One of the best things about visiting a tropical island is getting to eat all the tropical fruits! With a warm climate, rich volcanic soil, and multiple microclimates, Maui has a wide range of foods that grow on the island. If you're heading to Hawaii this August, here is the must-consume list of all the juicy fruits you should enjoy before your flight home.
While you'll find delicious fruit all year long, the warm sunny weather of a Hawaiian summer leads to the perfect growing seasons for some of the most delicious fruit. Enjoy the renowned Kula strawberries or a Maui Gold pineapple or any of the other fruits on this list to truly enjoy all that Maui has to offer.
Mangoes: A Juicy Joy
One of our personal favorites is mangos! While mangos are in season all summer long, in August you're likely to find the Rapoza and Keitt varieties. Rapoza has red and yellow skin and a delicious fiberless flesh and tends to show up later in the season than some more common varieties. However, it'll ripen from August into October, making it perfect for some late-season mango sticky rice or mango smoothies.
There's also a common Hawaiian mango that many people grow in their backyards; this fruit tends to drop off the tree in August. While not the highest caliber of mango, this is still a delicious treat and it's perfect for local favorites like pickled mango or mango chutney.
Lychee: A Sweet Summer Treat
Lychee grows from May through September and is truly a tropical fruit. This fruit is a small, round, red-skinned fruit with white flesh and a large seed. While the skin isn't edible, it's easy enough to peel off and enjoy the tender fruit inside.
While lychee is primarily just eaten raw, you may find some tasty juices or sorbets that are flavored with this mild treat.
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya): The Star of August
Dragon fruit is at its peak in August. If you've never seen pitaya before, it has a distinctive flesh that almost looks like scales. While we're not sure if that's how it got its name, it does make it easy to recognize! The skin turns a beautiful fuchsia color when it's ripe, and the fruit inside can be either a purple color or pure white with miniature seeds.
This fruit grows on cactus, making it ideal to grow in hot, dry conditions. If you fancy an acai bowl, many blend pitaya into the base alongside the acai, creating a creamy and delicious smoothie bowl.
Lilikoi (Passion Fruit): A Hawaii Classic
Passion fruit, locally called lilikoi, is a round fruit with a large outer shell that's normally bright yellow or deep purple. Open it up and find a juicy, seed-filled center. Suck the juice off the seeds or eat them for an extra crunch (if that's your vibe). Each lilikoi only has about 1 to 2 tablespoons of juice!
If you're not a fan of eating seedy fruits, you'll find the flavor in Hawaiian POG (Passion Fruit, Orange and Guava juice), featured in lemonades, butters and even in cheesecakes!
Starfruit (Carambola): The Prettiest Garnish
It's no wonder why starfruit got its name! This fruit has a distinct star shape when sliced, and a deliciously tart and sweet flavor.
Its main season is September through April, but you might find some that ripened a bit early. It's frequently added to salads, used as garnishes, or even cooked down into jams or jellies. Truly, this is a fruit that is best enjoyed fresh as it has a light and refreshing flavor.
The Quick List of Year-Round Fruits
These fruits are available all year long, but that doesn't mean you should skimp out on them. Your taste buds will thank you each time you slice one of them open.
Apple Bananas: These tiny little bananas are jam-packed with flavor! Unlike their larger cousins, they are sweeter and creamier.
Papaya: Hawaiian papayas aren't as big as some of their Central American counterparts, but their smaller size makes them the perfect bowl for a yogurt parfait!
Pineapple: Maui Gold Pineapples are a must-eat! Plus, they even sell them ready to transport back home with you.
Where to Find Fresh Fruit on Maui in August
The best places to find fresh fruit are most assuredly the farmers markets! There are quite a few on Maui, but the biggest is definitely the Saturday morning farmer's market in Pukalani. If you're in the Kihei or Wailea area, there is a farmers market at the Wailea Village on Tuesday mornings.
If you're craving fruit on another day, never fear! There are a few farm stands that are available all week long. Farmers Market Maui near Sugar Beach in Kihei is a great spot to hit up (try the shave ice at Ululani's just next door!). The grocery store Foodland also offers local fruits and has a location in almost every town on the island.
Conclusion
One of the best things about visiting Maui during the summer months is access to all the fresh fruits that are not available year-round. Enjoy the smorgasbord of delights and let us know what your favorite tropical fruit is below!
