10 Amazing Things To Do in Lanai will get you on board the ferry from Maui, into the seat of a 4×4 jeep tour, underwater snorkeling with dolphins, and exploring isolated beaches and WWII shipwrecks.
by Worldwide Wilbur June 2019
As a longtime Maui resident, and a frequent visitor to Lanai, I have explored all over this beautiful island. I’ve narrowed things down to the ten most amazing things to do in Lanai, and share them below. But first, let’s learn some facts about this unique Hawaiian island.
Who Owns Lanai?
Can you imagine what it would be like to own a Hawaiian island? Just ask Larry Ellison. The founder of Oracle, and seventh richest man in the world, bought 97% of the island of Lanai for the bargain price of 300 million dollars in 2012. Larry now owns both of the Four Seasons Resorts, a championship golf course, and more than 88,000 acres of land.
You might not be a billionaire in a position to buy an island, but you are more than welcome to visit his. Lovely Lanai, “The Pineapple Island” is open for business. It offers some of the most high-end luxury vacation opportunities in all of Hawaii. Bill Gates famously rented out every room on the island and every helicopter on Maui to ensure privacy at his 1994 wedding. And, with a little planning, it is possible to enjoy a budget visit as well. I’ll show you what to see and do, and how to afford a weekend on Lanai.
How big is Lanai?
Lanai is the 6th largest of the main Hawaiian islands, just behind Molokai, with 140 square miles. You could fit 28 Lanai’s into the Big Island of Hawaii! It has just 3100 people, nearly all of whom live in little Lanai City in the center of the island. It has a high school, a small hospital, but no stoplights.
The island has been populated by the Hawaiian people for over a thousand years. The first Europeans sighted it in 1779. Soon after, European, American, and Asian people came to Lanai to farm and serve as missionaries. In 1922, James Dole, President of Dole Pineapple Company, bought the island for just over one million dollars. For 70 years it became one of the largest pineapple plantations in the world, garnering the name “The Pineapple Island”. The plantations last harvest ended in 1992, and tourism has been the mainstay of the economy ever since.
10 Amazing Things To Do in Lanai:
#1 Go Off-Road on a 4×4 Jeep Tour
Some of the best sights of Lanai simply can’t be reached by car. You need to get off the pavement and onto the dirt with a jeep. Then you can see the Garden of the Gods, a strangely beautiful land of colorful rock formations, the Munro Trail Lookout, where you can see breathtaking views of deep canyons, and Shipwreck Beach, with its wreckage of a massive World War II fuel tanker, and nearby ancient petroglyphs. Wildlife abounds on Lanai, as you might spot axis deer, wild turkey, pheasant, as well as corrals of horses, goats, and sheep.
Expeditions Ferry offers a full-day guided jeep tour, including ferry service from Lahaina Maui. You’ll get to all the above spots, as well as visiting Hulopo’e Beach, the Four Seasons Manele Bay, Lanai City, and The Lodge at Koele.
#2 Snorkel with Dolphins at Hulopoe Beach
It takes a lot of patience and some luck, but it can be done. A pod of little spinner dolphins cruises back and forth along the Hulopoe Bay each day. If you are willing to sit with snorkel mask and fins in hand, and eyes on the horizon, you just might get to meet them. You’ll have to dash into the water and head for where they will be, not where they are, cause they swim a LOT faster than you. You won’t be able to catch them, and even if you could it is illegal to “harass” dolphins. But if you get close enough they’ll see you, and if they are in the mood, they’ll pop over to say hello. That moment a fellow mammal looks you straight in the eye…is magical.
Even if you don’t get to meet a dolphin, Hulopoe Beach is a wonderfully scenic location to hang out, swim, snorkel, and have a barbeque. The waves are calmest in summer, which is the best time for both swimming and snorkeling. The beach is just about perfect, and consistently ranks among the top ten beaches in Hawaii.
#3 Explore the Garden of the Gods
Don’t expect any actual “gardens” here. Instead you’ll be seeing big boulders, reddish orange sand, and outstanding views of Molokai. At sunset the colors morph into a landscape not unlike Mars. Best reached on foot, mountain bike, or a 4×4 jeep.
