This is one of the pineapple fields we drove through in Maui. This field had mostly been picked, although in the center of the picture about 10-15 feet away you can see the green tops of some of the smaller pineapples left behind.
4/23: Arriving in Maui
4/24: Wailea Old Blue
4/25: Snorkel Trip
4/27: Makena North
4/28: Pineapple Tour
4/29: Wailea Emerald
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Tuesday morning we drove to the northwest side of Maui. Located near Kapalua are the pineapple fields owned by Maui Gold. Alicia and I read about a pineapple tour, and we thought it would be fun to learn a little about the history of the pineapple plantations in Hawaii as well as picking our own pineapple.
The tour lasted a little under two hours. The majority of the tour was spent driving through the pineapple fields. Under the guidance of our tour guide, we learned about how pineapple is planted and harvested. We learned that pineapple comes back year after year after year; however each year the pineapples get a little smaller. Because of this, only first and second year pineapples end up in the store (the fields can be left to grow for additional years, and they will use those pineapples to plant additional fields). Here are some examples of pineapples that won't be making it into your local supermarket.
Eventually we did make a stop in some pineapple fields ready for harvest. Our tour guide showed us how to pick pineapples. First, he showed us how to pick a pineapple in the store. Then, he showed us how to pick a pineapple in the fields. The main difference between the two is some of the pineapples wouldn't be picked to go to a store. By the time the pineapples made it to their destination, they would be no good. Those pineapples were the sweetest.
For 20-30 minutes we picked pineapple and ate pineapple. Each person got a pineapple with the tour, and both of those pineapples fit into one box. We decided to buy two more pineapples for $10. Alicia and I had no idea how the two of us would be able to carry both boxes through the airport with all our luggage, but we would find a way. The pineapple was too good not to take as much home as we could.
We toured pineapple fields located near the Kapalua Airport. One of the things we learned about Maui is how the land was divided. The land was divided into pie slices. The tip of the slice would be at the top of the mountain, where the most rain fell. This ensured that all owners had a viable water source.
Here is a snapshot of the pineapple fields. To find them yourself using Google Earth, do a search for Kapalua Airport, HI. The pineapple fields surround the airport as well as to the northwest of here past Kapalua.
