(Dole Plantation Review) Is the Dole Plantation Worth it?

There will inevitably be at least one attraction on your trip to Hawaii that you are unsure is worth your time and money or is just a tourist trap.

By providing you with a complete overview of what you can encounter here, I hope to dispel a lot of your confusion in this article.

To accurately describe what to anticipate, we participated in each of the Dole Plantation’s activities.

You should be able to decide after reading this article whether or not it is worthwhile for you to visit the Dole Plantation.

What is the Dole Plantation?

One of the main tourist destinations in Oahu, Hawaii, is the Dole Plantation. The original Dole Plantation was located there, and today it houses a restaurant and gift shop as well as attractions like the Pineapple Express train ride, Garden Maze, and Plantation Gardens.

Where is the Dole Plantation?

The address of The Dole Plantation is 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway, Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786.

That is about a 40-minute drive from Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach.

Although it doesn’t open until 9:30 a.m., if you intend to participate in some of the tour activities, you can walk to the right of the gift shop earlier and find some of the small huts where you can buy tickets for your planned activities.

(As of February 2022, you cannot order your tickets in advance online.)

The Pineapple Express train can get quite crowded, so my suggestion is to get in line for your tickets just before 9:30am to be among the first people on that train.

You have the option to buy tickets for a single activity or a number of activities when you buy them.

You can simply form a line in front of the gift shop if you don’t want to participate in the attractions.

There will likely be other vendors outside as well as some jewelry stations, which you’ll also see in other areas of the plantation.

How Long Does It Take to Go Through the Dole Plantation?

You will need a few hours to visit the entire Dole Plantation if you want to explore every area. The train ride is about 20 minutes long, and the garden tour lasts about an hour. Depending on how quickly you can solve the maze, you can usually complete it in about 40 minutes.

Ultimately, two to three hours is more than enough time to enjoy yourself and indulge in some delectable Dole Whip.

Dole Plantation history

The history of the Dole Plantation, which is largely focused on the pineapple (unsurprisingly), is one of the main reasons why so many people go there.

Contrary to popular belief, pineapples are not indigenous to Hawaii and likely originated in South America.

Although the exact date is unknown, pineapples were probably present in Hawaii for at least a century before James Dole arrived (possibly much longer).

However, Dole was the one who first took advantage of the enormous commercial opportunity that pineapples presented, and he is to blame for the pineapple’s explosive rise in popularity.

Who was James Dole?

Harvard graduate James Dole arrived in Hawaii in 1899, and in 1901 he established the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (while his cousin Sanford Dole served as the President of the Republic of Hawaii).

Dole understood that he would need to can pineapples in order for his business to grow and reach customers across the entire mainland (while still fresh).

In Hawaii, attempts to can pineapples had previously failed due to US import tariffs.

The annexation of Hawaii in 1898 increased the profitability of exporting agricultural goods to the US mainland, so Dole’s timing was perfect.

Dole initially constructed a cannery for pineapples at the Wahiawa plantation, but it was later moved to Honolulu Harbor, where the iconic pineapple water tower would stand for decades.

The Honolulu cannery enjoyed great success and once held the title of largest cannery in the world thanks to new technology like the Ginaca machine, which could process up to 100 fruits per minute.

Additionally, Dole bought the island of Lnai (also known as Pineapple Island) in 1923 and expanded it into the largest plantation in the world, producing more than 75% of the world’s pineapple at one point.

Hawaii was the world’s top producer of pineapples in the 1950s, but that would soon change.

Hawaii plantations struggled in the 1970s and 1980s to compete with the labor costs in countries like the Philippines and Thailand, where wages were a tenth of those in Hawaii, where production was expanding overseas.

By 1992, Dole had shut down the Honolulu cannery and was discontinuing its pineapple production on Lanai.

Today, Hawaii produces a very small percentage of the world’s pineapples, and those that do are primarily consumed locally.

The plantation’s emphasis shifted to tourism as pineapple production slowed down.

To give the public a taste of what the plantation had to offer, Dole had already opened a fruit stand here in 1950 (pictured below), but as the canneries and plantations closed, they realized they needed to do more.

The Dole Plantation became Hawaii’s “Pineapple Experience” in 1989, and you can still visit it today.

The former Honolulu cannery has been converted into a mixed-use complex that includes a theater.

As a result, the Dole legacy still exists in Hawaii today, albeit in a very different capacity than it did during its heyday in the 1950s.

Dole Plantation: What to expect

You might think about visiting one of the Dole Plantation’s five attractions.

• The Dole Plantation gift shop
• Plantation Grille
• The Pineapple Express Train Tour
• Plantation Garden Maze
• Plantation Garden Tour

The Dole Plantation gift shop

Many visitors travel great distances to the Dole Plantation just to shop at the gift shop because it is free to enter.

There are many different items to look through inside.

There are plenty of the typical tourist souvenirs like T-shirts, hats, bags, magnets, etc., but the snacks are what I find to be the most intriguing.

