15 Fabulous Fruits Native to Hawaii

There are few things as tasty as mouth-watering fresh fruit. If any place in the United States is home to some of the most delicious exotic fruits, it’s Hawaii. We’ve found 15 of the best and most unique treats to try! 

Although there’s conflicting information online about where a fruit is native to, we’ve found many that are native to Hawaii and plenty that thrives throughout the beautiful state. 

1. Breadfruit

The starchy green breadfruit, which originates from New Guinea, was a favorite food of many early settlers. Locals today are thrilled this fruit grows in droves on the island. A single breadfruit tree can yield approximately 250 and 1,000 pounds of fruit per year, and a tree can live for between 75 and 100 years.

When explorers set out for other regions, they frequently brought a small sprout with them. Believe it or not, some manufacturers make drums and surfboards from breadfruit wood. When ripe, the breadfruit is extremely huge and can weigh up to four pounds. 

There is a scaley brown and green exterior. Inside, you’ll find this fruit to be yellow or white. It has a similar interior texture to a potato. Although you can remove the meat and eat it raw by cutting the fruit in half, the majority of individuals prefer it pureed and served with coconut milk. The most common way people eat it is in the form of hummus.

2. Noni

Let’s talk about a fruit that doubles as a medicine. Some have compared a fruit called Noni to morphine in terms of its ability to relieve pain. It’s not the most popular or well-known fruit in the state, either.

However, Hawaiians still use noni as an antibiotic, a painkiller, and a remedy for arthritis. The green, lemon-sized fruit has a leathery appearance and feels somewhat blue cheese-like; it is fairly sour and has a fishy flavor. 

People frequently consume noni as a beverage or chopped up in salads. There is a farm located in Kilauea, Kaua’i that offers tourists a nearly three-hour-long tour.

3. Coconut

Early Polynesian inhabitants brought coconut palms to Hawaii. Those inhabitants discovered that the soil, which is rich in volcanic ash, was ideal for growing the palms. A getaway to Hawaii wouldn’t be complete without enjoying some coconuts, despite the fact that they can be difficult to consume due to their tough outer shell. 

Coconuts that are still young, green, and not fully ripe are ideal for sipping coconut water to satisfy your thirst. They’re perfect after a long day of exploring the islands.

Because the meat of mature brown coconuts has a higher fat content, they make a tasty, yet nutritious treat. Visit the expansive plantation of coconut palms opposite the Coconut Market when you are on Kauai. If you choose to stroll amid the coconut trees, be careful of dropping coconuts.

4. Mountain Apple

The Polynesians originally brought the crimson pepper-shaped mountain apples to Hawaii. They did this to have wood for their boats and rafters for their dwellings. Although native to Australia and Malaysia, you can find mountain apples growing throughout Hawaii. 

A mountain apple will be as succulent, sweet, and floral-smelling as an apple you get at the supermarket on the mainland. One is able to devour it just like you would a regular apple.

If you prefer to make applesauce to serve with dinner rather than snacking on them or including them in your lunch, simmer the apple slices with some cinnamon and lemon juice! You can also make a tasty pie with them.

5. Apple Banana

Locals love Hawaiian apple bananas, which produce great banana bread. The length of the bananas is substantially shorter; roughly half of what we typically find on the mainland. That said, they do appear to be much “fatter” than typical bananas.

When mature, the banana peel transforms from green to yellow or even pink! They develop in huge clusters. If you’re visiting Hawaii between June and October, that’s the peak time to try this tasty fruit. To eat it, just peel it and enjoy it like you would a standard banana. 

They have a strong, acidic flavor and go well in smoothies, atop cereal, and in ice cream bowls. This is one of a handful of Hawaiian fruits that you won’t find on the mainland. 

6. Strawberry Guava

Hawaiians have loved the sweet-tart waiawi since Brazilians introduced it to Hawaii as an ornamental tree in the early 1800s. You can use this tiny, red-skinned fruit in salads or as an addition to condiments for roasted meats.

This fruit is also used in preserves, eaten raw, or pureed into a strawberry-guava smoothie or juice. Guavas have a flavor that is a combination of strawberry and pear. The strawberry guava berries are tartest while the fruit is a bit green. 

You can eat them then or when they become deep red. It all depends on your flavor preferences. We suggest trying them raw and in a tasty and refreshing juice after a long hike!

7. Star Fruit

In Hawaii, trees bear the delicious but bitter starfruit. They are tiny, scale-covered yellow or green fruits. When you slice them, each piece resembles a star and creates the ideal decorative garnish. 

Additionally, you may eat it like a juicy apple or use it in ice cream, stir fry, or an adult beverage. Due to the neurotoxin, this fruit contains and the fact that it interferes with heart medications, people who have kidney disease or use heart medication should avoid eating starfruit.

Starfruit is available all summer long in Hawaii at grocery shops and fruit markets.

