Pineapple souvenirs?
 

I'm going to Kauai in August. I'd really like to bring back pineapples for my family. I know from my trip to Maui last year that you can buy some in the airport on your way home, but I want to buy 6-8. What would be the best way to do this? Can anyone help? I know shipping them costs a lot of money, and it seems like it would be hard to carry on that much on the plane. If anyone could give me tips on where to buy them or how to transport them, I would really appreciate it.

There are very few pineapples grown on Kauai these days. You might try the little market just north of the junction of Kuhio and Kapule Highways. (It's a treacherous turn into their parking lot, ditto the exit, so use caution.) Honestly, I don't think it is worth the trouble to try and carry or go to the expense of shipping 6-8 pineapples from Kauai. If you still want to do it, try to get sugar loaf pineapples.

Go to the website for Haliimaile General Store and have pineapples shipped to your home. They mail them out every Tuesday and they arrive in about 48 hours. I'm leaving for Maui on Saturday. Before I leave, I'll order online a box of 8-10 pineapples to have shipped to my coworkers at the office. They'll receive them while I'm on my vacation. Perfect! It is costly - about $100 for a box that size.

You can order pineapples online from Hilohattie.com. When we were on Kauai in March we sent back nuts, coffee etc. from the Hilo Hattie store in Lihue. Very convenient and the rates were decent.

For the pineapples we used a business on Hwy 56 north of the airport. I can't remember the name. I'll top the question that I had prior to going. Auntiemaria and carbogilligan gave me directions which were right on. That same store also had a booth at Hilo Hattie's. They only ship on certain days.

I can laugh now but I still got nailed for $25 for my suitcase being overweight on the way home.

All of the airports in the islands sell fresh pineapples -- all packed up and ready to be taken on the plane.

If you're departing the islands via Honolulu Airport, wait until there to make your purchase and take the box as "hand carry" on the plane with you.

There are companies which will ship the produce back to the mainland for you, but it's not free...

Susie96, I found the name of the place we used to ship back the pineapples. It is Kauai Fruit & Flower Company. Their website is www.kauaifruit.com

Thank you for all your replies. I will think about your suggestions. It is expensive to ship them I realize, but how easy would it be to carry all of them onto the plane? Thanks again!

They are packed in boxes. Check them through with your luggage.

You can buy boxes of 8 pineapples at the airport, and take them home as luggage. Do NOT ship them, the cost is extremely prohibitive. You can also ask at the tour desks in your hotel, and they will arrange to have them waiting at the airport for you with your name on them. Just pick them up and check them in as baggage. Easy.

Oooh. Thank you. The thing I wasn't sure of was that boxes of 8 existed. That will make it a lot easier. Thanks.

OK, I can already hear you laughing and see you rolling your eyes before I post this, but here goes.... Our local Costco (SF Bay area) has the best pineapples I ever tasted, so check your own Costco before you go to see if they're available there. If so, stop at Costco on your way home from the airport when you return. Let Costco schlep them for you. I'm not making this up!

I was in Costco yesterday. The pineapples were $3.49. Just remember to take the tag off that says Costa Rica.