The Dole Plantation

By Jonathan Howery

Hawaiian pineapples are widely known by all the visitors coming to the islands. So it comes as no surprise that a visit to the Dole Pineapple Plantation is on the list for the stops on the Hawaii Turtle Tour. The Hawaiian Pineapple Company was founded in 1901 by James Dole, who opened his first pineapple plantation in the central area of Oahu. His cousin Sanford happened to be the governor of the territory after the US annexed the islands. This made exporting products to the mainland much more profitable.

Including the original pineapple produced on the plantation, Dole also distributes fresh whole fruits, vegetables, and berries. With over 300 products in 90 countries its safe to say that business is good for the company. The pineapple ice cream is a favorite as well as a must try when purusing through the facility. There are also areas for eating and many different items for purchase in the shops.

At Dole you can take an entire tour of the plantation on a train or even explore the maze. The Guinness book of world records lists the pineapple maze as the world’s largest maze. You can even just stroll through the gardens and check out the different varieties of pineapples just actually produced in the fields adjacent to the plantation. The grounds also feature some exotic plants and foreign trees from different locations around the world. Admission to the grounds is free and they feature plenty of activities such as pineapple cutting demonstrations. Plus there are the fish ponds where you can buy hand fulls of fish food to feed the many koi inhabitants. Whatever you do, the Dole Pineapple Plantation has something for everyone.

Have a great time on your vacation here in the lovely Hawaiian Islands. If you have any questions about Hawaii Turtle Tours or about this blog, feel free to email to [email protected].