Islands Cafe

Our Story: Islands Café

At Islands Café, our concept is rooted in a special time—just before social media and influencers shaped the world, when Hawaii’s North Shore was still a mystery to many. It was a place where localism and a close-knit, diverse community gave rise to some of the best eateries—simple, flavorful meals that nourished those living life by the waves.

When we returned from Hawaii, it felt only natural to bring that experience to White Rock, the place that has always been our home. The food we serve reflects the surf culture we lived—clean, healthy, and full of flavor. On the North Shore, surfers had a handful of staples: poke bowls from roadside shops, acai bowls from smoothie stands, hearty breakfast sandwiches, and coffee roasted right in backyards. It wasn’t traditional Hawaiian cuisine, but “surf food”—shaped by the multicultural community that gathered around the waves.

For me, the journey to Hawaii was personal. Growing up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, while most kids dreamed of hockey, I dreamed of catching perfect barrels in tropical waters. My earliest glimpse of surfing came from a lone issue of Surfer Magazine that a friend’s dad brought home from California. Years later, at 23, after surviving cancer, I followed that dream to Hawaii’s North Shore—the legendary “Seven Mile Miracle.”

I arrived knowing little about surfing, but over six incredible years, I found friends, waves, and lessons that continue to shape my life. It was a golden era before the hype of social media—a time when Hawaii felt untouched and life was simpler. During quiet afternoons, a few friends and I built a cast iron coffee roaster and began experimenting with beans we picked from wild coffee trees in Waimea Valley. That passion for coffee sparked something that continues to drive us today at Islands Café.

Many of the recipes on our menu are recreations of the dishes my wife, Ja, and I fell in love with on the North Shore. Our poke bowl pays tribute to Kahuku Superette, where I discovered the power of fresh, lean Ahi after long surf sessions. Poke wasn’t just a meal—it was essential fuel, healing sore muscles and keeping the body energized for another day on the waves.

Our North Shore Acai Bowl draws from the time I spent working at one of Hawaii’s first smoothie shacks. Surfers like John John Florence and Kelly Slater, along with musicians and actors like Jack Johnson, Tom Hanks, and Adam Sandler, would line up for bowls of organic granola, fresh fruit, and acai that powered them through the waves.

Other menu items, like our breakfast sandwich, reflect the influence of Ted’s Bakery at Sunset Beach. After big surf contests or long nights at Waimea Bay or reggae nights in Haleiwa, Ted’s was the place for comfort food. We’ve given our version a healthy twist but kept the flavors that made it a North Shore classic.

With our own coffee roaster now in place, we’ve come full circle. Coffee was always part of North Shore culture, and we’re proud to bring that same passion for roasting to our café in White Rock. Each cup we serve is inspired by those early experiments roasting beans in Waimea Valley.

While Hawaii shaped much of who we are, White Rock has always been our home. Islands Café reflects the best of both worlds—our connection to the North Shore’s surf culture and our love for this vibrant community. Whether you’ve experienced Hawaii’s magic or not, our goal is to provide high-quality food, drink, and an atmosphere that embodies the spirit of the North Shore right here at home.

We invite you to join us, experience what we’ve created, and share your thoughts with us on social media.

Mahalo,

Robb & Ja Harding