When you think of Hawaii what are two of the first things you think of? For me the island of Oahu make me think of pineapples and rum! On the island you can find both pretty easily and they can lead to a lot of fun! Today we’re going to explore the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Be sure to keep an eye out for the next post where we will be discovering one of Oahu’s rum distilleries!
Fresh Oahu Pineapples
Today’s adventures have us starting at a location that is great for the whole family. Most people have probably heard of Dole pineapples, but on the island of Oahu is one of their pineapple plantations that is open to the public! We spent a few hours here exploring everything the plantation has to offer. If you are staying in Honolulu while on the island there are two main routes to get to the plantation each about a half hour by car. The map below gives an idea of where you need to go! Once you arrive at the plantation there are three main experiences you can book tickets for as well as a massive store.
Pineapple Express Train Tour
One of the activities I enjoyed the most was the Pineapple Express Train Tour! This tour started in the main station which begins a 20 minute tour of the plantation via train! They narrate the journey to make it both informative and enjoyable. This is a great activity for the entire family to learn how pineapples grow and what it is like on the plantation.
Plantation Garden Tour
The Plantation Garden Tour is another nice activity for the whole family, there are a variety of plants growing for you to explore. I really liked the tiny pineapples that had just started to grow. The garden is a great way to get up close and personal with the different stages of growing pineapples as well as seeing a variety of Oahu plants.
Pineapple Garden Maze
The final main activity at the plantation is the giant Pineapple Garden maze. This one may not be as good of a choice if you have really little ones that wouldn’t like walking. The maze has a giant pineapple in the center and the goal is to find all the hidden stations inside the maze. If you like a good competition split up and see who can solve it the fastest! We had a blast trying to find all the stations in the maze. Pricing for all the tours can be found on the Dole Plantation website.
Dole Whip and Shopping
The only way to finish out the full plantation experience is to check out the shop and of course get a big serving of Dole Whip! There are tons of souvenirs in the shop for purchase. You can even purchase fresh pineapples from the plantation to have shipped home or take with you! In my opinion the best way to cool down after a day in the Hawaiian sun is with a big bowl of fresh Dole Whip. Dole Whip is a soft serve made from pineapple juice and it is so delicious and refreshing!
Getting to explore Oahu and the Dole Pineapple Plantation was a lot of fun. I would highly recommend anyone that is visiting Oahu plan for at least half a day to explore the plantation and indulge in some fresh Dole Whip! In the next post we are going to be sharing another activity for the adults in the family to enjoy on Oahu. If you like rum then this is a must stop location on the island. Be sure to check back for the next Oahu post when we learn how rum is made on the island! Until then get out and Explore Every Day and keep Seeking Discovery!
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