Christmas trees and wreaths !! Highly recommend this Christmas Tree Farm!!!
RAMESH KHETANI
Picturesque Asian and Hawaiian gift shop for community-oriented organization, selling Asian jade & gold jewellery and Hawaiian tees Helemano Plantation Wahiawa Hawaii US NA.
Yves S.
I am currently planning a family vacation next year with two of my little picky eaters and Dole plantation is in our list. But I want to take them to this little gem for lunch that I ate at years ago when I first visited Oahu and Dole Plantation. I just remembered asking our guide where he was going for lunch and he responded saying to the real buffet. As a tourist I wasn't quiet sure what buffet he was referring to as Dole Plantation didn't have a buffet. So my friend and I followed him and I'm so glad we did! Ok that was over 10 years ago and I still remember what I ate because it was that good: rice, chicken long rice, fried chicken and ice cream. I also remember lots of uniformed soldiers making a stop of lunch. I can't wait to support this wonderful cafe and planation on our future visit! And oh I don't remember paying so much to eat here either!
Leigh Ann Kowalsky-Goodwin
Great holiday event Hawaiian style! They also sell fresh wreaths that are circular or candy cane shape!
104barbarae
We trusted the web site, which shows open today (Monday) 9:00 - 3:00. No, after an hour plus on the bus, we found the gate chained closed. Called then, to be told they’re closed for renovation this week, open next week - but I’m skeptical, would call ahead. We always come here at least once during our annual visits to Hawaii; usually have a car, but not this time. The food is good and we like to support them, so disappointed this time.
Venassa Orillo
Friendly, helpful and understanding
Trudy A.
I was looking for an alternative to the super touristy Dole Plantation and decided to check out Helemano right next door. When I read that it is a training opportunity for people with developmental challenges I was even more intrigued. We pulled into the nearly empty parking lot and decided to check out the buffet first as we were ready for lunch. This was definitely the highlight of our visit. It is a large dining area and we were invited to choose a table to sit at. The buffet is not large but there were plenty of tasty options and everything was really good. They offer a green salad bar with all of the fixings and a few pre-made salad options. They had katsu chicken, sweet and sour pork, egg rolls, veggies, buns, and other items to choose from. Everything was fresh and tasty. The service was friendly and efficient and we enjoyed our lunch. After lunch, we wandered around through the buildings seeing what else they had to offer. They have a small gift shop with rather random items. Most of the things seemed pretty dated and sadly there was nothing we felt compelled to take home. I would have liked to have asked a few questions about the place but while everyone was polite, no one seemed super approachable so I didn't really get a good feel for what the plantation had to offer. We walked around a bit and the gardens are fairly sparse, no pineapples to be seen and several photo-op type displays that honestly looked pretty rickety and I'm not sure I would be comfortable standing near them. I wish there was more to see and do so I could bring more friends out to visit. The buffet was really nice but I can't see myself driving out there just for that. I would recommend it if you want to get away from the Dole crowd and get a good lunch! And support a great program of offering training opportunities.
Crouching Pineapple Hidden Gem I was blessed to have the opportunnity to visit this restaurant today and was pleased with the value and accomodations. Nestled secretly in the luscious pineapple fields, north of Wahiawa and next to the bustling tourist attraction and not to be confused with, Dole plantation, Helemano Plantation Country Inn Restaurant is indeed a ultra rare and wholesome find. This establishment features a clean and spacious indoor restaurant complete with AC, private area seating for luncheons or business meetings, outdoor seating, adjacent shops and restrooms, salad and dessert bar, soups and all you can eat hot stations. Parking was very spacious. This isnt a country inn like the states if you are wondering, (probably wont see country fried steak, mash potatoes, gravy,mac and cheese)as the foods are more locally tailored. Todays all you you can eat buffet featured appetizers such as, house salad, pasta salad, mac salad, tossed greens, pineapple, half moon with stir fry, beef vegatable soup, and jello. The warm entrees included rice and fried rice, sweet and sour spare ribs, kalua pork, vegatble stir fry, spring rolls, shoyu chicken, and fried noodles. I would not say that this is the best food ever but some of it stood out. The Mac salad tasted fresh, so was the soup, I really enjoyed the Kalua Pork and Cabbage, it had a very nice smoky taste to it and I could just eat that and only that next time and be happy with it. Chicken, fried rice and noodles were kinda dried out from sitting in warmer too long, but the place wasnt busy and its understandable for buffet. They did say the menu rotates so all the more for repeat visits. Only other minor thing was that the drinks was water and tea, if you want soda or anything else its additonal charge. So why the 5 stars? For one, Value, very rare to find a all you can eat for bout 12 dollars these days and especially in this area. Secondly, Im not a big fan of big crowds at buffets where I cant even hear conversations you are having at the table. This place was very spacious, comfy, and quiet. Family friendly but at the same time I see this place perfect for accomodating luncheons for companys or business metings with clients, yes they even have free WiFi. Finally, my nephew did enjoy the jello and spring rolls, thats all he really ate but indicated he was happy he could those two things all day here. Place also refilled the tray with fresh spring rolls cause we cleaned it out lol. When the kids can be satisfied, its a done deal. Thank you for the friendly service Country Inn!
