This Distant Hawaiian Island Has No Stoplights, No Crowds, and Two Extremely-luxe Lodges

There are just a few causes that Lanai, additionally written as Lānaʻi, tends to fly underneath the radar. For starters, its panorama does not align with the imaginative and prescient many non-Hawaiians have of the archipelago state; as a substitute of palm timber, you get towering Cook dinner pine timber. Its variety of inns can also be considerably fewer than that of its northwestern neighbor, Oahu. There are solely three on the island—and two are a part of the 4 Seasons model. Then, there’s the truth that 98 % of the island is owned by Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison, who bought the land in 2012.

However in case you are fortunate sufficient to spend just a few days on this 140-square-mile island, you’ll discover its enchantment is layered—and never at all times obvious upon first look. Lanai is rugged, a bit dusty, and shockingly barren in some areas; when driving throughout the island, you’ll go by means of the open plains of the Palawai Basin, as soon as residence to the most important pineapple plantations on the earth.

As you spend extra time on Lanai, immersing your self in pursuits starting from browsing and crusing to climbing and astronomy, the imaginative and prescient turns into clearer. You gained’t discover any flashy eating places or golf equipment, superyachts, or Disney-esque sights. There are not any stoplights, and there’s just one true city, Lanai Metropolis. It is a place that encourages you to decelerate and breathe deeply.

“You’ll be able to go to right here and see the great thing about the island by wanting round and going about your day. Nonetheless, it’s deeper than you possibly can see,” Shayne Kunimitsu, a Lanai cultural advisor and holoholo information, tells Journey + Leisure. “What’s missed is the tales advised, so search out our historical past and our roots, then you’ll really perceive.” Beneath, we’re sharing just a few methods you are able to do simply that, plus the within scoop on the place to remain, eat, and discover on Lanai.

Finest Lodges & Resorts

Sensei Lanai, A 4 Seasons Resort

In case you’re in search of each wellness and leisure, you’ll discover that it doesn’t get significantly better than Sensei Lanai, A 4 Seasons Resort. Co-founded by Ellison and creator Dr. David Agus, the adults-only property payments itself as a “wellness enclave,” and every visitor’s expertise is personalised to their distinctive wants and preferences. Fill your days with vitamin and sleep consultations, yoga, meditation, stretching courses, and spa appointments inside your personal non-public hale, geared up with an infrared sauna, an out of doors bathe, and soaking swimming pools.

4 Seasons Resort Lanai

For a extra beach-and-pool kind of trip with all the perks and facilities related to a 4 Seasons, keep on the 4 Seasons Resort Lanai. A winner within the 2025 World’s Finest Awards, the property overlooks Hulopoe Bay on the southeastern finish of the island. In contrast to Sensei Lanai, youthful vacationers are welcome, they usually’re positive to benefit from the family-friendly lagoon pool (and everybody in your occasion will respect the additional house the residential-style suites afford).

Resort Lanai

Resort Lanai is a extra inexpensive choice for vacationers, nevertheless it’s nonetheless stuffed with character and all the trendy comforts you’d want, together with Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and luxurious linens. The ten visitor rooms are uniquely adorned to convey “classic Hawaiian attraction,” and choose lodging share a porch with views of Lanai Metropolis.

Finest Issues to Do

Take a guided tour of the island.

There’s technically nothing improper with lounging by the seaside or pool all day, however a guided tour of Lanai will present a greater image of your environment. “The 4 Seasons Resort Lanai holoholo tour is definitely the easiest way to journey and perceive Lanai,” says Kunimitsu. “The tour touches [on] cultural and historic areas with a information.” These locations embrace the Kaunolu Heritage Website (an historic fishing neighborhood) and Shipwreck Seashore, an space with fairly just a few grounded vessels. “A Jeep information forward will escort you to those locations with information shared by two-way radios, so you are feeling such as you’re on a mission,” he provides. “Off-roading in a Jeep can’t get any extra native than that.”

Go to the Lāna’i Tradition and Heritage Middle.

In case you’d relatively save off-road exploring for one more day, however you continue to need to study extra in regards to the island’s historical past, Kunimitsu recommends stopping by the Lāna’i Tradition and Heritage Middle in Lanai Metropolis. “It’s a native hidden gem of a museum [with] tons of artifacts and pictures, and the tradition employees like to share the story of the island,” he says. Right here, you possibly can study extra in regards to the occasions previous to Ellison’s $300 million acquisition—from when the primary Hawaiian settlers arrived within the 1200s to the ultimate pineapple harvest in 1992.

Take pleasure in a day on or off the coast.

Kunimitsu says it’s “straightforward to discover the seashores” of Lanai as “most of them are empty.” When you’ve got your personal technique of transportation, there’s the choice to drive out to Polihua Seashore, though the waters right here usually are not protected for swimming. Company of both of the 4 Seasons properties extra generally make their means right down to the resort’s lounge chairs and umbrellas on Hulopoe Bay. In case you do go to Hulopoe Seashore Park, Lanai’s hottest seaside, pack a pair of sneakers or sturdy sandals. You’ll want them to embark on the brief hike as much as one of many island’s most recognizable landmarks, the 80-foot-tall Pu’upehe, additionally referred to as “Sweetheart Rock.” The elevated touchdown on the high provides you higher views of the surfers down beneath.