8. Hawaiian Avocado

Although officially a berry, avocados are nonetheless seen by many as a huge fruit. Travelers from Central America, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, where the avocado originated, brought avocado seeds on their travels to Hawaii. 

Upon arriving, they sowed the seeds right in their backyards. They are now common on the mainland and can be found all around Hawaii. Yet, the Kahalu’u variety, which most locals believe to have the best flavor, makes up the majority of avocado trees in Hawaii. 

In addition to the Kahalu’u, Hawaii is home to more than 200 different types of avocados. Avocados mature between August and November, with the Kahalu’u variety being available for harvest from September to May.

9. Loquat

It is believed that Chinese immigrants introduced the loquat fruit to Hawaii because they employ the extract from the leaves as traditional Chinese medicine. The loquat fruit traces back to the 1700s when it was produced throughout Europe.

Because the growing season is so brief, people have to visit a local Hawaiian farmer’s market in March to get fresh Hawaiian loquats. Since the fruit has a tangy flavor and will lend an extra kick to everything you add, you may chop the fruit into small pieces prior to adding it to a dish. 

It’s commonly used in rice pudding, curries, and salads to consume. The loquats also yield delectable desserts, salsas, and jams. Remove the skin and consume it whole, removing the seeds, if you want to eat it raw. 

10. Hawaiian Mango

One of the tastiest and juiciest Hawaiian fruits is the mango! This unique fruit in Hawaii is completely different if you’re accustomed to eating regular mangos. The Hawaiian islands are home to more than 60 different varieties of mango. Mango trees are abundantly growing all over.

The Haden, Pirie, and Rapoza mangoes are among the most delicious and well-liked types. The Haden mango is the most common variety grown for commerce in Hawaii. Its outer layer turns red, yellow, and green when ripe.

In Hawaii, mangoes taste great eaten simply and in little slices. Also, this fruit is delicious in desserts and salads. We also suggest blending it up and adding it to a margarita. 

11. Longan

In Hawaii, longans are one of the fruits that are available all year long. The exterior of the tiny brown fruit is tough, but the white center within is chewy and delicious with barely any tartness. 

It was originally an Asian fruit, but it is now spreading quickly over Hawaii. 

To eat longans, one must break the outer skin, remove the seeds, and consume the fleshy meat inside. Longans can be served plain or added to salads and desserts. 

12. Surinam Cherries

Surinam cherries, look like miniature pumpkins that grow on trees rather than vines in Hawaii. They change from green and orange to scarlet and lustrous as they mature. The Surinam cherries, which are indigenous to South America’s east coast, taste best when they are exceptionally dark red or blueish-red when they are fresh. 

These are some of the most well-known fruits in Hawaii, despite the fact that they are not native to the islands. The fruit tastes great in sauces, candy, and jams or as a salad dressing. 

You can savor the cherry’s sweet-tart flavor by popping it in your mouth, but you shouldn’t ingest the seeds. Vanilla ice cream with sugar-dusted Surinam cherries on top is a local favorite! 

13. Lychee

Lychee is definitely one of the most exotic fruits in Hawaii worth trying. It has the consistency of a more robust grape and there’s a big pit on the inside. It’s one of those fruits from Hawaii that is perfect to eat while sipping wine on a lanai overlooking the ocean.

In 1873, Ching Chock came to Hawaii from China with the first lychee plant. Since then, the tiny bright red berry that looks similar to a raspberry has become a popular tree in Hawaii neighborhoods.

14. Poha Berries

Comparable to a husk tomato, the vibrant poha berry is a berry that develops within a husk. Some claim that this tart, sweet fruit has a flavor that is similar to a blend of pineapple, strawberry, and mango. 

These tiny, waxy, one-inch berries are found on bushes and have thin skin. The sour fruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C. Poha berries are frequently used in baked dishes, jelly, sorbet, and salads.

15. Pineapple 

Here us out, although pineapples aren’t technically native to Hawaii, they are the most popular fruit in the state. Think about it. What do you call pizza with ham and pineapple? Hawaiian pizza!

Bushes are the source of the fragrant, white, or yellow interior flesh. Hard-working people in the fields of Hawaii handpick the pineapples when they are ripe. The fruit pineapple does not develop rapidly. The first pineapple plant can take 18 to 20 months to grow, while the second fruit develops in a little more than a year.

James Dole founded Hawaii’s pineapple business in the early 1900s, and in 1922 he purchased the island of Lanai to plant pineapples. If you’ve ever enjoyed a tasty cup of Dole Whip, James is the person to thank! Hawaii was the world’s largest pineapple exporter in the 1960s and produced more than 80% of the pineapples used in canned goods. 

Final Thoughts

Hawaii has some of the best fruit in the country! Thanks to settlers, there is a wide variety of tasty, sweet, and exotic fruit that grows there. Berries in bushes, apple bananas in bunches, and cherries on vines are just a few of our favorites. Thanks for checking out some of the goodness that the islands have to offer! 

Summary of 15 Fabulous Fruits Native to Hawaii