When it comes to snacks, it’s actually pretty cool to see all the different varieties you can pick from. In a way, it reminds me of the overwhelming variety of tempting options at a Hawaiian Buc-ees.

You can find pineapple salsa, pineapple pancake mix, and a long list of other things.

It is undoubtedly paradise for anyone who enjoys pineapple, but they also have other tasty treats with flavors like coconut, banana, mango, and others.

Additionally, they make their own chocolate, which is a wonderful additional gift idea.

I don’t know many people who wouldn’t enjoy some delicious Hawaiian pineapple treats, so the Dole Plantation gift shop is a great place to go if you’re looking for edible gift suggestions for friends and family back home.

It’s important to note that you can purchase some of these things online.

However, shipping to the mainland can be pricey.

For instance, the shipping cost for a $30 order of white chocolate pineapple crunch to Arizona was $42. Food and chocolate are shipped by UPS, so hopefully that will prevent any melting.

Another thing I’ll mention is that some of the sweets are available in other shops throughout Hawaii, so you don’t necessarily need to visit the Dole Plantation to get things like pineapple gummy bears.

The restaurant: Plantation Grille

The Plantation Grille is a significant additional draw for visitors.

You can order the “world famous” Dole Whip from this location.

Again, you don’t have to travel very far to Hawaii to try Dole Whips because they are available throughout the state.

My first Dole Whip experience was at the actual Dole Plantation, which I thought was cool since I had never had one before.

A Dole Whip can be ordered with various toppings or prepared in various ways, such as in a bowl or waffle cone.

I personally chose the waffle cone and wasn’t dissatisfied.

Although eight dollars seemed expensive, given that we were in Hawaii, it wasn’t all that bad.

It was (mostly) mess-free, so I appreciated the container they served it in.

Additionally, there are real foods available here, including teriyaki chicken, barbecue pork, hot dogs, pineapple chili dogs, pineapple chili bowls, and french fries.

The Pineapple Express

Prices for The Pineapple Express tickets are as follows: Adults $12.00, Children (4–12) $10, Kama’aina/Military $11.25, and Group Tours (25 or more) $10.50.

The Pineapple Express Train Tour basically transports you around the plantation over a 2-mile route in the course of 25 minutes.

Although there are signs directing you in the right direction, getting to the train is really simple to do.

In reality, only one of the four trains they take is known as the “Pineapple Express.” But I’m fairly confident that they all provide the same or a very similar experience.

When you arrive at the line with your tickets in hand, a staff member will be waiting to collect your ticket stubs.

We had no trouble getting through the line because we got there right when it opened. We were also the last two people to board the train, which was great because it meant we had the whole thing to ourselves.

The ride on the train is fairly unwinding, and if you pay attention to the pre-recorded narrated tour, you’ll learn a little bit about the origins of the plantation and the history of pineapples in Hawaii.

Some of the displays, such as the cutouts of the employees, are, shall we say, interesting and resemble poor tattoo portraits. But try not to let some of the cheesiness turn you off completely.

Bananas, coconuts, coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and, of course, many pineapples sprouting from the ground can all be seen growing in various parts of the plantation.

It’s fascinating to see all the different kinds of plants, but you don’t really get a close look at them all because you see many of them from a distance.

Consider the cacao trees, which are largely concealed behind some shelter trees.

And here are some macadamia nut trees, though it’s difficult to see the macadamia nuts well.

identical for these coffee trees.

But occasionally, you’ll see some of these fascinating trees up close.

To finally see cacao pods made me happy!

Overall, I thought the $12 Pineapple Express Train Tour was a passable attraction, but a lot of that has to do with the fact that we got there right when it opened and had no wait to board the train.

The line had already backed up quite a bit by the time we were ready to leave, and I doubt that I would have enjoyed the experience as much if I had waited as long as some people do, which could be up to an hour.

Pineapple Garden Maze

Children (4–12): $6.25; Adults: $8.25; Kama’aina/Military: $7.25

Group Tours ($7.25) for 25 or more

The Dole Plantation’s Pineapple Garden Maze, or at least it once was, is the largest maze in the world.

It was initially constructed in 1998, but after losing its title as the largest maze in the world, they decided to expand it. As a result, it now occupies 137,194 square feet.

If you’re like me and have never actually been in a maze, much less a garden maze, this is a pretty interesting attraction.

It’s good that it’s made entirely of Hawaiian vegetation.

The Garden Maze can be interactive thanks to the setup that has been made.

You must first download the Dole Plantation app in order to participate in the interactive experience.

In order to “activate” your maze scavenger hunt, you must scan a QR code with the app as soon as you enter the Garden Maze.

Once you’ve located eight hidden stations—each named after one of the eight largest Hawaiian Islands—where you can scan your QR code, you can use the map on the back of your Garden Maze ticket to locate the remaining hidden stations.

When you return to the starting point, scan the QR code to end your session.

Since the app will automatically keep track of your time, I suppose you can monitor your PR for your upcoming visit? Or just use it as a source of pride?

While it is somewhat satisfying to find these things, we did a few of them just to test it out, and I quickly grew weary of the experience.

