9 Exotic Fruits to Try in Hawai'i
Many people associate the Hawaiian islands with Dole pineapple, but locals know the islands have many superior, exotic fruits and a strong farming culture. There are little to no edible fruits that are native to the Island of Hawai'i as all have been brought here and thrive in the growing conditions. Big Island in particular is especially diverse due to the many microclimates that exist creating the ideal conditions for growing fruit found around the globe. There are 8/13 of these microclimates on Hawaii, from arid deserts to dense forests. So ditch the pineapple (unless it’s the white variety) and try something different! You will always find an abundance of apple bananas, mangoes and coconuts but when in season, I highly recommend trying some of the following exotic fruits in Hawaii.
The following list includes some of my favorite exotic fruits grown on the Big Island so be sure to try them on your next visit!
(If you’d like suggestions on where to buy these fruits keep scrolling!)
Lilikoi
flavor profile: sweet, tangy & lemony
Acidic, floral
Lilikoi or Hawaiian passion fruit sneaks into just about any dessert here and is an iconic flavor, but you haven’t tried lilikoi until you’ve had it fresh. This beautiful fruit grows on a vine along fences, trellises or trees and when they’re in season they drop like flies. There are a few varieties you can find that grow in Hawai'i from Jamaican (banana) lilikoi, passion fruit (purple variety), and if you’re really lucky, giant passion fruit. Jamaican lilikois tend to be less tangy/sour and more sweet and are orange on the outside. Giant lilikoi has the same flavor profile as a regular-sized size but is 10 times the size and a lot sweeter! They also produce gorgeous exotic flowers along the vine that are a great addition to your nighttime tea due to their relaxing qualities and flavor. When choosing lilikoi be sure there is no obvious damage and the ripe ones will be wrinkly and less pleasing to the eye. The more wrinkles, the sweeter the flavor which cuts the sourness. Carefully cut through the rind as the edible portion is a loose jelly-like substance that can be scooped right out with a spoon. You absolutely can eat lilikoi raw and I love adding fresh lilikoi to any of my desserts. It pairs well with yogurt or something that can cut the acidity. The seeds are edible and offer a nice crunch so don’t bother sorting them out.
Jamaican lilikoi, Jamaican lilikoi flower & Giant lilikoi
2. Sour sop
flavor profile: sweet, juicy, custardstrawberry/ apple/ banana
Sometimes the least appetizing-looking fruit will blow your mind. This gooey messy fruit will teach you to not judge a book by its cover. This green spiky fruit looks intimidating on the outside but you will be hooked on the first bite. You’re looking for one that is semi-soft with a sweet aroma and minimal bruising or dark spots. Do not eat/ chew on these seeds as they are inedible and very hard. Some markets will have it already cut and divided into a single-serve grab-and-go container to avoid the messy cutting.
3. Jackfruit
Flavor profile: creamy, banana/apple/mango, meaty
The fruit that inspired the flavor profile of the chewing gum "Juicy Fruit", this one is a must-try. Jackfruit has been getting a lot of attention for its use in vegan/vegetarian dishes as a meat alternative but that's not how we eat it fresh. To use it as a meat alternative, it has to be picked under ripened when the flavor is mild. If you pick ripe jackfruit, you eat the creamy flesh around the fruit pods. These can grow to be quite large so it's worth splitting one with several people to try it!
4. Mangosteens (Purple)
flavor profile: sweet, pink starburst, creamy
Originally from Southeast Asia, this little fruit that is loaded with antioxidants can be well worth the price. This dark purple fruit has a hard and thick rind covering a creamy white/pink inside that is a small bite of heaven. Carefully cut around the rind to reveal juicy fruit that is arranged like a clove of garlic and chew right through the few soft seeds. When choosing mangosteens be sure there is no yellow resin on the outside, this would indicate it’s past the ripe stage and affects taste. The rind should be firm with a slight give. Mangosteens have been found to contain high amounts of xanthones, a property that aids in decreasing inflammation and fighting cancer. They take roughly 18 years to start producing fruit from the time they are planted in the ground on the Hawaiian Islands (so you can now imagine why they are a pricey fruit!).
5. Custard Apples
flavor profile: creamy, brown sugar, lemon curd
Along with the famous soursop the numerous other members of the custard apple family all have different qualities and tastes. Atemoyas, cherimoyas, and rollinias are a few that can be grown in Hawaii. Atemoyas and cherimoyas are similar to soursop in that they are green and roundly shaped different patterns on their skin. Atemoyas are slightly sweeter than soursop and cherimoya has more of a caramel/ nutty flavor. Rollinias are large and yellow (with black, dry scales when ripe) with a jelly like inside and a juicy, light lemon/banana flavor. Cherimoya and Atemoya are ready to eat when they’ve turned into a darker green almost black fruit with a soft interior. Just like sour sop, all of these fruits are also a ooey gooey delicious mess.
6. Durian
flavor profile: creamy, garlic, pungent, meaty
The infamous “King of Fruit” originating from Asia seems to be the kine fruit you either love or hate. Because it requires a lot of rainfall, this fruit can only be grown in very few places on the Hawaiian islands, one of them Hilo. Durian contains a thick, hard and intimidating spiky exterior covering a meaty yellow flesh that is a flavor like no other. A large, ripe durian that may smell like heaven to one can smell like a garbage can to another. Many varieties of durian have vastly different qualities so be sure to try a few before you make up your mind.
