Export-oriented sugar cane and pineapple plantation agriculture once dominated Hawaii's economy but over the latter half of the 20th Century, there was a rapid decline in the production of these crops as Hawaii's competitive advantage over foreign producers dwindled. The decline of the plantations corresponds with the rise in more diversified agricultural activities which emphasize food production for local consumption. This diversification is key to maximizing the adaptive capacity of Hawaii's agriculture within a changing climate. In the context of the increasing temperatures and uncertain water availability projected for the 21st century, we present the expected exposures, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of economically and culturally important field and tree crops.