Hawaii anyone?

[Alex]

For quite a while the Dole Plantation has been a "working" plantation in the sense that they do actually grow pineapple there but mostly as a tourist attraction. The actual financial incentive to grow pineapple in Hawaii is small (same with sugar, of which not so much is grown in Hawaii any longer).

As far as big waves at the North Shore it is true that winter is better for the big waves but if you want to watch some surfing that is where you'd head any time of the year (on the Honolulu side of the island the surf tends to only be a few inches). And keep in mind that in Hawaiian parlance the height of waves is about half of what it would be labelled anywhere else.

I don't know how you and your family like to tourist. If you like to experience nature more there is some great hiking available and a good lazy drive around the island on the King Kamehameha highway is worthwhile to get a sense of the island away from the tourists.