Oahu’s North Shore,
Approximately a 40-minute drive from Waikiki (depending on traffic!)
The pineapple has long been associated with the islands of Hawaii, but little do most people know the tropical fruit did not actually originate in the Hawaiian archipelago. In fact, the word for pineapple in Hawaiian—halakahiki—means “foreign fruit” and it is believed the first pineapples in Hawaii came from Mexico after a ship carrying the fruit as cargo crashed off the shores of the Big Island in 1527. Though the fruit grows well in the moist, tropical environment on the Hawaiian Islands, it is thought pineapples originated first in Paraguay or Brazil. However, through the last century the crops of Hawaiian grown pineapples caused the fruit to forever be tied as a symbol if the islands.
Explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries first popularized the exotic fruit as a symbol of hospitality when the fruit was brought back to Europe as gifts. This tradition continues today. People buy the fruit to carry home with them from the islands as gifts to friends and relatives. If you want to see where Hawaiian pineapples were first popularized and mass produced and marketed, a great place to visit is the Dole Pineapple Plantation on the island of Hawaii. James Dole first started the plantation after buying 61 acres of land in 1899. Soon thereafter, Dole discovered the best way to transport and sell his fruit was by can and opened a cannery in 1901. It was this decision that popularized the Dole brand, naming James Drummond Dole the “Pineapple King” and forever associating the fruit with the islands. Tucked away on Oahu’s North Shore near Wahiawa, the plantation offers not only beautiful scenery and a glimpse into the history of the company and the fruit, but also a fun family excursion.
The Dole Pineapple Plantation is a working, renovated plantation house that blends the historic past of the fruit in Hawaii with modern amenities and activities. The plantation was first opened to the public as a fruit stand in 1950 and in 1989 the stand went under extensive renovations to create the Dole “Pineapple Experience.” According to Dole, the company and the plantation are “dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawaiian agriculture” and offer many different entertaining and educational activities. You can enjoy a train tour of the grounds, shop in the gift shop, find your way through the giant pineapple maze, enjoy the famous “Dole Whip,” which is a frozen, pineapple sorbet like treat, or even take home one of the 3,500 pineapples sold each week at the grounds.
HOURS: 9:30 am-5 p.m. Daily. Admission to the plantation is FREE.
Adults: $8.00
Children (4-12): $6.00
Kama’aina/Military: $7.25
Children under 4 are free with adult
Adults: $5.00
Children (4-12): $4.25
Kama’aina/Military: $4.50
Children under 4 are free with adult
Adults: $6.00
Children (4-12): $4.00
Kama’aina/Military: $5.00
Children under 4 are free with adult
