By Jeffrey Rosenfield

Upon entering the Ohana Café, there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted with a hearty “Aloha!” from Teresa Kerr.

It doesn’t take long to realize that the affable owner’s infectious personality has seeped into every facet of her Ozona eatery, from the décor to the menu to the greeting you get when you walk in the door.

Kerr’s café, featuring “healthy fare with an island flair”, has built a steady following since opening a year and a half ago; in fact, the Tampa Bay Times recently named it one of the Top 50 Restaurants in Tampa Bay.

But as delicious as Ohana’s Hawaiian-infused food is, it’s the relaxed, family atmosphere that keeps many customers coming back for more.

“We’re a nice, happy ‘ohana’ here. That means ‘family’ in Hawaiian,” Kerr explains.

The Hawaiian-born former lounge singer had no previous restaurant experience when she opened Ohana, which is located across from Molly Goodheads in Ozona’s underrated downtown district.

But after much prodding from family members, she decided to jump into the business when the space formerly occupied by the Orange Café became available in 2010.

“I got tired of singing, so I quit about six years ago and started looking for something else to inspire me,” the 45-year-old says. “My family had always encouraged me to open a restaurant because they loved my cooking, so I decided to take a chance.”

Using a combination of fresh, organic and gluten free ingredients, Ohana offers a bevy of unique items, including the popular dakine bowl, made with organic black beans, brown rice, avocado and salsa, and the Hawaii 5-0, a buffalo patty topped with cheese, pineapple and spinach served on a ciabatta roll.

And while the customers may come to try the food, they keep coming back because of the atmosphere.

“This is my favorite place,” says Jo Cooke, a Trinity resident who makes the trip to Ohana at least once a week. “The healthy food, the ambience, the friendliness of everyone who works here…I love it.”

“I just wished they were closer to where I lived, then I could come more often.”

If Ohana’s success continues, Cooke could get her wish; Kerr would love to branch her business out to other locales, spreading her brand of healthy island food served with a smile throughout the Tampa Bay area.

“I would love to keep on growing, keep feeding more people and expand to more locations,” she admits.

“My parents always said you should enjoy life and do something you love to do, and I’m doing that.”

– Palm Harbor Patch

Years ago I did a call-in radio show about restaurants. Long before the iPhone was a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye, I would bring a fat stack of index cards to the studio, their corners furled from nervous riffling, the thick paper dimpled with dried sweat. With them, I was armed. “Where can I find the best (insert cuisine or dish here)?” I covered a huge metro area, my odometer ridiculous and glove box choked with menus. But these index cards broke it all down: three worthy places in each neighborhood or town. Sure it was subjective, as all criticism is. But these were the three places that surpassed others at their price point or in their class, the ones I was wowed by and rooting for. I haven’t bought index cards in years. But if I did, these 50 (well, 51) would be in my rumpled pile right now.
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DUNEDIN, PALM HARBOR, OZONA
Head due north from Dunedin and you’ll run into free-spirited little Ozona, the newish Ohana Cafe feeling like the beating heart. Owner Teresa Kerr exudes a warm aloha spirit and the affordable menu focuses on vegan, vegetarian and healthy dishes, many with a Hawaiian twist.

Read the full list here

Thank you Laura Reiley! And thanks to all of our wonderful customers!

ALOHA!!! Just wanted to remind you that this Saturday we’ve got LIVE MUSIC with my (yay!) favorite father/daughter duo The Barnkickers!!! They will be starting up at 6:30pm!!! Come on out and support your local artists!!! Much love, peace & aloha!!!

Ozona's aloha spirit; the staff at Ohana Cafe bring the flavor of Hawaii to Orange Street in the little waterfront village off Tampa Road. Pictured here from right are Sal "Pop" and Myrna "Mom" Pablo, Teresa and Tommy Kerr, Norma Hutchingson and chef Tim Lavelle.

OZONA – Hawaii may be thousands of miles away from the gulf-front village of Ozona, but the aloha spirit and flavor of the Pacific island can be savored at its Ohana Cafe.

Ohana, Hawaiian for family, opened a few months ago by Hawaiian-born Teresa Kerr, a former nightclub singer, with the help of her mom and dad, Sal and Myrna Pablo, and husband Tommy Kerr.

She came across the location at 306 Orange St., earlier this year, when she dined at a former eatery. She remembers thinking this spot would be perfect for her dream restaurant, where she would serve the freshest organic and natural foods with the Hawaiian “aloha spirit.”

When the location, which is next to the Ozona Post Office, became available along the village’s restaurant row she jumped at the opportunity. It is adjacent to Molly Goodheads Raw Bar and Restaurant and across the street from the Ozona Pig.

“Ozona definitely has the joyful and friendly aloha spirit. Everyone has been so welcoming to us,” Kerr said. “Ozona truly has the aloha spirit of love and joy.”

Kerr lives in Tarpon Springs, and her mom and dad are looking for a place in the area but will keep their home on the big island. “They came to help me out and also fell in love with Ozona.”

Ohana Café serves breakfast and lunch using the fresh ingredients and has something for every taste. Most of its fruits and vegetables are organically grown. Other ingredients are also organic and free of additives.

Ohana is open every day, except Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starting in January Ohana will stay open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Teresa may entertain with a song.

Open only a few months, the café is already attracting more and more village regulars, as well as diners who travel from as far away as New Port Richey and Clearwater.

Theresa Broughton made the trip from Clearwater to have “Mom’s popovers.” She said Ohana is fast becoming a favorite meeting place for working people.

Manapua, a steam fried dumpling stuffed with chicken, is already being requested by people to bring to parties.

The gluten-free “Mom’s Popover Breakfast” is made with nitrate-free turkey bacon, organic eggs and a special organic macadamia nut sauce. The Ohana Breakfast consists of sand dollar pancakes, the organic Macadamia nut sauce, nitrate-free turkey bacon and a choice of brown basmati or white jasmine rice or red potato home fries.

The menu also features an Eat to Live veggie platter, hummus and organic edamame.

There are smoothies, including: the Chocolate Spinach, with spinach, blueberries, banana, dates, cocoa powder and flaxseed; the Green Meanie, with kale, spinach, baby greens, flaxseed and dates; and the Purple Surfer, with blueberries, pineapple, banana, spinach, dates and flaxseed.

There are also six varieties of salads and nine different wraps and sandwiches, including the Hawaii 5-0, which is a free-range buffalo patty, cheddar cheese, pineapple, spinach, tomato, sweet onion, vegenaise and Dijon mustard on organic sprouted wheat or multigrain ciabatta bread. The Maui Wowie Wrap has hummus, cucumber, spinach, artichokes, sweet onion, mushrooms, Lomi Lomi tomatoes, hemp hearts in a spinach wrap.

The Kaikaina salad features mixed organic greens, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, sunflower seeds and diced pineapple. Kerr said the kale salad, with carrots, cucumbers, sweet onions, raw sunflower seeds, and hemp hearts tossed in lemon tamari vinaigrette, is a favorite.

“Tell everyone to visit Ohana and feel the joyful aloha spirit now in Ozona,” she said.

More information is available on the Ohana Café Facebook page, web page at www.theohanacafe.com or by calling 727-787-1234.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.