Hawaii Pineapples seem to go hand-in-hand with swaying palm trees and dazzling beaches. It’s as though the pineapple has been in Hawaii longer than people. But that’s far from the real story. In fact, pineapples are a relatively new fruit in the islands. And while they taste like simple tropical bliss, there’s a lot to their history and growth here.
The Hawaii Pineapple Rush
In 1848, the California Gold Rush began one of the largest human migrations in history. Half a million people from around the world traveled to northern California in search of instant wealth. At the turn of the century, another rush also took place. The pineapple rush in Hawaii.
In 1901, James D. Dole began a one-man operation on Oahu. It soon turned into a business that grew a thousand-fold and became Hawaii’s second most important industry (next to sugar). While the Spanish are thought to have introduced the pineapple to Hawaii in the 1500s, credit goes to James Dole for discovering that the fruit grew very well on his farm in Wahiawa, Oahu.
Known as one of the most influential pineapple industrialists in the world, Dole began the first pineapple business in 1901 by converting his 44-by-80-foot barn into a cannery. He called the business the Hawaiian Pineapple Company.
Over the next 50 years, the Hawaiian Pineapple Company grew to be the largest in the world. Smaller companies joined the rush, and by the 1930s, more than 12 million cases of pineapple were produced annually in the state.
With Dole’s purchase of Lanai Island in 1922, his company alone was responsible for growing 75 percent of the world’s supply. There was even an advertising push for Hawaii pineapple on American housewives. “Don’t ask for pineapples alone. Insist on Hawaiian Pineapple!” It was considered a novelty up until then.
Pineapples Today
Today, Hawaii only produces about 1 percent of the world’s pineapple, but it’s an icon of the islands and an integral part of our recent history. It’s no wonder why Dole Plantation in Wahiawa is the second most visited attraction in Hawaii!
While pineapples certainly grow on Oahu’s Dole Plantation, the site is now mostly a tourist hub – a place to enjoy the tropical scenery and learn about pineapples and other tropical fruits and plants.
Another place where you can learn about pineapple production is on Maui. Here, the Maui Gold Pineapple tour will take you into a working pineapple field and show you how the fruit is grown and processed.
Growing and Eating Hawaii Pineapples
If you’ve never seen a living pineapple plant, you might be surprised to know it grows on a low-lying bush. It takes anywhere from one to three years for the plant to grow and the fruit to mature.
Pineapple, although not inherently Hawaiian, is recognized today as a fruit of the islands. During your Hawaii vacation, you’ll likely see it as edible displays in a luau and garnishes on tropical cocktails. Hawaii pineapple is a popular scent for lotions, a decadent flavor in desserts, and an enduring symbol of the Aloha Spirit.
The fruit is rich in vitamin C, bursting with a tropical, juicy sweetness that is sure to make anyone’s mouth water almost instantly. Many people call the pineapple Hawaii’s gold!
Try using fresh pineapple as a dessert or palate cleanser after a meal, chopped up in salsa, marinated on meat, or broiled and browned on a skewer. Or I’m sure you have many other ideas for how to eat and serve up this amazing fruit!
