The spotlight of the Maui Pineapple Tour is slicing right into a ripe pineapple ripped contemporary from the sector.
I’m strapped into the seat of a minibus on the slopes of Haleakalā. We’re within the former Maui pineapple plantation village of Haliʻimaile, rattling over rocky terrain as I attempt to seize the proper picture. By the bus window, the majestic slopes of the long-dormant volcano are dotted with rows of pineapples.
However these aren’t simply any pineapples — they’re Maui Gold. And this isn’t only a tour — it’s the ultimate pineapple experience.
What do you do on a Maui pineapple plantation tour?
The bus jerks to a cease and I disembark with 14 different curious guests. We step onto Maui’s iconic crimson filth as Shiloh Deal, our seasoned tour information, walks us by the trials and triumphs of rising these clusters of berries — sure, pineapple is a berry.
With the shores of Pāʻia seen beneath, I seize the proper shot: two younger pineapples rising towards one of many island’s most beautiful vistas.
As we proceed the tour, we be taught concerning the historical past of Maui agriculture and the importance of pineapple to the island. Deal leads us by each step of the method, from packaging to harvesting, providing juicy details alongside the best way. For instance, it takes a pineapple two years to completely mature. And pineapples are wealthy in vitamin C and bromelain, an enzyme which will increase immunity, scale back irritation and help digestion.
The spotlight of the tour comes within the fields, the place we wade among the many crops and pattern a freshly picked pineapple. Our guides slice off the robust outer shell to disclose the candy, ripe, barely acidic fruit inside, then move round slices to the group.
The unique firm was based in 1890 by the Alexander & Baldwin household, descendants of missionaries. In response to native lore shared on the tour, Alexander & Baldwin paid simply $10 for the 750-acre plot of land that Maui Gold Pineapple now occupies. The corporate held a monopoly on pineapple manufacturing by a lot of the 20th century, with Del Monte and Dole nipping at its heels. On the trade’s peak, these three corporations produced 80% of the world’s pineapples.
By the 1980s, nevertheless, the Hawaiian pineapple trade started to say no as international locations just like the Philippines and Costa Rica ramped up their very own, lower-cost manufacturing. Within the 1990s, plantations throughout the state began shutting down. The final pineapple plant on Maui closed in 2008—solely to reopen in 2010.
The brand new period of pineapple farming emphasizes sustainability and high quality. Maui Gold Pineapple now makes use of 100% hand harvesting and boasts a 97% success fee in manufacturing, due to extra intentional rising practices. The Maui Gold selection was developed over 50 years to realize its signature style. The proof is within the pineapple: candy, with a much-needed contact of acidity. Consuming it contemporary from the sector enhances its perfection—however even shipped house, the fruit is a sensory memento that may transport you again to the fields of Haliʻimaile.
Every customer receives a pineapple to take house—or slice up instantly, relying on willpower. The tour begins and ends on the Maui Gold Pineapple Retailer, a newly reopened location that debuted in December after the unique Entrance Road retailer was misplaced within the 2023 wildfires. The store is stocked with all issues pineapple: from magnificence merchandise to pet provides.
Whether or not you permit with a pineapple, a T-shirt and even pineapple-flavored child meals, you’ll additionally depart with a newfound respect for the fruit—and the farmers who make all of it potential.
FAQ
The place is the Maui pineapple plantation positioned?
The plantation is in Upcountry Maui, within the 3.47-square-mile space of Haliʻimaile close to Makawao.
How lengthy is the Maui Pineapple Tour?
The usual tour lasts about 1.5 hours.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets can be found online. Tour choices embrace:
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The Planting Expertise, the place you get hands-on within the fields
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The Maui Pineapple Tour: Farm & Feast Expertise, which incorporates the usual tour adopted by dinner on the famend Haliʻimaile Common Retailer
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The usual Maui Pineapple Tour
What’s the price of the tour?
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Commonplace tour: $75 for youngsters (ages 3–12), $95 for adults
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The Planting Expertise: $105 for youngsters, $145 for adults
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Farm & Feast Expertise: $155 for youngsters, $195 for adults
Are you able to decide pineapples through the tour?
No, company can’t decide pineapples themselves, however guides will choose and reduce contemporary fruit for sampling within the discipline.
Do you get a free pineapple?
Sure, every customer receives one complimentary pineapple on the finish of the tour.
What ought to I put on?
Because you’ll be strolling by fields and the climate could be breezy, put on close-toed sneakers and produce a light-weight jacket. Skip the rubber slippers.
How a lot does it value to ship a Maui Gold pineapple house?
Delivery prices:
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$49.99 for one pineapple
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$59.99 for a two-pack
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$99.99 for a four-pack
Is the Maui Pineapple Tour value it?
Completely. From the unforgettable views to tasting pineapple straight from the supply, the tour presents an immersive expertise—and an opportunity to discover the charming city of Haliʻimaile. When you’re there, make time to go to close by Makawao and Kula for much more Upcountry magic.
