Jan. 22, 2026

Now known for its shrimp trucks, surfing and must-see tourist stops, Haleʻiwa wasn’t always the North Shore postcard it is today. For Randy Paty, it was once a place defined by agriculture and the everyday rhythms of a working town.

“Haleʻiwa used to be primarily agriculture and fishing, and the little stores that popped up [were] a result of the sugar company,” Paty said. “So any time we can keep agriculture in the memory and vocabulary of people, it helps.”

The longtime farmer can trace his family’s connection to the North Shore back seven generations, with a legacy of ʻāina stewardship that reaches to the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Kamehameha Schools’ parcel that now hosts his North Shore Macadamia Nut Company was once leased and cared for by his family in the late 1800s — a return Paty describes simply as “full circle.”

As a kid, his world stretched from Waialua Bay to the backroads of town, where he surfed, rode his bike and watched cows graze where traffic now flows. The ocean and the land filled his days, grounding him early in a sense of place that has endured even as Haleʻiwa has changed.

That connection eventually led Paty to farming. He began growing macadamia nuts in 1971, building a life and livelihood rooted in care, patience and long-term thinking. Farming, he says, was never about getting rich. It was about showing up every day and doing the work.

“My father used to say, ‘If you’re not an optimist, don’t be a farmer,’” Paty said. “It’s more of a lifestyle than a job making a million bucks.”

The land he now tends was once an abandoned cow pasture, fenced off and overgrown. Today, it is the home of his storefront with community pop-up booths and a small sample of his ma uka orchard of macadamia, coffee, fruit and canoe plants. From fresh-roasted macadamia nuts and honey to coffee and shave ice, the stand has grown to be a familiar stop, drawing both locals and first-time visitors.

But progress came slowly, through steady effort and a belief that improvement doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful.

“We’re really guests here,” Paty said. “So little by little, we try to work on it and improve it.”

That mindset was passed down through generations. His late father, William “Bill” Paty, who once led the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and his late mother, Peggy Paty, raised their family with a strong sense of responsibility to place. Longtime community advocates, his parents were instrumental in efforts to protect Kaiaka Bay from development in the 1970s.

“There aren’t many more of the original families here,” Paty said. “But it holds a special place in my heart. It’s home.”

Today, Paty sees agriculture as essential to Haleʻiwa’s future, not just its past. With farmers navigating unpredictable conditions and tight margins, Paty says the ability to keep farming often depends on having the right support and long-term partnerships. He credits Kamehameha Schools with creating space for farmers to succeed.

“Kamehameha Schools has been so supportive of farmers,” Paty said. “They give us the leeway to grow and expand. They want to see this work.”

As Haleʻiwa continues to evolve, Paty hopes its identity remains grounded in the values that shaped it: kuleana to place, respect for ʻāina and pride in caring for something that will outlast any one generation.

“The success of Haleʻiwa has to be rooted in the values of farming, fishing and hard work,” Paty said.