Dole Plantation

The Dole Plantation, at 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway in Wahiawa, is a pineapple-themed visitor attraction in central Oahu, about 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Waikiki in Hawaii, United States. The drive takes about 40-50 minutes via H-1 West, H-2 North and Route 99, and TheBus Route 52 and guided tours with hotel pickup (about $90-150 per adult) are also options. Entry to the grounds is free, with paid attractions inside. The Pineapple Express train, about $14, is a narrated ride around the plantation fields that explains the history of pineapple farming in Hawaii. The Pineapple Garden Maze, about $9-10, is a large hedge maze made of plants, and the Plantation Garden Tour explores gardens of tropical plants. The Fruit Stand and Plantation Grille sell fresh pineapple, pineapple soft-serve known as Dole Whip, and gift items. Because the stop takes only a couple of hours, it is often combined with a North Shore day. A suggested arc is to visit the plantation on the way north in the morning, riding the train and sampling a Dole Whip, then continuing to Haleiwa and the North Shore beaches for lunch and afternoon swimming, before returning to Waikiki in the late afternoon. Arriving early helps avoid tour-bus crowds that build by late morning. The attraction is open year-round, and weather in the central plain is usually warm and sunny with limited shade, so hats and water are helpful. Visitors should expect busy parking at midday and plan for restroom and snack stops here, since the stretch of highway beyond has fewer services. The plantation's gift shop stocks locally made products if visitors wish to buy souvenirs.