Kunimitsu additionally recommends snorkeling, reserving a sundown sail, or chartering a catamaran to take across the island. Irrespective of the way you select to get pleasure from a seaside or boat day, simply watch out when stepping into the water; the waves and rip currents may be harmful.

Store native in Lanai Metropolis.

Whereas Kunimitsu says this isn’t the place to “store ‘til you drop,” there are just a few spots in Lanai Metropolis the place he says you’re assured to “discover one thing very significant.” The Native Gentry has garments and items, together with Lanai T-shirts and mugs, and Lanai Hula Hut sells home made jewellery, residence decor, and a choice of distinctive souvenirs. Guests who’re curious about including to their artwork collections ought to cease by Lanai Artwork Middle and Deep Hawaii Artwork, a gallery set to open by the top of 2025.

Keep up late for stargazing.

“At evening, you can stargaze with no particular telescope wanted, simply lookup and get wowed,” says Kunimitsu. However, he provides, you may also go to the Lanai Observatory with the 4 Seasons’ Kilo Hoku Expertise, an hour-long program that discusses how indigenous Hawaiians used the celebrities for ocean navigation.

Finest Eating places

Sensei by Nobu

As a visitor of Sensei Lanai, you’ll turn into acquainted, however by no means bored, with the choices at Sensei by Nobu, a collaboration between Dr. Agus and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The four-course (plus dessert) omakase dinner expertise is a should at the very least as soon as whereas on the island, however the à la carte menu additionally consists of a number of iconic Nobu dishes—just like the black cod and the yellowtail jalapeño.

Malibu Farm

Down on the 4 Seasons Resort Lanai, Malibu Farm is a star within the culinary present. A 4 Seasons guest-only restaurant, the eatery nails the elevated poolside menu. Assume pokeviché, acai bowls, Lanai venison nachos, and catch of the day fish tacos. When you’ve got room, you would possibly need to order an ice cream sandwich, too.

Blue Ginger Café

Exploring the restaurant scene exterior of the resorts can also be inspired. “Blue Ginger’s loco moco is hammer-sized,” says Kunimitsu, referencing the traditional Hawaiian consolation meals dish made with white rice, a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg.

Ganotisi’s Pacific Rim Delicacies

“Ganotisi’s Korean hen is filled with taste and savory and crunchy,” says Kunimitsu. Together with its commonplace menu—which incorporates Kalbi brief ribs, grilled fish, and shrimp tempura—the Lanai Metropolis staple has a rotating listing of lunch specials which might be frequently posted on its Fb web page and Instagram account.

Lanai Metropolis Bar & Grill

Kunimitsu additionally suggests Lanai Metropolis Bar & Grill, a bistro that serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Begin your day with the ube mochi pancakes or breakfast burrito, or swing by at lunchtime for the growth bang smash burger or mahi salad sando.

Finest Time to Go to

There’s technically no unhealthy time to go to Lanai (and Hawaii on the whole). The summer season season, from Could to October, is hotter and drier, and the winter, from November to April, is understood to be cooler and wetter—though Lanai solely will get about 37 inches of rain annually. Earlier than you pack your luggage, although, you need to be conscious of the temperatures on the island. Lanai Metropolis is about 1,700 toes above sea degree, so temperatures there may be fairly a bit decrease than within the areas nearer to the coast—anticipate a couple of 10 to 12-degree distinction, with the standard vary from 70 to 85 levels Fahrenheit.

Hawaii’s excessive season runs from June to July and returns in December across the holidays. That mentioned, there’s by no means a time when it is advisable fear about vacationing amongst hordes of fellow vacationers on Lanai. “Truthfully, our place is peaceable year-round; you aren’t going to run into any challenge of busyness,” says Kunimitsu.

How one can Get There

You’ll be able to’t fly on to Lanai Airport (LNY) from the continental U.S., so that you’ll have to ebook the ultimate leg of your journey from both Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) or Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL). The small island airport is served by Mokulele Airways and Lanai Air. The latter is the extra high-end choice; switch from HNY by way of a luxurious automobile service is pre-arranged, and also you’ll wait in a non-public hangar to board the Pilatus PC-12 plane. The flight is just about half-hour from takeoff to touchdown, and friends of the 4 Seasons properties obtain complimentary round-trip Lanai Air flights with reservations by means of December 31, 2026.

In case you’d relatively arrive to Lanai by boat, ebook a seat on the Expeditions ferry service that travels from Maui’s Lahaina Harbor to Lanai’s Manele Harbor. The voyage takes about an hour and 10 minutes every means.

How one can Get Round

Whereas Lanai Metropolis is walkable from each Sensei Lanai and Resort Lanai, attending to different components of the island and all the seashores is extra of a haul. You’ll both have to name a taxi, lease a automobile, or hop on one of many 4 Seasons’ complimentary shuttles, which run hourly. Lanai Automotive Rental has Jeep Wrangler Saharas you possibly can lease for $175 a day. Those that plan on off-roading—solely 30 miles of the roads on Lanai are paved—will want a four-wheel-drive automobile.