The Dole Plantation sits between Turtle Bay Resort and Honolulu, so we decided to stop one day driving back to the resort. The Dole Plantation has three main attractions: the train, the maze, and the gardens. We opted to do the maze the and the gardens. Overall, this was a great place to visit. The only thing I didn’t like was that it isn’t very agricultural; I was hoping to learn more about the cultivation process and to be able to tour the fields. After we finished the maze and the gardens, we stopped in the Plantation Grille for the must-try Dole Whip. We split a small, and it was a delicious and refreshing treat at the end of our day.
The Maze
We hit up the maze first. The maze is set up with eight different stops (one for each of the Hawaiian islands); each has a stencil that you color in on the card they give you. The stops are set up in a way that you can start or finish at either end. Mac is an Army officer, so he is really good at land navigation. He directed us through the whole maze from the map and without really looking up.
The Gardens
We then walked over to the Dole Plantation gardens. The gardens feature native species from across Hawaii and Polynesia, including lots of the tropical fruits. The gum tree with the striped bark was by far my favorite plant there. The colors are so vivid that it doesn’t even look real. The garden has a loop path with a gentle slope and is incredibly beautiful. If you only have time for one of the Dole Plantation attractions, my vote is to see the gardens.
Catch up on our trip to Hawaii: We booked our vacation through Costco Travel | Our Oahu eats | Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium | Pearl Harbor | Cruising with Hawaii Duck Tours | Iolani Palace | Hiking through Waimea Valley | Kayaking with Turtles in Kawela Bay | The Polynesian Cultural Center