Mark Worrell
Nice little place. Could use some food variety, and a more welcoming atmosphere. Food had a Hawaiian Asian fusion feeling to it
777Goody
Nice little place. Could use some food variety, and a more welcoming atmosphere. Food had a Hawaiian Asian fusion feeling to it (sorry, no pictures of the main buffet line)
Jerry E.
Nice to visit here to shop for unique pineapple theme souvenirs, and enjoy tasty pineapple ice cream whip. This place appears to be a must stop for tourists based all the tourist bus & vans parking on the parking lot. Glad to see the enhance done to the facility. Now, the place offers many appealing dishes, including sushi & spam musubi.
Syn M.
HIDDEN GEM, seriously guys it's such a hidden little restaurant you would never think to come this way. It's located next to the dole plantation and you have to kinda find it but once you do you won't be disappointed. First of all it's a BUFFET for $13, that's a crazy find on the island. It's small, very small but it's clean and good. There is fried noodles, fried rice, veggies, and some meat options. There is also a small salad bar area. No deserts besides sweet pineapple of course and some jello. It's cash only I believe and my total came out to $13.09 for a pleasantly surprisingly satisfying lunch.
This was a fun place to stop. When you are touring the island, learn about all the sites (May 2016)
This is a part training school to teach handi capable adults skills in food service. I find the hours vary and often find a closed restaurant like the Red Lantern - I took a pic of below. It's a nice drive and u can always drive to Dole Plantation next door if everything at Helemano Plantation is closed.
Now a nursing home per a security guard. No longer a5 gift shop or restaurant.Could not rate quality of new facility.
My favorite place to go for Christmas Norfolk greens--trees, wreaths, swags. Awesome helpful and friendly personnel and beautiful lasting Christmas trees and wreaths !! Highly recommend this Christmas Tree Farm!!!
Picturesque Asian and Hawaiian gift shop for community-oriented organization, selling Asian jade & gold jewellery and Hawaiian tees Helemano Plantation Wahiawa Hawaii US NA.
I am currently planning a family vacation next year with two of my little picky eaters and Dole plantation is in our list. But I want to take them to this little gem for lunch that I ate at years ago when I first visited Oahu and Dole Plantation. I just remembered asking our guide where he was going for lunch and he responded saying to the real buffet. As a tourist I wasn't quiet sure what buffet he was referring to as Dole Plantation didn't have a buffet. So my friend and I followed him and I'm so glad we did! Ok that was over 10 years ago and I still remember what I ate because it was that good: rice, chicken long rice, fried chicken and ice cream. I also remember lots of uniformed soldiers making a stop of lunch. I can't wait to support this wonderful cafe and planation on our future visit! And oh I don't remember paying so much to eat here either!
Great holiday event Hawaiian style! They also sell fresh wreaths that are circular or candy cane shape!
We trusted the web site, which shows open today (Monday) 9:00 - 3:00. No, after an hour plus on the bus, we found the gate chained closed. Called then, to be told they’re closed for renovation this week, open next week - but I’m skeptical, would call ahead. We always come here at least once during our annual visits to Hawaii; usually have a car, but not this time. The food is good and we like to support them, so disappointed this time.