#4 Pet a Kitty at the Lanai Cat Sanctuary
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary houses, feeds, spays and neuters over 600 cats! Their hard work has saved the lives of hundreds of feral cats as well as the endangered shorebird population of Lanai. Come spend some time with a kitty, and maybe even take one home. Entry is free, donations accepted. Open every day 10am to 3pm. Located out by the airport.
#5 Hike out to Shipwreck Beach
This is one of the most unique things to do in Lanai, because there are no other Hawaiian islands with major shipwrecks onshore. Way over on a deserted northeast beach, lies a massive 365 foot WWII tanker beached on the reef just 200 meters offshore. The YOGN-42, a WWII U.S. Navy fuel tanker made of iron and cement, was intentionally scuttled here in 1954. It was taking up space in Pearl Harbor, so the Navy hired a contractor to tow it to the empty coast of Lanai and leave it. 65 years later, it sits still slowly rusting away. And, this is just one of several wrecks along this six-mile long beach. Further along lies the YO-21, a Navy oiler that was present in Pearl Harbor the day of the Japanese attack.
It takes 30 minutes to get here from Lanai City. Take highway 430 out of town. At the sign, turn left onto the dirt road. Park at the end of the dirt road, then walk heading left on the beach. Walk about 10 minutes on the beach and you can view the YOGN-42. A jeep will get you right to the beach. A car will have to be left on the highway, and adds to your hike.
#6 Hike, Bike, or 4×4 the Munro Trail
This is the top choice for active things to do in Lanai. Starting from Lanai City, this 12.8 mile dirt path/road will take you to Lanai’s highest point, Mount Lanaihale an inactive volcano at 3,366 feet, where (on a clear day) you can see six Hawaiian Islands at once (Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Hawaii). The views of forests and canyons, towering pines, and white sand beaches are amazing. It can be hiked or mountain biked. Start early. Bring water, a jacket, sunscreen, and a camera. If it has rained recently, it might not be so fun.
Start in Lanai City and head north on Hwy 44. A mile past the Four Seasons Koele, turn right onto the paved road that ends in half a mile at the island’s cemetery. The Munro Trail starts at the end of the road on the left. The only sign you’ll see is the little one pictured above.
After a long climb, the main trail descends 6 miles to the central plateau. Keep the hills to your left and turn right at the big fork in the road. The trail ends back on Manele Rd (Hwy 440) between Lanaʻi City and Manele Bay. From here you can easily walk downhill a couple of miles to Hulopoe Beach. If you are heading back towards Lanai City, it’s an uphill 5 miles, so maybe walk with your thumb out for a ride.
#7 Venture out to Polihua Beach
This remote two-mile long beach on the desolate north shore is stunningly beautiful. You’ll need a 4×4 vehicle to get there, but the views of Molokai and the solitude make up for the effort. Here you can experience what Hawaii looked like when the first Polynesian sailors arrived hundreds of years ago.
Polihua is 12 miles north of Dole Park in Lanai City. You’ll need a 4×4 jeep or a mountain bike to get there. Head north on Keomuku Hwy. At 1 mile, turn left on Kanepuu hwy, which becomes Awalua hwy, which becomes Polihua rd, which becomes Polihua Trail. You’ll pass the Garden of the Gods along this trail as well. If you are biking, it’s easy on the way out as you drop 1700 feet elevation. Save some energy for the uphill slog back.
#8 Tee off at the Manele Golf Course
Jack Nicklaus designed this stunning seaside 18 hole course formerly known as “The Challenge at Manele”. Lush vegetation, ocean cliffs, and excellent service define this course as one of the best in the world. Bill Gates got married at the 12th hole tee-box. Open 730am – 6pm. The only other golf course on Lanai, “The Experience at Koele” has closed permanently.
#9 Appreciate Fine Art at the Mike Carroll Gallery.
