Hawaiian Punch was originally supposed to be
used as an ice cream topping. it was originally called 'Leo’s
Hawaiian Punch'.
The recipe for the confectionery was created by Tom Yates, A.W. Leo,
and Ralph Harrison in a garage in Fullerton, California in 1934.
They started out by selling the tropical fruit flavored ice cream
topping to local restaurants, stores, and ice cream makers.
Over the next decade as the syrup’s popularity spread, people
started using it not just as an ice cream topping, but also mixing
the syrup with water to make a tropical drink. By 1946, this was a
common practice. In 1946 Reuben P. Hughes and other investors
purchased the company and began offering it in the drink forms most
commonly associated with it today. In 1955 it became a national
selling brand.
The name Hawaiian Punch came from several of the original recipe
ingredients, which included apple, apricot, guava, orange, papaya,
passion fruit, and pineapple, being imported from Hawaii. Hawaiian
Punch is currently owned by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.