"the Hawaiian Nut"

History of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii
Here's how macadamia nuts started to grow in Hawaii. Macadamia nuts are called "the Hawaii nut" because here in Hawaii where we live, our rich volcanic soil, our tropical rains and our golden sunshine are ideal for growing the most delicious macadamia nuts in the world.

An "Inedible" Ornamental - Macadamia trees are graceful, spreading evergreens with glossy leaves and decorative nuts. It's no wonder macadamia trees have always been loved for their beauty. But their nuts are so hard to crack (the world's hardest shell, harder than hickory) that for generations no one knew a delicious nut was inside. Macadamia trees were planted as ornamentals only!

Beautiful Tree Gets a Name - An Australian chemist, John Macadam, cultivated these lovely trees "down under" during the mid 1800s. It happened that Macadam had a botanist friend, Baron Ferdinand von Muller. Since the Baron was the first to describe the tree botanically, he earned the right to name it too. He chose the name "Macadamia" in honor of his friend, John Macadam.

1881: Australian Tourist Loves Hawaii - In 1881 the first macadamia tree came to Hawaii. It was planted on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kapulena near Waipi'o Valley...where it thrived. The trees' native Australia had been good for growing macadamia nuts. But it turned out that Hawaii's climate and soil conditions were great!

1921: The First Plantation - By 1921 a far-seeing Massachusetts man, Ernest van Tassel, thought there might be commercial potential in growing macadamias. He planted the first Hawaiian macadamia plantation on government land near Honolulu. Unfortunately, he was ahead of his time. Back then, seedlings from one parent tree couldn't produce nuts of consistent quality. By the 1930's a small amount of nuts were sold commercially, but large-scale commercial production was yet to come.

University of Hawaii: 20 Years of Research - The University of Hawaii embarked on 20 years of testing and research. Some 60,000 trees were observed and tested in a painstaking process of selection and grafting. Eventually nine strains were developed that could consistently produce a high quality nut. That was the beginning of a long partnership between Mauna Loa and the University of Hawaii, which continues today.

1946: The Original Plantation - The original plantation of what was to become Mauna Loa was established in 1946. The very first macadamia nut trees were planted early that year near Kea'au on the Big Island of Hawaii (Home of Mauna Loa).

1956: The First Commercial Crop - You have to be patient with macadamia trees. They take seven years to produce a commercial crop, and 15 to really pick up steam. But the original investment paid off, and the first commercial crop was harvested in 1956.

1976: Lots More Trees - By 1976 the old sugar plantation business in Hawaii was waning. Mauna Loa began converting five old sugar plantations to macadamia plantations at the rate of 1000 acres a year. Most of those trees are still producing the premium macadamia nuts you enjoy today.

1980's: Cracking Nut-Cracking Problems - Mauna Loa worked with scientists to find better ways to crack the world's hardest nut. Their goal was to preserve more nut kernels whole. It worked, and were able to supply the growing demand for premium, whole macadamia nuts.

1984: Mauna Loa Blows Her Top - In 1984 a big eruption made headline news. Hawaii's namesake volcano, Mauna Loa, became famous overnight. And with it Mauna Loa nut company, and our macadamia plantations nestled on her slopes. Now more visitors were coming to Hawaii, discovering the delicious taste of Mauna Loa macadamia nuts, and demanding the same premium nuts from stores back home on the mainland.

2004: Hershey gets a "Taste of the Tropics" - Hershey acquires Mauna Loa.

Today: The Largest and most experienced processor in the world - Today the companies' nuts come from nearly 10,000 acres of orchards on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The companies primary nut processing plant is still in Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaii's perfect growing conditions, and Mauna Loa's matchless attention to quality at every step of processing, has earned Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation its premium reputation as the leader in macadamia nuts.