"Discovered" pineapples?

Excerpt from a Wikipedia entry on pineapples:

The plant was brought to the Hawaiian islands by the Polynesians and formally discovered there by Captain Cook in 1778. Although it was discovered by Cook, John Kidwell is credited with the introduction of the pineapple industry in Hawaii.

I find the part I bolded ha-larious! If it was BROUGHT there by the Polynesians then how can it be DISCOVERED by Captain Cook?  My thought is if someone else brought it there, then it really can't be discovered <--- just sayin...