Oahu Macadamia Nut Farm

The Island’s Freshest Macadamia Nuts
Tropical Farms is a small farm tucked away in the windward (east) coast of Oahu, between an ancient fish pond and the Ko’olau Mountain Range. It began as a roadside stand in 1987, but has grown to become a common destination on Oahu circle-island bus tours.

Macadamia nuts and coffee are harvested onsite and sold within the store. Because of this, the location has some of the freshest stores of nuts and coffee on the island. Farm visitors are invited to try their hand at cracking macadamia nuts by hand in the courtyard.

But even if that’s too much of a challenge, several sample stations are available within the store with roasted and flavored nuts. The farm is one of the only places in Hawaii to sample certain unique flavors, such as cinnamon and garlic.

Outside of the macadamia and coffee shop, other small shops offer locally made jewelry, wooden carvings and more. Tropical Farms also offers a guided tour of the plantation and fishpond, called the Ali’i tour, which includes cultural demonstrations.

History of Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii
Though Hawaii has become the macadamia nut capital of the world, macadamia nuts are not native plants. They were brought to Hawaii from Australia in the late 1800s.

The early growers found that Hawaii’s well-drained lava land was perfect for growing the trees. The University of Hawaii helped to develop the signature crunch and sweetness of Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts. And Hawaii’s tropical climate made it so that the nuts could be harvested year-round.

Macadamia Nut Information
Macadamia nuts grow on medium-sized trees in subtropical regions. After harvesting, the nuts are shelled and roasted for best flavor. They can then be made to exhibit almost any flavor – salty, sweet, sour, chocolate-covered and more.

The nuts not only taste delicious, but they also have health benefits. They are packed with antioxidants and have been found to reduce overall cholesterol levels.