For over 100 years sugar cane and pineapple were the major agricultural crops of Hawaii. Competition from low wage, third world countries account for a significant decline in agricultural production in Hawaii during the past thirty years. Nevertheless, one of the worlds largest sugar plantations still exists on Maui where almost 30,000 acres of sugar continues to carpet the central valley.

The agricultural  focus of the islands has shifted to diversified agriculture with macadamia nut orchards, flower farms, onions and many other products.