This gallery features the beautiful work of Mike Carroll, as well as other local and mainland artists works that feature Lanai. They also have locally made hand-carved jewelry. Open 10-5:30 Mon-Sat
#10 Stroll around Lanai City
The best cultural experience of all the things to do in Lanai is to simply visit its only town, and see how people live. Located in the center of the island, Lanai City is a cool reprieve from the scorching beach. It sits among the shade of towering Cook pines, at 1700 feet of elevation, and feels more like a small town in the Pacific Northwest than a tropical island. It seldom gets much over 80 degrees here, and 50’s are common on winter nights. With only 3000 people, all of its sights are within walking distance, clustered around the grassy open space of Dole Park. While you are there, be sure to:
- Learn about the history of this island at the Lanai Culture and Heritage Center. Open 8:30-3:30 Mon-Fri.
- Do some Hawaiian-style clothes shopping in The Local Gentry. Open 10-6.
- Create something new, or buy a local artists work at the Lanai Art Center
- Get all your gifts for back home at Lanai Hula Hut.
- Sit under a majestic Cook Pine in Dole Park and watch the clouds drift by.
- Catch a movie at the Hale Keaka Lanai Theater The historic theater had been shut down since the 1970’s and was just recently restored.
- And beyond all these shops, there are also wonderful athletic facilities open to the public just next to Dole Park. You’ll find a swimming pool, basketball court, volleyball court, baseball field, soccer/football field, and tennis courts. Everything is in like-new condition.
Things to do On Lanai – Know Before You Go:
Backpacker Daily Budget:
$78. Lanai is not cheap by any means. The only way to see it on a backpacker budget is by travelling in a group of four, splitting camping fees and car rental. Four people camping at Hulopoe Beach would be $20 per-person per-day. Splitting a rental car will run $25 per-person per-day, plus another $4 for gas. Bring your eggs and dinner cookout supplies from Costco for $10, get a sandwich at Blue Ginger Cafe for lunch in Lanai City for $8. Three beers will run you $12 at Pele’s Other Garden. Entry to all the best natural sites in Lanai are free.
More Budget Tips:
- Instead of renting a car, consider riding a mountain bike. There is no bike rental on island, but you can rent one on Maui and take a bicycle on the Expeditions Ferry for just $10 each way. I brought mine over, and rode it all over the island. You’ll have to be reasonably fit, because the initial climb out of Hulopoe Bay is no joke. It starts with a back-breaking 1500 foot ascent in just the first 3.2 miles! If you can survive that, it’s a more mellow 250ft of climbing over the next 4.8 miles to Lanai City. From Lanai City the ride out to Garden of the Gods isn’t too tough, about 10 miles roundtrip, with only one tough hill by the Lanai Ranch. But if you ride down to Shipwreck Beach or Polihua Beach, you’ll have to make a massive 1900ft climb a second time on the way back. Biking on Lanai is sooooo much fun. Well marked trails, dirt roads, no traffic.
- Bring all your food and drinks from Costco on Maui. It will be half the price of whatever you can get on Lanai. The ferry allows large rolling coolers.
Cheap Beer Index:
$4 for a bottle of Bud Lite at Pele’s Other Garden.
Best Time to Visit Lanai:
Anytime is a good time to visit. Lanai has warm weather year round. In my opinion, the best time is January through March for low humidity, and the chance to see whales. But it really depends on your plans:
- The temperature hardly changes. The hottest month is August with highs of 86 and lows of 74. The coolest month is February at 79 and 66.
- Humidity does change: August is the worst at 85% humidity. February and March are the best with low humidity at around 25%. If you like sunny, but not muggy, choose winter.
- Rainfall varies quite a bit. The driest month is June with only 0.5 of an inch. The “wet season” is December through April 15 with averages between 2 and 2.5 inches per month. This isn’t really very much rain, but it is possible to get a week where it rains every single day in these months, particularly January and February.
- Ocean temperatures vary by 5 degrees, peaking at 80 in September, and bottoming out at 75 in March. Visitors will probably judge the ocean to be plenty warm anytime, but as a local, I find it very chilly in March and nice in September. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the water, for snorkeling or SCUBA diving, August-September-October might be the best for you.
