Varieties of Hawaiian Pineapples

Smooth Cayenne

• The smooth cayenne pineapple is cultivated because the variety has very few spines, which makes production easier. It is also quite large, weighing about 10 lbs. It is taller than most pineapple varieties and has a bright orange rind when ripe, which has a juicy flavor. The variety is susceptible to disease, and it is too delicate to ship fresh for long distances. Thus, the smooth cayenne pineapple is not often transported fresh to the continental United States and is processed locally before shipping.

Hilo

• Hilo is another variety of pineapple grown throughout Hawaii. The fruit is smaller than most common pineapples, as it rarely weighs more than 3 lbs. It is quite round and has many spines and suckers, which make production difficult. The variety has a very small crown top, and production of Hilo is very limited throughout Hawaii.

Red Spanish

• Red Spanish is another variety that has limited growth in Hawaii. This type is more common in Puerto Rice, Mexico and Venezuela. The fruit is round with an orange-red rind and pale yellow fruit. It has deep spines, but it's very sugary with hardly any acid. In addition, it weighs 3 to 6 lbs. The fruit is not fibrous enough for canning and is most often sold fresh or juiced. Red Spanish is rarely imported fresh to the continental United States.

Abacaxi

• The Abacaxi pineapple has limited production in Hawaii. The variety is small and round and rarely weighs more than 3 lbs. The fruit is white or very pale yellow when it is ripe. It is especially juicy and is often turned into juice rather than canned or sold fresh. The plant has a low-yield factor and so rarely produced commercially.