Our Story
Farm. Ocean. Ranch. Cook.
A gathering place rooted in the land, sea, and spirit of Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island.
How It Began
Born from the Bounty of the Big Island
FORC Restaurant was born from a deep love of Waimea and the extraordinary bounty of Hawaiʻi Island. Our name says it all — Farm, Ocean, Ranch, Cook. We believe the best dining experiences start long before the kitchen, with the farmers who tend the land, the fishermen who work the sea, and the ranchers who raise their animals with care and respect for the ʻāina.
Nestled in the heart of Waimea — Hawaiʻi Island's upcountry cowboy town, cradled between Mauna Kea and the Kohala Mountains — FORC is a gathering place for the community and a destination for visitors seeking an authentic taste of the Big Island. Every dish is a celebration of place: the volcanic soil, the cool mountain air, the Pacific waters just down the road.
We opened our doors with a simple promise: to cook with honesty, to source with integrity, and to welcome every guest as ʻohana. That promise guides everything we do — from the farmers we call by name to the way we set the table each evening.
Our Philosophy
Rooted in the Big Island
Grown in Waimea
Our produce comes from the rich volcanic soil of Waimea's farms — just minutes from our kitchen. We work directly with local growers to bring you the freshest seasonal vegetables, herbs, and fruits Hawaiʻi Island has to offer.
Caught Off the Big Island
Hawaiʻi Island's waters yield some of the world's finest fish. Our seafood is sourced daily from local fishermen — ahi, mahi-mahi, opah, and whatever the Pacific offers that morning.
Raised on the Range
Waimea is cowboy country. We partner with Kahua Ranch and other Big Island ranchers to bring you grass-fed beef, lamb, and pork raised with care on the slopes of the Kohala Mountains.
Crafted with Aloha
Our chefs transform these extraordinary ingredients into dishes that honor their origins. Contemporary technique, Hawaiian soul — every plate is a love letter to the Big Island.
A Sense of Place
Waimea — Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
Waimea sits at 2,670 feet on the slopes of the Kohala Mountains, where cool trade winds sweep across open ranchland and the air smells of eucalyptus and rain. It is one of the most fertile and storied corners of Hawaiʻi Island — a place where paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture runs deep and the land has fed communities for generations.
This is the landscape that shapes our cooking. The same volcanic soil that grows our vegetables nourishes the ranches that supply our beef. The same mountains that catch the rain send streams down to the sea where our fishermen work. At FORC, we don't just source from this place — we belong to it.
The People Behind FORC
Cooked with Care, Served with Aloha
Our team is a reflection of Hawaiʻi Island itself — a mix of local families, transplants who fell in love with the Big Island, and culinary professionals drawn by the extraordinary ingredients this place produces. Together we share a commitment to hospitality that feels like home.
"Every plate is a love letter to the Big Island."
FORC Restaurant · Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island
Join Us
Come to the Table
Dinner nightly from 5 pm. Happy Hour 3–5 pm. We'd love to have you.