7. Dragon Fruit
flavor profile: juicy, light, raspberry
Not all dragonfruit are created equal! Ones with a yellow exterior and white flesh tend to be the sweetest but my favorite are pink on the outside with purple interior because they are the better balance of flavor and sweetness. My favorite part about this fruit is that it grows from a flowering cactus that blooms in the moonlight, and has to be hand pollinated on Hawai’i due to the lack of natural pollinators. If you are lucky enough to see one bloom it is one of the most gorgeous and unique flowers I’ve ever seen. When buying dragonfruit look for bright colors on the skin with minimal dry spots and a soft texture.
8. Lychee / Rambutans
flavor profile: jelly, sweet, juicy
I like to call these tropical grapes. You have to bite through the skin to make an opening for you to peel the thick rind off. Lychees tend to be a little sweeter than rambutans but rambutans have more meat to them. They are the perfect little snack to throw in your bag and bring to the beach.
9. Jabuticaba
flavor profile: sweet, tart, acidic, tough & tart skin
Also spelled Jaboticaba, this little fruit comes from Brazil and grows on the Brazilian grape tree. The purplish-black white-pulped fruit grows directly on the tree branches. Because of their short shelf-life of 3-4 days and specific growing conditions, it makes these very difficult to export which is why you would only be able to try them in their growing region. Jabuticaba have more antioxidants than blueberries and acai making them a golden little treasure!
Picking out your fruit
If all else fails, ask the person selling the fruit how to pick a ripe fruit
Farmers' Markets and Local small grocers will always be your best option when looking for local fruit. If you spot any fruit stands while driving around the island, always stop and take a look at what they have! Sometimes they offer Venmo but it’s smart to have extra cash on you. The larger grocery stores tend to have more imported produce than local. Below are places where you can find local fruit divided into 3 areas of Big Island.
DISCLAIMER- the days noted are subject to change, if you search the market or grocer on Google Maps that will be your best bet for accurate days & hours of operation.
Where to Find Local Fresh Fruit in Kona / Captain Cook
Pure Kona Green Market (my personal favorite, only on Sundays)
Kona Farmers Market (Wednesday-Sunday)
Keauhou Farmers Market (Saturday)
South Kona Fruit Stand (Closed Tuesdays)
Kainaliu Fresh Grocer in Captain Cook (Closed Sundays)
KTA Superstores (Open 7 Days/Week)
Island Naturals (Open 7 Days/Week)
Where to Find Local Fresh Fruit in Hilo
Hilo Farmers Market (Open 7 Days/Week)
Makau’u Farmers Market (Sundays)
Kino’ole Farmers Market (Saturdays)
Locavore (Open 7 Days/Week)
Island Naturals (Open 7 Days/Week)
Where to Find Fresh Local Fruit in Waimea/ Hamakua
Waimea Midweek Market (Wednesday)
Kamuela Farmers Market (Saturday, one of my favorites!)
Kekela Farms Market (Tuesdays & Saturdays)
The Farmers’ Market at Hāmākua Harvest (Sunday)
Unique Experiences to try Exotic Fruits on Big Island
If you're looking for a consolidated and immersive experience, there are plenty of farms on the Big Island that offer farm tours with tastings.
Star Seed Ranch is one of my favorite farms to recommend to someone looking for this experience. A 26-acre homestead nestled in the Kohala Hills, you can either choose a farm tour with fruit tasting or farm-to-table dinner afterwards
Kuaiwi Farms is a quaint 5-acre farm in the South Kona area. They offer a tour of their diverse farm following a tasting of some of their products on their breezy lanai.
OK Farms takes you on a tour of their property near Rainbow Falls in Hilo where you can see the process of where they grow their many exotic fruits such as rambutan, lychee, longan, cocao, and more.
Big Island Farms offers an immersive farm tour experience where you can try edible flowers, medicinal plants, local rare bananas and will take you through their food forest. Spread across 64 acres near the town of Honoka'a, this beautiful permaculture farm has over 200 unique species of edible plants!
Pali Nana Farms hosts a tour of their orchard where you can see their diverse fruits growing as well as participate in making chocolate from the cocoa pod grown on the farm to the bar. They offer woodfire pizza meal afterward as well.
FAQ
What fruit is only native to Hawai’i?
Technically, before the Hawaiians came here there was no edible fruit on the islands. The Hawaiian Islands are among some of the newest formations of land and havent had time to grow and develop other edible plants. When the Hawaiians discovered the islands they brought “canoe crops” on their voyage that would last any harsh conditions at sea. The canoe crops they brought were ‘ulu (breadfruit), kalo (taro), noni, mai’a (banana), Ko (sugarcane), and several other edible plants.
Is lilikoi and passionfruit the same thing?
Yes, there are just multiple varieties! The yellow passionfruit is what Hawaiians consider lilikoi and was brought to the islands from Australia in the early 1900s. Lilikoi is native to the tropical regions and more specifically Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
What fruit smells like cheese in Hawaii?
You’ll probably never see this fruit at a farmers market but you might see it near the beach or on a trail somewhere in Hawai’i. This odd-smelling fruit is loaded with medicinal properties and is used in almost every Hawaiian medicinal remedy. Noni fruit in modern days have been turned into vinegars and tinctures to be used in health remedies. Noni is promoted to prevent cancer, prevent infections, treat high blood pressure and contain high amounts of antioxidants.
Noni Fruit
Overall, while you’re visiting the Hawaiian Islands you should venture out of your comfort zone when you have this incredible variety of fruit at your fingertips.
