More than a century ago, a Big Island sugar plantation manager introduced MACADAMIA NUTS to the island. Although native to Australian rainforests, mac nuts thrived in Hawai‘i, and the state became the site of the world’s first commercial plantations. Today, these delicious, hard-shelled nuts are one of Hawai‘i Island’s largest crop industries.
Macadamia nuts aren’t picked from the tree; instead, they fall to the ground fully ripened. However, don’t pick one up expecting to shell it and pop it in your mouth — it requires 300 pounds of pressure per square inch to crack a mac nut shell.
MAUNA LOA MACADAMIA NUT CORP., located 6 miles south of Hilo on Macadamia Road, welcomes visitors to tour its 2,500-acre orchard, processing plant and chocolate factory.
For more information, look up GREAT HAWAIIAN MAC NUT TRAIL : a self-guided tour of Hawai‘i’s macadamia nut industry. You’ll find everything from processing plants to small family-owned farms and bed-and-breakfast stops where visitors can pick macadamia nuts.
HAWAIIAN MACADAMIA NUT CO. is a grower-owned store that carries flavored macadamia and locally sourced agricultural products. Stop in to sample some coffee and mac nuts while learning about Hawaiian agriculture. A¯HUALOA FAMILY FARMS 808-775-1821 MAUNA LOA MACADAMIA NUT CORP. 808-966-8618 OR 888-628-6256 HAWAIIAN MACADAMIA NUT CO. 808-731-8754