- Humpback whales visit in the winter, with peak whale density from January 15 to March 31. You can possibly see one or two as early as October, and as late as May. If you are going on a whale watch, February and March are perfect.
- Surf swells change seasonally. But, Lanai isn’t a good place for surfing anyway.
- Price of accommodations change dramatically throughout the year. Rates peak the week between Christmas and New Year, when every single room on the island is sold out. Room rates are at their lowest in September and October. A typical AirBnB that goes for $300 in January, might be only $200 in October.
What languages are spoken on Lanai?
Everyone speaks English cause Hawaii really is part of the USA. However, folks who grew up here will speak Hawaiian Pidgin to each other. Shoots Brah!
Do you need a U.S. visa?
Americans obviously do not need any papers to come to the 50th state. Canadian visitors do not need a visa, and can stay for 182 days out of a year. AUS and UK visitors need to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before arrival, and then get 90 days to visit.
How to Get to Lanai:
The Ferry from Maui to Lanai:
Expeditions Ferry runs the Lanai ferry from the public dock in Lahaina, Maui to Manele Harbor, Lanai. The dock is directly in front of the Pioneer Inn on Front Street. It’s a passenger ferry only, no cars. Adult tickets are $30 each way, and kids age 2-11 are $20 each way. Under 2’s are free. You should book online ahead of time as it can sell out.
The ride is usually smooth and takes 45-50 minutes. The ship has air conditioned, plush indoor seating, as well as outdoor seating mostly in the sun on the upper deck. You have to drag on your own stuff, and there is plenty of room to store it all on racks. There are bathrooms onboard, and they sell water and soda. Alcohol cannot be consumed onboard. If you go between December and March, it’s like getting a free whale watch thrown in! Although, the captains job is to get you across the channel quickly, so he’s not going to stop unless the whale is in the boats path.
PRO TIP: Get to the ferry dock early, because parking is AWWWWWWWFUL in Lahaina. If you have 20 minutes to spare, you can drive around in expanding concentric circles until you find a free parking spot on a distant side road. It might pay off to stalk a tourist walking with big shopping bags. If you show up right before departure, you’ll be stuck parking in one of the overpriced lots by the dock for $10+ per day.
Maui to Lanai Ferry Schedule:
- Ferry from Maui to Lanai at: 6:45am, 9:15am, 12:45pm, 3:15pm, 5:45pm. Tickets are $28.85 adults, $19.23 kids 2-11.
- Ferry from Lanai to Maui at: 8:00am, 10:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30pm, 6:45pm. Tickets are $28.85 adults, $19.23 kids 2-11.
From Manele harbor on Lanai it is 15 minutes by car to Lanai City, and only 3 minutes to the Four Seasons Lanai. You can easily walk to Hulopoe Bay for the beach or the campground.
Flights to Lanai:
The only airport is Lanai Airport (LNY). It is located in the center of the island, 4 miles away from Lanai City. All flights to Lanai Airport are turbo-prop aircraft. No jet planes land here. Flights to Lanai Airport arrive from just two destinations on two airlines:
- Honolulu (Oahu)- Ohana by Hawaiian starting at $138 round-trip. They fly big twin turbo-prop planes.
- Kahului (Maui) –Mokulele starting at $118 round-trip. Mokulele flies tiny single-engine nine-seater planes. Window seat guaranteed.
From the airport it is 10 minutes by car to Lanai City, and 25 minutes to the Four Seasons Lanai/Manele Bay.
How to Get Around Lanai:
Getting around Lanai is expensive. All car rentals are 2-3 times what you would pay on the mainland. But, if you want to explore the island, you’ll need to rent a car on Lanai, ideally a 4×4 jeep. Only 30 of the islands 400 miles of roads are paved. The paved roads are in good shape, and with only three main roads that all lead to Lanai City, you can’t really get lost on this small island. Oh, and be forewarned that there is only one gas station, and gas is around $4.70 a gallon!
Be careful when booking a car with an internet booking site. There are NO NATIONAL CHAIN CAR RENTALS on Lanai. Dollar Rent A Car closed down in 2018. Most of these sites have no common sense built in, and will show you available cars FROM ANOTHER ISLAND! Yep. If you aren’t paying attention, you might end up booking a car, just 10 miles away ON MAUI! Whoops!
