Dole Plantation

Allowing travelers to learn how agriculture helped influence the rise of modern Oahu, the plantation is a popular stop on small-group and private circle island tours departing from Waikiki. Dole Plantation tours are often paired with other local activities including snorkeling, and sites such as Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor National Monument, or Hanauma Bay.

• The plantation is a must-see for families with kids and Hawaiian history buffs.

• Dole Plantation tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis from the Train and Maze ticket booths.

• Expect to spend one to two hours at the plantation, depending on which activities you’d like to take part in. (Each activity requires a separate fee.)

• The plantation is a common stop on North Shore tours.

• The Dole Plantation is wheelchair-accessible.

• There is both a gift shop and an on-site restaurant, the Plantation Grille.

The Dole Pineapple Plantation is located outside of Wahiawa on the road to the island of Oahu’s North Shore, about 30 minutes from Honolulu International Airport and 45 minutes from Waikiki by road. Buses run from Waikiki to the Ala Moana shopping center to connect with the Circle Island service; it’s a 1-hour and 45-minute trip.

The Dole Plantation is open 9:30am to 5:30pm daily. The site is busiest in summer and around the winter holidays, and crowds are smallest from September to December. To beat the late afternoon crowds, consider planning a mid-morning visit.

When Pineapple King James Dole first moved to Hawaii in 1899, he probably never thought his plantation would house the world’s largest maze. Constructed from over 14,000 plants, the site’s garden maze covers three acres (1.2 hectares) and has navigational plaques that help you eventually find your way to the exit.

Many visitors spend about one hour at the Dole Plantation, just enough time to ride the train and try Dole Whip or other snacks. For a fuller experience, aim to spend up to four hours touring the plantation. That should leave you enough leeway to visit the maze and take the garden tour.

To avoid the crowds, aim to arrive at the Dole Plantation close to opening time at 9:30am. Another option: visit after lunchtime, when most tour groups typically arrive. Generally speaking, weekends tend to be busier than weekdays.

The last tour of the Dole Plantation starts at 5pm, 30 minutes before closing time. There are several different tours of varying lengths to choose from: the Plantation Garden Tour, the Pineapple Garden Maze, and the Pineapple Express Train.

It depends. Two to four hours are generally enough to experience the Dole Plantation. However, some visitors stop for an hour. Keep in mind that the Plantation Garden Tour takes about one hour, the Pineapple Garden Maze takes around 40 minutes, and a ride on the Pineapple Express Train lasts 20 minutes.

No, it doesn’t cost money to visit the Dole Plantation. The pineapple plantation and gift store are free to visit. However, the Plantation Garden Tour, the Pineapple Garden Maze, and the Pineapple Express Train require tickets available for purchase on-site.

The Dole Whip is a pineapple-flavored soft-serve frozen dessert and the Dole Plantation’s signature snack. Eating a Dole Whip is a must-do when visiting the pineapple plantation—it’s also the perfect way to cool down while exploring Oahu on a hot day.