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Pineapple Farms in Hawaii
When you think about Hawaiian fruit, what comes to mind first? For most of us, it’s the pineapple!
Just like attending a luau, or taking a surf lesson, touring pineapple farms is a Hawaii bucket list item.
Pineapples are my favorite fruit, and it was so much fun to put together this list of pineapple farm tours in Hawaii. Let’s explore pineapple farms on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai.
Why are there pineapples in Hawaii?
Before we talk about the pineapple farm tours, let’s talk about why Hawaii has pineapples in the first place.
Pineapples are not native to the Hawaiian islands. So, how did they get here?
Legend says that a Spanish shipwreck brought pineapples to Hawaii in the 1500s. However, the earliest records of pineapples being grown in Hawaii did not happen until the late 1700s.
Don Francisco de Paula Marin, a Spanish maritime pilot, became an advisor to Kamehameha the Great.
Marin acquired seeds from the Spanish and English for crops that he thought would do well in Hawaii. Those crops included:
- Coffee
- Mangos
- Grapes
- Pineapples
How many of these items are popular Hawaiian foods today? I would say that bringing those seeds to Hawaii worked out well.
Hawaii would be a lot different without Kona coffee farms, and one of Maui’s many nicknames is the Mango Island!
How long does it take to grow a pineapple?
It sounds made up that it takes 18 months to grow a pineapple, but it’s true! The pineapple plant takes 18-20 months to produce its first fruit. It takes approximately another 13 months for the second fruit.
Now that you know a bit more about the history of Hawaii pineapples, let’s talk about taking a tour of a pineapple farm.
Dole Plantation
When you think of pineapple farms in Hawaii, Dole Plantation is the first that comes to mind.
City life might be what you think of when you think of Oahu, but the massive Dole Plantation is only 22 miles from Honolulu.
Admission to the Dole Plantation is free, but you can take a tour of the Plantation Garden for an additional fee. This fee is $7.25 for adults, $6.50 for children, and children under 4 are free.
Can you buy Dole While at the Dole Plantation?
YES! You can buy Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation. You can also buy whole pineapples and have them shipped home.
Are they the same Dole Pineapples that you could buy in a grocery store at home? Probably. Is it fun, anyway? Yes.
Is the Dole Plantation a must-do? I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do, but if you’re only visiting Oahu and want to tour a pineapple farm, I would definitely check it out.
If you’re planning a vacation in Oahu, here are 10 things to do in Waikiki. You might also want to check out the best luau on Oahu, another must-do while you’re on the island.
Maui Pineapple Tour
Located in Hali’imaile, you can take a pineapple farm tour in Maui’s beautiful upcountry. In their own words:
At Maui Pineapple Tours, our passion is to share the history, culture, and hard work that goes into producing this iconic fruit.
Guests travel through the pineapple fields in an air-conditioned vehicle. Your knowledgeable guide will share the planting and harvesting techniques of the pineapple.
Your guide will also show how plantation workers still cultivate the fruit by hand. They cut their pineapples down with a machete; how cool is that?!
Your Maui Pineapple Tour will also include snacks and a boxed, airport-ready pineapple to bring home.
Tours start at $65. If you’re stuck at home but want a piece of Maui, you can even order pineapples from Maui Pineapple Tour’s website!
More things to do in Maui
If you’re planning a Maui vacation, you might also enjoy:
- Where to find a black sand beach in Maui
- Maui vs. Kauai
- The best 5-star resorts on Maui
- 7-day Maui Itinerary
- 4-day Maui itinerary
- 50 things to do in Maui
- Snorkeling Molokini Crater, is it worth it?
Kauai Sugarloaf Pineapple
Located in beautiful Kilauea on the North Shore, Kauai Sugarloaf Pineapple offers tours once a week on Thursdays at 10 AM.
Tours last approximately 2 hours and are $85 for adults and $45 for children. Children 4 and under are free. Reservations are required, and you will need to email them to get a reservation.
From Kauai Sugarloaf Pineapple:
During the tour, we will walk through some of the fields, learn about the farm, some of the history of pineapple in the islands, and all aspects of growing pineapple.
You’ll receive a Paulie’s Pineapple Phrostie, which is made from 100% pineapples.
This small family farm is an absolute must-see if you’re on Kauai.
If you’re planning a Kauai vacation, don’t miss:
- 4-day Kauai Itinerary
- 10 best adventure activities on Kauai
- The best Hikes on Kauai
- 7-day Kauai Itinerary
- The 7 best resorts on Kauai
Is there a pineapple farm on the Big Island?
Sadly, the pineapple farm tour with Kohala Grown Farms has been closed for quite some time.
However, The Kohala Grown Market is still open in Hawi, where you can purchase fresh produce.
Even if you can’t take a farm tour, I love the little town of Hawi and would recommend that you visit and check out the Kohala Grown Market.
Since you’ll be close, you should check out Pololu Valley while you’re there.
Don’t worry; there are plenty of other fun things to do on the Big Island:
- 4-day Big Island Itinerary
- The 10 best tours on the Big Island
- Where to find sea turtles on the Big Island of Hawaii
- The 7 Best Things to do on the Big Island
- 25 things to do in Kona
Pineapple Farms in Hawaii
I hope that you enjoyed this list of pineapple farms in Hawaii. If you’re visiting Oahu, Maui, or Kauai, I hope you check out one of the farms listed.
Want even more Hawaii travel ideas? Check out some of my most popular Hawaii blog posts:
- 20 things you should never do in Hawaii
- 10 things to know before going to Hawaii
- The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian animals
- Hawaii helicopter tour, is it worth it?
Although I am a Hawaii Travel Agent, I am only taking on a few clients for 2021. You can contact me if you’d like more information. I would recommend starting with my Hawaii travel guide if you plan to DIY your vacation!
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