A new food cart in Battle Ground is bringing a taste of Hawaiian culture rooted in family tradition, community connection, and what its owners call the spirit of “Aloha.”
Cathy and Pila Neilson opened their Hawaiian-style food trailer, “Ren’s Ohana Kitchen,” on Friday, May 1, in the Battle Ground Station Food Cart Pod on Main Street in Old Town. The Neilsons brought the cart to Battle Ground after recently taking over the business from family members who previously operated it in Portland Orchard in Kitsap County. The transition came as an opportunity to both support loved ones and step into something new together.
“It was kind of an opportunity we couldn’t refuse,” Cathy Neilson said, explaining that the trailer had been run by relatives who were ready to step away due to health concerns.
Despite her professional background as an analytical chemist, Cathy Neilson said the move into food service felt natural.
“Kitchen chemistry is not that tough,” she added, noting the work is “much more fun.”
For Pila Neilson, however, the food represents decades of experience and cultural connection. Medically retired, he has spent more than 40 years cooking and learning Hawaiian cuisine through family ties and time spent on Oahu.
“I’ve created my own sauces, and I’ve learned the actual food and how it should be done,” he said.
Among those creations are signature dishes like Char siu chicken and his Ono mac salad, both based on recipes developed and refined over years of practice and cultural immersion.
Ahead of the May 1 grand opening, the couple held a two-day soft opening, drawing dozens of eager customers each day to try something new. Cathy Neilson described the community response as “overwhelmingly positive,” while Pila Neilson noted that steady turnout numbers on day two exceeded day one, not even halfway through the day.
“We’ve brought something quite unique to the scene,” Cathy Neilson said.
Menu offerings include Kalua pork, Char siu chicken, teriyaki chicken, spam musubi and house-made yakisoba noodles featuring Pila’s custom sauce. Lumpia, offered as a crispy finger food, rounds out the selection, Pila Neilson said.
Beyond the food itself, the Neilsons say their goal is to share something deeper.
“The biggest thing for us is the ‘Aloha,’” Pila Neilson said, becoming emotional as he described the connection between food and community. “When you’re communicating with people, and you give them food, and they’re happy, and they’re smiling, it’s just so overwhelming.”
The sense of connection extends into their involvement in the local community, including ties to Battle Ground school programs.
Looking ahead, the Neilsons say expansion could be possible someday, but their current focus remains close to home by serving neighbors, building relationships, and sharing a piece of Hawaiian culture one plate at a time.
“Without the community, none of us would be able to move forward,” Pila Neilson said. “Mahalo much to the community.”
