The Quintessential Hawaiian Attraction Everyone Needs To Experience Once

There is little more synonymous with the Hawaiian Islands than breathtaking beaches, crystalline water, stunning scenery, and pineapples. And nowhere is more famous for the fresh, Hawaiian fruit than the historic Dole Plantation.

James Dole, who purchased the 61-acre land parcel in 1900, was the first person to truly understand the pineapple’s potential and became known across the United States as the Pineapple King, and Hawaii was famous for being the pineapple capital of the world. The plantation sits just north of the small town of Wahiawa, in central Oahu, and now serves as a major tourist destination.

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Despite living less than five miles away for the last year, my husband and I have never been. It’s just one of those things - you’re always less likely to check out the tourist hangouts near your home because there’s always time. But we live in such a magical place, and we should all make an effort to check out these places that are basically in our own backyards.

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Anyways, a few days ago, I packed up my camera, dragged the husband away from his video games, and we finally checked out the Dole Plantation. And let me tell you, I had a fabulous time.

The plantation offers activities for the whole family - and is even pretty fun without any kids!

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The Dole Plantation’s giant pineapple garden maze was declared the world's largest in 2008 by the Guinness Book of World Records. The maze is housed on more than three acres, and nearly 2.5 miles of paths crafted from 14,000 Hawaiian plants.

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There are eight checkpoints hidden within the maze so you are working towards completing a challenge rather than purposely getting lost just to find the exit again.

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All aboard for a fully-narrated, twenty minute and two mile journey through this famous plantation. The train ride is a nice respite from walking through the pineapple maze, and is fun for the whole family.

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Although the garden is small, there are countless incredible plants to admire, including papaya and banana trees, as well as red ginger, taro plants and beautiful flowers. There’s even a charming little pond with a serene water feature.

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We weren’t sure this was worth the hype, but I will be heading back to the plantation just to get a Dole Whip and fresh pineapple juice. It was THAT good. Seriously, do not overestimate the hype; order the Dole Whip.

Entry to the Dole Plantation is free, though you’ll have to pay for each of the three main attractions separately. The plantation is located at 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway in Wahiawa, and you can visit their website for more information. If you haven’t visited the famous Dole Plantation, be sure to add it to your Hawaiian outdoors bucket list and don’t forget the Dole Whip. There’s nothing better after an hour of meandering through a pineapple maze in the hot sun, trust me!