Visiting Lana`i

Why Lana`i?

Lana`i is quiet even by Hawai`i standards. A friend described it well when he said that visiting Lana`i is like what a Hawaiian vacation must have been like in the early part of the 20^th century. There are no crowds, few roads but plenty of aloha.

How to Get Here

Island Air, Hawaiian Airlines and Go (Mesa) Airlines provide daily service from Oahu and Maui.

Expeditions provides frequent ferry service to and from Lahaina, Maui.

Trilogy Sailing Excursions provide sailing day trips (stay-overs can also be arranged) from Lahaina, Maui.

Where to Stay

When the Dole Company began phasing out pineapple production on Lana`i, they realized that most of the former pineapple workers would lose their jobs — with few prospects of finding other employment on Lana`i. The company recognized that they had a responsibility to those displaced workers to help with an alternative. Therefore they built two exclusive world-class resorts which are now managed by Four Seasons.

Four Seasons Resort Lana`i The Lodge at Koele is located on the edge of Lana`i City in the center of the island where the upland elevation provides a cooler climate --- a surprise in tropical Hawai`i. The architecture and furnishings reminds visitors of a traditional English country manor — with a pineapple motif repeated throughout the hotel from bedposts to railings.

Four Seasons Resort Lana`i at Manele Bay Hotel is situated above beautiful Hulopoe Beach and provides breathtaking views of Manele Bay. During the winter season, you may even see humpback whales frolicking in the bay. Extensive tropical gardens with quiet pools and playful waterfalls accent the privacy offered to guests. The decor is complemented by an extensive Asian art collection.

Hotel Lanai was originally built for guests visiting the pineapple plantation. It is situated in the heart of Lana`i City and offers inexpensive accommodations.

How to Get Around

There is a bus service that connects all three hotels, the golf courses, the small boat harbor and the airport --- with buses running frequently. A small fee is added to your hotel bill which gives you unlimited use of the bus service.

To visit the out-of-the-way parts of the island, you will have to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle. Note that such a rental is very expensive by mainland (or even other Hawaiian) standards as is the price of gasoline. Contact Dollar Rent-a-Car, Adventure Lanai EcoCentre or Expeditions. Also check with your hotel for possible discounts. Please be aware that weather conditions may limit the places you can travel even with a four-wheel drive vehicle. The rental agency will alert you to any such restrictions.

Where to Eat

The Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Hotel offer informal and elegant dining as well as room service. Hotel Lanai features the Lanai City Grille offering "fresh innovative cuisine". Lanai City also contains several informal eateries such as the Blue Ginger and Pele's Garden.