The 5 Best Farm Tours on Oʻahu
Find out which farms earned top honors in our 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards.
What better way than a farm tour to learn about Hawaiʻi’s rich agriculture history—and sample some of the freshest fruits around? Based on our 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards, these five farms offer the best tours.
1. Dole Plantation
What started as a fruit stand in 1950 is now an expansive attraction on Oʻahu that lures more than 1 million visitors a year. While it doesn’t cost anything to roam around the Dole Plantation grounds—you can learn how to cut a pineapple or feed koi (carp) in a fishpond—consider a tour on the Pineapple Express train, or a stroll through one of the world’s largest mazes, which stretches over 3 acres and includes 2½ miles of paths. Don’t forget to stop at the Plantation Grille after for a plate lunch and, of course, the famous Dole Whip frozen treat. 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway, Wahiawā, (808) 621-8408, doleplantation.com
2. Kualoa Ranch
Established in 1850, Kualoa Ranch sprawls across 4,000 acres on Oʻahu’s Windward Side and offers a variety of tours and activities, from guided horseback rides through pristine valleys to a two-hour kayaking adventure to Secret Beach. Foodies will enjoy the ranch’s new Taste of Kualoa Farm Tour, where you explore the tropical fruit and flower gardens of Mōliʻi, an ancient fishpond, and taste fresh fruits along the way. 49-560 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe, (808) 237-7321, kualoa.com
3. Kahuku Farms
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This 5-acre farm is a popular stop for visitors to Oʻahu’s North Shore. You can’t miss the bright yellow roadside stand that serves tasty treats—grilled banana bread, açaí bowls, veggie paninis—made with ingredients grown on the farm. The Grand Tour, which runs weekly, takes you through the farm on a tractor-drawn wagon and ends with a sampling of fresh fruits. 56-800 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, (808) 628-0639, kahukufarms.com
4. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts
This family-run farm started as a roadside operation in 1987. Today, Tropical Farms grows macadamia nuts and coffee, both of which are sold in the farm’s store. The Aliʻi Tour, which runs twice daily, starts with a 10-minute drive through the property as a guide explains the various plants growing there, from lilikoʻi (passion fruit) vines to cacao trees. Then you stop at Coconut Village where performers play drums and demonstrate how to husk and open a coconut, which you can sample. You also visit a nearby historic fishpond and end up back at the shop, where you can crack open your own mac nuts. 49-227 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe, (808) 358-9729, macnutfarm.com
5. Kō Hana Distillers
Learn the process of turning heirloom sugarcane into handcrafted, single-batch agricole rum on the tasting tour at Kō Hana Distillers. The tour starts with a glass of freshly pressed cane juice, made from native varieties brought to Hawaiʻi by early Polynesians. Then walk through the distillery’s garden of native Hawaiian canes before stopping at the tasting bar for a sip of its white and aged rums. 92-1770 Kunia Road, #227, Kunia Camp, (808) 517-4067, kohanarum.com
