The road to the plantation was already lined with pineapple fields:
And then we took a narrated train ride out to see them up close.
Jim Dole, a new Harvard grad, bought 61 acres in Hawaii in 1900. He did well ... so well, in fact, that in 1922, he bought the ENTIRE ISLAND of Lana`i. As they said, "He transformed it into the largest pineapple plantation in the world, with 20,000 farmed acres and a planned plantation village to house more than a thousand workers and their families. For nearly 70 years, Lana`i supplied more than 75% of the world’s pineapple, becoming widely known as the “Pineapple Island.”
Back at the garden, we saw the more mature pineapple up close.
What a beautiful fruit!
We also learned about the planting, growing cycle, and harvesting. Planting and harvesting are done by hand. I was really surprised. Seems like someone would have invented some planter and harvester in the last 100 years.
I even took a picture of the FAQ, since it was good.
I, honestly, didn't know how pineapple grew. Seeing it up close was so interesting.
The fresh pineapple at the end was a great advertisement for a finished product. We actually ate pineapple every day we were in Hawaii. I love farm tours, I love eating ... what a great tour. It wasn't just a farmer thing. The place was packed.
We're back home on the dairy - producing milk! Thank goodness we're not still hand-harvesting it.