Lanai Car Rental:
Here is EVERY car rental option on Lanai, listed from most expensive to least expensive:
- If you plan to arrive by ferry, and want to rent a 4×4 jeep, Expeditions Ferry offers a combo roundtrip ferry ticket and full-day jeep rental for $300. This is the most convenient option for getting around, as they whisk you right from the ferry, to the car lot, and put you in a jeep, which can go anywhere.
- Lanai Cheap Jeeps has a hilariously unreadable website and rents Jeeps for $196 a day, and Subaru Crosstreks for $175 a day.
- 808 Day Trip has on-road vehicles only, with SUV’s for $155 a day, and hatchbacks for $135. They deliver to the airport or ferry for free.
- ABB Auto Rentals has 4-door jeeps for $190 a day, and 2-door jeeps for $155 a day. They also have regular (non off-road) vehicles for $124 a day. They list right in their rental rules that they discriminate against campers, and will only rent to the rich and famous staying at the Four Seasons or Hotel Lanai.
- Turo – is a another pricey option for Lanai. I found a few vans and jeeps starting at $128 a day, with pickup/drop-off at Lanai Airport or the boat harbor. If you have never used Turo before, click HERE for $25 off your first rental.
- Lanai Car Rental has a fleet that includes the all-electric and compact Chevy Bolt for $95, the four-wheel drive Jeep Wrangler Sahara for $195, and the Ford Transit minivan capable of transporting up to seven passengers for $155. They knock $20 off all those rates for Kama’aina (Hawaii residents). They do NOT deliver to the airport or harbor. You’ll have to take a taxi to their Lanai City location.
If you are staying at the Four Seasons (either Manele Bay or Lodge at Koele) you can use the Lanai City Shuttle. They go to and from the airport – Lanai City – Four Seasons Koele – Four Seasons Lanai – ferry boat harbor for a $10 (cash only) fee per-person per-way. They arrive at every ferry landing 7 days a week.
If you are really adventurous, and um…cheap, you could attempt to get around solely by the free MEO Bus. This single bus goes back and forth around the island.
There is no Uber or Lyft on Lanai.
There are a couple of taxi services. Arrange rides a day in advance to ensure pick-up.
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Rabaca’s Limousine Service at 808-565-6670
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Lanai Taxi Service at 808-649-0808
Stay Connected:
There is nowhere to buy a SIM card on Lanai. You should sort this out in either Maui or Oahu before you arrive. Cell phone coverage on Lanai is pretty good. I had strong service at Manele Bay, of course in Lanai City, and even way out at Garden of the Gods I could get a signal on high points.
Where to Stay on Lanai?
Your choices for accommodations are pretty slim on Lanai. It’s either camping for $80 a night, an AirBnB for $225-300 a night, the Hotel Lanai at $300 a night, or the Four Seasons Lanai at $1000 a night. That is literally all there is.
Camping on Lanai:
There is one campground on Lanai; Hulopoe Beach Park is an absolutely fabulous white sand beach on the south shore of Lanai. It is great for swimming and snorkeling. A pod of spinner dolphins stop by at least a couple of times a day. The Four Seasons Lanai is right next door, and if you camp here you’ll get to enjoy seeing the unwashed masses hobnob with the upper crust staying just 100 meters away for twelve times the price.
There are eight campsites on the grassy area set back from the beach, and up to four people are allowed at each site. There are two very nice public bathrooms, cold water showers, barbecue grills, and picnic tables. Hulopoe is a privately owned campground, and the cost to stay here (for non-Lanai residents) is an outrageously expensive $80 per night, per permit. You can stay a maximum of three nights. I’m wondering if Pulama Lanai does not really want campers, and are just having a laugh seeing how high they can raise the fee before people stop coming? But at the same time, bless their heart for keeping this campsite open, as there is nowhere else even remotely affordable near the beach on Lanai.
