A visit to the Dole Plantation is a right of passage for many new visitors. While this online guide to the real Oahu tends to shy away from common tourist attractions there is no denying Dole Corporation’s role in shaping Hawaii’s agricultural culture.

So what should you expect to find at Dole Plantation?

It’s a fun-for-the-family kind of place, but not so much for teens, young couples, and adventurous souls. If staying in the resort communities of Waikiki or Ko Olina work it into a day-trip to the North Shore, as on its own it’s not a place to spend more than a couple of hours at. That said, they offer engaging train-ride tours of the pineapple fields, and there is a famous pineapple-landscaped labyrinth which is akin to the corn mazes you find in the midwest of the U.S., but on steroids. To many however, the best part of the attraction is the Plantation Grille and Gift Shop. At the former you’ll enjoy Dole Whip desserts from the original source, but they also have a full menu that contains delicious dishes with and without the plantation’s sole crop. As far as the gift shop goes, they have every pineapple-themed souvenir that you can imagine, from candy and stuffies to t-shirts and toys. And of course you don’t dare leave without a 3-pack of pineapples along with a box of pineapple-flavored white chocolate covered macadamia nuts.

Dole Plantation Admission:

• Adults – $8.25
• Children (4-12) – $6.25
• Kama’aina/Military – $7.25
• Group Tours (25 or more) – $7.25 per person
• Children under 4 are free when accompanied by an adult