If yours are fully developed you might not be waiting long enough for them to ripen before trying them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ripening Kiwi Fruit Google Results

Thanks for the link bboy. I picked 2 over 2 weeks ago but they don't seem to be ripening, even though they are in a fruit bowl with an apple. I wonder if with our sunless summer they didn't get enough rays to ripen properly? I'll pick another couple today and try again.

My local nurseryman told me he sells kiwi because people keep asking for them, but he says they don't ever do well here on the coast.

Your local nurseryman is mistaken. I have seen bunches of fruits the size of eggs hanging from pruned fuzzy kiwis on trellises at the WSU fruit experiment station in Skagit County, WA, as well as numerous specimens in local yards and demonstration/p-patch plantings growing and bearing fruit. One in the Lam Asian Garden at UBC, Vancouver goes most or all of the way up a native conifer, to the tune of perhaps 60' or more.

Our kiwis would take over the entire house if we let them. They are vigorous growers here. Dotty, I've been thinking about when to harvest my kiwis as well. I've listened to Brian Minter talk on the topic a few times and he advises waiting until quite late in the year after a light frost or two for sweeter tasting fruit. I waited too long last year - several frosts - and they were mushy, so I will be more careful this time and pick them after the first light frost.