The beach park is packed and busy on weekends. While you have to pay $80 to camp back in the grass, Lanai residents can camp right on the beach for FREE, and on weekends they camp in multiple packs of a dozen tents and boom-boxes and inflatable beach toys. During the week, you’ll find the beach to be much quieter.
To book a campsite, you must email info@lanaibeachpark.com with the following information:
- Contact person name, phone number, and email address
- Dates requested (3 nights maximum)
- Names of all campers in your group
- Travel itinerary (i.e., dates, and times of arrival and departure, and whether traveling by plane or ferry)
Getting to Hulopoe Beach is an easy half-mile walk from Manele boat harbor. There is the Manele General Store (open 7am to 7pm weekdays, til 4pm Sundays) at the boat harbor if you forget anything, or need to restock beer and ice.
Hotels on Lanai:
This is an easy section to write. There are only TWO HOTELS on all of Lanai at the moment. The third hotel will be priced in the grand-a-night range when it opens in 2019 or 2020.
- Hotel Lanai – Rooms starting at $300 a night. Located right in Lanai City, it has a casual elegance and all-around comfiness to it. Lots of tall pines shade the grounds, and it is a relaxing place to stay and be part of the Lanai community. It’s the oldest hotel on the island, built in 1923 by the Dole Company, and it was the only hotel on Lanai until 1990.
- Four Seasons Resort Lanai – Rooms starting at $1000 a night. Clearly one of the finest places to stay in all of Hawaii, the Four Seasons combines service and luxury with a peaceful view over Manele Bay. The newly re-designed pool is a fabulous rock garden full of little waterfalls, multiple small pools and hot tubs, and foliage covered private nooks to lounge in and feel like you are the only ones there. Mr. Ellison has invested over 450 million into remodeling the resort.
- Four Seasons Lanai at Koele – In the cool air just above Lanai City, this equally luxurious retreat has just re-opened after 4 years of renovations. Rooms start at $1000 a night with a three night minimum.
Lanai Condo Rentals: There are no condos on Lanai. None. Zero.
AirBnB on Lanai: There are only a half-dozen home rentals in Lanai City on AirBnB. The cheapest one is a small plantation house going for $225 a night. There is also a room in a B&B for $224 a night. There are no privately owned homes or condos anywhere else on the island outside Lanai City.
Best Restaurants in Lanai:
You can get five-star dining at the Four Seasons Lanai (at 10 star prices). Or, you can venture into Lanai City and get good food at normal (for Hawaii) prices. Here are some of the best places:
Lanai City Restaurants:
- Pele’s Other Garden – A popular and reasonably priced spot for pizza and beer. Serving cold sandwiches for $11, hot sandwiches for $12, and pizza starting at $11. Beers are $5. Open Mon-Fri 11am to 9pm, Sat 430pm-8pm, Closed Sun.
- Café 565 – Burgers, plate lunch and Asian local favorites all in the $8-10 range. I can recommend their specialty, the Korean chicken wings. Sometimes the only place open in Lanai City in the afternoon.
- Blue Ginger Café – Another great budget dining option on Lanai. You can get burgers and sandwiches mostly in the $10 range, and they have a full breakfast menu. I enjoyed a simple bacon, egg and cheese sandwich for $7.50. Open 6am to 8pm Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon. 6am to 2pm Tues and Wed.
- Coffee Works – Serving up the best coffee on Lanai. You’ll have to know where to look, cause it’s a block off of Dole Park, right behind the Blue Ginger Café.
- Lanai City Service / The Plantation Deli – Great deli style sandwiches for $9-10. Don’t be put off by it’s combo deli/gas station location.
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Lanai City Bar & Grille This restaurant and bar in the Hotel Lanai, is undoubtedly THE fine dining option in Lanai City. Entrees from $18-38. Live music on weekends. Open 5pm to 10pm Tues-Sat, 10-2 Sunday, Closed Monday
- Richard’s Market – If you are just looking for some sandwiches to go, or groceries and liquor, this newly renovated market is stocked with everything you could want. It’s like a little Whole Foods in Lanai!
