Featured Alien: Macadamia Nut

Scientific Name: Macadamia integrifolia

How It Came To Hawai‘i :

In 1837 Don Francisco de Paula Marin planted the first macadamia tree in the backyard of his Honolulu home. The tree came from Australia. In the 1890s the Hawaiian government planted 2,000 trees on Tantalus as a reforestation project. Macadamia can grow from near sea level to about 2,500 feet elevation. The tree does not require irrigation and produces best on deep, well-drained soils.

Impact Since Its Arrival:

The macadamia is the third largest crop in the Islands and nearly the entire US crop is produced here. The macadamia nut industry, a $300 million-a-year business, provides 2,000 jobs in this state.

Hard Nuts to Crack

It takes a lot of work to produce the tasty macadamia nuts sold in the market. A hard, brown shell, covered by a tough green husk, protects the meat of the nut. Factories have special equipment to husk and shell macadamias.

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