This seems like the kind of thing that, if you have the time and the right attitude, could be enjoyable to do with friends or family.

You could also make this competitive by aiming for one of the top times.

In either case, I’d suggest using the restroom before trying the maze.

Speaking from experience, attempting to find your way out of the biggest maze in the world while dealing with a full bladder is the worst!

Plantation Garden Tour

Tickets for the Plantation Garden Tour cost $7.25 for adults and $6.50 for kids ages 4 to 12.

Military/Kama’aina $6.75 Group Tours of 25 or more $6.75

The Pineapple Express starts not far from where the Plantation Garden Tour starts.

You basically walk in a small circle back to where you started if you do this right after taking the train, but you’ll head to the garden rather than the train.

The eight gardens that make up The Plantation Garden Tour introduce you to a wide variety of tropical plants. In essence, it is a miniature botanical garden.

This is cool because it enables you to get close to plants that you may never have even seen growing in real life, including coffee, bananas, and others.

Some of the plants are merely very fascinating to observe.

You can get a pleasant whiff of lei flowers like plumeria, pikake, and pua kenikeni during the right season (April through September).

Since you can actually get close to some of the plants you saw from the Pineapple Express, this tour is a nice complement to it.

You can scan QR codes to learn more about various Garden areas if you have the app downloaded. The QR codes will be in the corner of the interpretive panels, but they are simple to miss.

I tried to scan the QR code for the audio tour, but when I did, the media player came up but there was no sound. I’m not sure what the problem is with the app.

Although the gardens are lovely, they aren’t quite as fascinating as places like the Allerton Botanical Gardens.

Even so, for only $7, you essentially get to learn about a ton of new plants that you’ve probably never seen before, and that’s valuable.

Is the Dole Plantation controversial?

Like many businesspeople and industrialists in the early 1900s, James Dole’s methods for building his empire have drawn criticism.

People believe that he exploited foreign workers who labored in appalling conditions and the culture of Hawaiians in order to draw mainland Americans to his product.

Dole also engaged in some dubious activities, such as organizing the Dole Air Race in August 1927 and offering a prize to the first person to fly from Oakland to Hawaii.

The deadly competition claimed the lives of 10 people.

I agree with a lot of the criticism directed at James Dole, but I also don’t believe in comparing people from a century ago to people today.

When we reflect on people like James Dole in the past, there are undoubtedly lessons to be learned—both good and bad.

Personally, I took advantage of my trip to the plantation to learn more about James Dole and the activities that took place there.

I do believe that the Dole Plantation could have done a little more to illuminate how efforts to broaden the Dole empire had an impact on people’s lives.

However, since this tourist destination has a stronger Disney/family vibe than a museum would, there is a time and place for everything, so I wouldn’t anticipate finding a comprehensive exposé on the Dole family here.

Is the Dole Plantation Worth it?

You now possess all the knowledge required to visit the Dole Pineapple Plantation in Hawaii. If you enjoy learning about agriculture, the history of pineapples, and Hawaii, it is definitely worthwhile. During your visit, you’ll learn a ton, but you won’t even realize you’re learning thanks to lots of fun activities and interactive experiences!

Many of the amenities at the Dole Plantation, such as feeding the fish and riding the train, are still enjoyable with very young children. Your kids will still be happy and enjoy this shorter adventure even if you don’t stay as long.

This is a fantastic tourist attraction with lots of free activities if you’re on a tight budget during your trip to Oahu. Take in the beauty of the farm and the pineapple fields. The activities on the farm are very affordable, so you can stroll around and partake in one or two of them.

The Dole Plantation in Hawaii is a fantastic place to visit and learn everything there is to know about Hawaii. Please eat some Dole Whip for me if you go! Include the Dole Plantation in your next trip to Oahu. You won’t regret it!

Final word

The Dole Plantation is not a tourist trap in my opinion because I didn’t think the main attractions were wildly overpriced, which is typically a sign of a tourist trap.

For the most part, I’d call the activities “mildly interesting,” but how much fun you’ll have with them will really depend on who you are and who you’re with.

Additionally, the Dole Plantation sells some genuinely delicious goods that are ideal as both gifts and one-off indulgences.

Even though some of those can be found elsewhere, there is something to be said for sampling delectable treats at the Dole Plantation.

FAQs about How to Visit the Dole Pineapple Farm in Hawaii

How long does it take to get from Pearl Harbor to Dole Plantation?

On the same day, many people visit both Pearl Harbor and the Dole Plantation. By car, it takes them about 25 minutes to get there.

Are these the only pineapple fields in Hawaii?

No, Maui has a plantation called Maui Gold. You can go on a tour and look around the groves there. Additionally, there are smaller pineapple growers who produce fruit and sell it at roadside fruit stands and local Hawaii farmers markets!

Can I take a Dole Plantation tour?

Yes! Both a garden tour and the Pineapple Express train tour are available. Another option is to reserve a Dole Plantation stop on an Oahu circle island tour.

Topic: (Dole Plantation Review) Is the Dole Plantation Worth it?

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By: Travel Pixy