Maui Pineapple Company Tour
Category: Hotels & Travel Tours Tours [Edit]
Kapalua ResortUninc Maui County, HI 96761
(808) 665-5491
5 reviews for Maui Pineapple Company Tour
5 reviews in English
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Review from Brian B.
Kirkland, WA
10/18/2010
Wow, great tour!!!! Steve is awesome, lots of history and very entertaining!
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Review from Jason P.
8/18/2011 29 photos
It's a bit pricey at $65 per person, but it's one of the last pineapple companies in the US that do tours through the factory and plantation fields. It's worth the experience, and Maui Gold does have the best pineapples in the world, mainly because of the perfect climate and they let them grow longer and get sweeter from the nutrient-high red volcanic dirt. Their size is attributed to the fact that they only let them regrow once for a total of two generations, before re-cultivating the land. The free large-sized pineapple will definitely help offset the price, and Steve will also let you take extra pineapples from the field as long as you are discreet about it.
A brief description of what the tour entails:
You park in a lot or in the shed, then proceed to board a small bus which Steve, the tour guide, takes you about a 1-minute drive down to the sorting factory where pineapples are sized and then boxed into different boxes ranging from 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. The numbers equate to the number of pineapples in a box, which means, the smaller the number, the larger the pineapple. The 6 and 8 boxes go to the local vineyard to make wine, since the pineapples are so small. Otherwise, the others are shipped mostly locally with a few places on the West Coast.
After he takes you through the sort and packaging plant, you pick up your free pineapple box, then proceed to the storage facility where the pineapples are stored in a very cool temperature-controlled room. You then board the bus and take a short drive to the plantation, all while Steve gives you a background of how the many trees along the road were imported from various countries to bring moisture to what was once arid land. This can be attributed to the agricultuerist David Thomas Fleming. You then arrive at the plantation where he will make several stops, explaining how the workers are paid by the number of pineapples they plant by the hour, and to another location to explain how pineapples are harvested and placed into a huge truck. He will then stop and let you get out, and explain the 3 (or 4) different stages of pineapple ripening/fermenting: green, green/yellow, and yellow (ripe) pineapples, and how each other has a different softness to the pineapple and sweetness/sourness. He will then show you how to take the pineapples off the plant and let you choose your own, so that he can cut it up with his huge machete and let everyone try it out. Steve will keep cutting pineapples until everyone is content, provide some wetnaps, and then drive back to parking lot. The whole tour takes about 1.5 hours and can be reserved at http://mauipineappleto.../.
Also keep note, as we were informed by our tour guide: Most street vendors sell cheap Maui Golds because they were stolen from the fields. You'll notice that most if not all are smaller and fully ripened to yellow, so they will only last a day or two before going bad.Listed in: From Maui, With Love
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Review from Diana L.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2008 1 photo
to getaway from the crazy winds and hot sun, hop onto the Pineapple tour!
educational (ie. a bit boring) and very hands-on, it was a great way to see the Kapalua resort and see a little bit of the northern tip of the island. the resort is huuuuge and you'll get your share of ocean views and lots and lots of pineapple fields! i learned a lot about the pineapple, how to pick a ripe one, and the best part -- we got to pick one to take home! :) i would have taken a baby pineapple home if they only they were edible. teehee!
Maui Gold pineapples really are the best. now that we've come back to the bay and tried those from south america that are only available, it does not compare in sweetness and texture.
pad your bum-bum though because it's a bit of a bumpy ride!Listed in: Maui goodies
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Review from Max S.
Sammamish, WA
4/3/2010
Fun for the family. The history and local insights are good. It's fun to eat the amazing Maui Gold in the field. We went on a 9am trip which got us back for lunch and a pool run. $220 for a family of 5. It's worth it considering a dinner for 5 around here is more than that! Easy parking and bus loading.
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Review from Dave C.
Hillsboro, OR
8/4/2010
This was good fun! Initially when my daughter suggested that we go on a pineapple tour we all were pretty skeptical of the fun factor and thought that we could spend our valuable time in Maui on something "better" (ie snorkeling, lounging at the beach etc..) Well were we surprised we had a great time. The tour guide (Steve) was very knowledgeable and fun. You learned about the history of the area, the pineapple business and how to pick a perfect pineapple. Trust me you have not had a really good pineapple until you have had a Maui Gold pineapple. It's a nice break from the beach and pool and you can eat great pineapple to your hearts content.