At the Four Seasons Lanai:
- Views at Manele Golf Course – The um…views are indeed fantastic here, and the prices are a tad cheaper than the other Four Seasons eateries. Sandwiches and salads in the $24-34 range.
- One Forty – Steak and Seafood.
- Malibu Farm – Brunch and Lunch spot with entrees in the $25-50 range. Try the Poke Ceviche.
- The Sports Bar & Grill – The most low-key of the resorts eateries. Burgers and Pizza for $25-29, Entrees for $34-42. Open 11am to 11pm.
- Nobu Lanai – The signature restaurant of the island. Take out a second mortgage before sitting down.
Nightlife on Lanai:
There’s only a handful of options, and most everything closes up early.
- The Sports Bar & Grill (at Four Seasons Lanai)
- Lanai City Bar & Grille (at the Hotel Lanai) stays open til 11pm on Friday and Saturday, and has live music those nights.
Get a Guidebook:
I am unimpressed by the available print and eBook guidebooks to Lanai. Things change, restaurants come and go, and no print guidebook is going to beat the up-to-date information I’ve researched and listed here. But, there is one guide to Lanai that I do recommend:
Lanai Map – Franko’s Lanai Guide Waterproof Map is an invaluable resource for the off-grid adventurer. If you plan to bike and hike or even drive off-road around Lanai, this map will “fill in the blanks” that may show up as empty spaces on Google Maps.
What to Pack:
The basics are available on Lanai, but not at Amazon or Walmart prices. You are far better off bringing with you quality gear at mainland prices. You also don’t want to be spending your limited vacation time searching for the right stuff. Here is what I use, and recommend you bring to Lanai:
Snorkel, Mask and Fins – The Cressi Palau Short Fins provide a mask with a great fit for all faces, durable quality, and great fins that aren’t so long you fall on your face trying to exit the water. The best snorkeling package value. You’ll need this to see all the fishies in Hulopoe Bay
Travel Towel – The PackTowl Personal Microfiber towel is the best travel towel there is. It’s comfortable, quick-drying, lightweight, and packs down to the size of a paperback book. Comes in four sizes and eleven colors. I have the largest size “Beach” at 36 x 59 inches in Blueberry. Get this towel, and avoid having to buy a crappy convenience store “ALOHA” towel for $29.95 that you’ll never use again.
Reef Safe Sunscreen – Effective January 1, 2021 the State of Hawaii has banned all non reef-safe sunscreens from sale in the islands. Why not get ahead of the curve, and bring this excellent sunscreen with you? Thinksport SPF 50 rubs in easily and feels good on your skin. And you’re saving our coral reefs.
Sunhat – It’s pretty sunny on the south shores of Lanai, and you might want a decent hat to go with that reef-safe sunscreen. These Hemlock Hat Company wide brimmed straw hats are what all the cool kids are wearing at the beach these days. I have the “Bandit” color.
While these items are of particular importance to make the most of your visit to Lanai, it would be worth checking out my Ultimate Travel Packing List that covers everything you might need for your trip.
Is Lanai Safe?
It’s got to be one of the safest places in America. For one thing, almost everyone on the island works for Pulama Lanai (Larry Ellison’s company) in some capacity. If you get in trouble, you get fired, and then you gotta move, because there are no other jobs. It’s a company town. But beyond that, Lanai people are just some of the nicest, friendliest folks you’ll meet in Hawaii. They have that small town kindness you’d expect to find in Iowa or Maine. When I rode my bike around here, at least half the passing cars gave me a wave hello! That doesn’t happen on Maui.
Years ago I managed to get a kiawe-thorn flat-tire on my scooter way out by Shipwreck Beach. At sunset. I was sadly pushing by moped up the forest road, mentally preparing to spend a miserable night, hungry and chilly, alone in the woods. Out of nowhere, a pickup truck appears. The guy was fishing, and he promptly lifted my scooter into the back. Not only did he go a half hour out of his way to drop me off at Hulopoe Beach, he also stopped at two different friends houses to see if they might have a patch kit. And he offered to come get me the next day to help me get the scooter back the boat harbor! That’s my enduring memory of the people on Lanai.
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