Friendly, helpful and understanding
I was looking for an alternative to the super touristy Dole Plantation and decided to check out Helemano right next door. When I read that it is a training opportunity for people with developmental challenges I was even more intrigued. We pulled into the nearly empty parking lot and decided to check out the buffet first as we were ready for lunch. This was definitely the highlight of our visit. It is a large dining area and we were invited to choose a table to sit at. The buffet is not large but there were plenty of tasty options and everything was really good. They offer a green salad bar with all of the fixings and a few pre-made salad options. They had katsu chicken, sweet and sour pork, egg rolls, veggies, buns, and other items to choose from. Everything was fresh and tasty. The service was friendly and efficient and we enjoyed our lunch. After lunch, we wandered around through the buildings seeing what else they had to offer. They have a small gift shop with rather random items. Most of the things seemed pretty dated and sadly there was nothing we felt compelled to take home. I would have liked to have asked a few questions about the place but while everyone was polite, no one seemed super approachable so I didn't really get a good feel for what the plantation had to offer. We walked around a bit and the gardens are fairly sparse, no pineapples to be seen and several photo-op type displays that honestly looked pretty rickety and I'm not sure I would be comfortable standing near them. I wish there was more to see and do so I could bring more friends out to visit. The buffet was really nice but I can't see myself driving out there just for that. I would recommend it if you want to get away from the Dole crowd and get a good lunch! And support a great program of offering training opportunities.
Restaurantji Recommends
Crouching Pineapple Hidden Gem I was blessed to have the opportunnity to visit this restaurant today and was pleased with the value and accomodations. Nestled secretly in the luscious pineapple fields, north of Wahiawa and next to the bustling tourist attraction and not to be confused with, Dole plantation, Helemano Plantation Country Inn Restaurant is indeed a ultra rare and wholesome find. This establishment features a clean and spacious indoor restaurant complete with AC, private area seating for luncheons or business meetings, outdoor seating, adjacent shops and restrooms, salad and dessert bar, soups and all you can eat hot stations. Parking was very spacious. This isnt a country inn like the states if you are wondering, (probably wont see country fried steak, mash potatoes, gravy,mac and cheese)as the foods are more locally tailored. Todays all you you can eat buffet featured appetizers such as, house salad, pasta salad, mac salad, tossed greens, pineapple, half moon with stir fry, beef vegatable soup, and jello. The warm entrees included rice and fried rice, sweet and sour spare ribs, kalua pork, vegatble stir fry, spring rolls, shoyu chicken, and fried noodles. I would not say that this is the best food ever but some of it stood out. The Mac salad tasted fresh, so was the soup, I really enjoyed the Kalua Pork and Cabbage, it had a very nice smoky taste to it and I could just eat that and only that next time and be happy with it. Chicken, fried rice and noodles were kinda dried out from sitting in warmer too long, but the place wasnt busy and its understandable for buffet. They did say the menu rotates so all the more for repeat visits. Only other minor thing was that the drinks was water and tea, if you want soda or anything else its additonal charge. So why the 5 stars? For one, Value, very rare to find a all you can eat for bout 12 dollars these days and especially in this area. Secondly, Im not a big fan of big crowds at buffets where I cant even hear conversations you are having at the table. This place was very spacious, comfy, and quiet. Family friendly but at the same time I see this place perfect for accomodating luncheons for companys or business metings with clients, yes they even have free WiFi. Finally, my nephew did enjoy the jello and spring rolls, thats all he really ate but indicated he was happy he could those two things all day here. Place also refilled the tray with fresh spring rolls cause we cleaned it out lol. When the kids can be satisfied, its a done deal. Thank you for the friendly service Country Inn!
Nice little place. Could use some food variety, and a more welcoming atmosphere. Food had a Hawaiian Asian fusion feeling to it
Nice little place. Could use some food variety, and a more welcoming atmosphere. Food had a Hawaiian Asian fusion feeling to it (sorry, no pictures of the main buffet line)
Nice to visit here to shop for unique pineapple theme souvenirs, and enjoy tasty pineapple ice cream whip. This place appears to be a must stop for tourists based all the tourist bus & vans parking on the parking lot. Glad to see the enhance done to the facility. Now, the place offers many appealing dishes, including sushi & spam musubi.
HIDDEN GEM, seriously guys it's such a hidden little restaurant you would never think to come this way. It's located next to the dole plantation and you have to kinda find it but once you do you won't be disappointed. First of all it's a BUFFET for $13, that's a crazy find on the island. It's small, very small but it's clean and good. There is fried noodles, fried rice, veggies, and some meat options. There is also a small salad bar area. No deserts besides sweet pineapple of course and some jello. It's cash only I believe and my total came out to $13.09 for a pleasantly surprisingly satisfying lunch.