Island of Lanai - Travel Tips

Introduction

An old shield volcano in the rain shadow of Maui, Lanai (pronounced lah-nigh-ee) is the nation's biggest non-operated pineapple patch -- and now claims to be one of the world's top tropical destinations. There are no direct flights from the mainland, and there's not one stoplight on the island's mere 30 miles of paved road. It's almost as if this quiet, gentle oasis -- known, paradoxically, for both its small-town feel and its celebrity appeal -- demands that its visitors go to great lengths to get here in order to ensure that they will appreciate it.

Lanai is a place where people come looking for dramatic beauty, quiet, solitude, and to experience nature away from the bright lights of Waikiki, the publicity of Maui, and the hoopla surrounding most resorts. The sojourners who find their way to Lanai come seeking the dramatic views, the tropical fusion of stars at night, and the chance to be alone with the elements.

What To Do

There are a wealth of activities to enjoy while on Lanai: snorkeling and swimming in the marine preserve known as Hulopoe Bay; hiking on 100 miles of remote trails; talking story with the friendly locals; and beachcombing and whale-watching along stretches of otherwise deserted sand. For the adventurous, there's horseback riding in the forest, scuba diving in caves, playing golf on courses with stunning ocean views, or renting a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the day and discovering wild plains where spotted deer run free.

In a single decade, a plain red-dirt pineapple patch has become one of Hawaii's top fantasy destinations.

Dining

Canoes Lanai - Formerly Tanigawa's, this ma-and-pa eatery may have changed its name, but it still remains the landmark that it's been since the 1920s. In those days the tiny storefront sold canned goods and cigarettes; the 10 tables, hamburgers, and Filipino food came later. This hole-in-the-wall is a local institution, with a reputation for serving local-style breakfasts. The fare -- fried rice, omelets, short stack, and simple ham and eggs -- is more greasy spoon than gourmet.

Manele Bay Cubhouse - The view from the alfresco tables here may be the best on the island, encompassing Kahoolawe, Haleakala on Maui, and, on an especially clear day, the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island. Lighter fare prevails at lunch: salads and sandwiches, burgers, Caesar salad with chicken, herbed chicken sandwich on sourdough, fish and chips, and excellent shrimp spring rolls and fresh catch of the day on sourdough bread. The clubhouse is casual, the view of the ocean is awe-inspiring, and it's a great gathering place to rehash your day on the course.

The Terrace - Located next to the Formal Dining Room in The Lodge at Koele, between the 35-foot-high Great Hall and a wall of glass looking out over prim English gardens, the Terrace is far from your typical hotel dining room. The menu may be fancy for comfort food, but it does, indeed, comfort. Hearty breakfasts of waffles and cereals, fresh pineapple from the nearby Palawai Basin, frittata, and Kauai Shrimp Benedict (sautéed Kauai shrimp, grilled taro bread, and wilted spinach with poached eggs and blue crab hollandaise) are a grand start to the day. Dinner choices include seared New York strip loin with sweet corn-blue cheese potatoes and braised chard, grilled fresh catch with corn cake and roasted tomato, and pan-roasted chicken with forest mushrooms served with a spicy pecan wild rice and asparagus.

Entertainment

The only regular nightlife venues on the island are the Lanai Playhouse, at the corner of Seventh and Lanai avenues in Lanai City, and the two resorts, The Lodge at Koele and Manele Bay Hotel.

The Lanai Playhouse (tel. 808/565-7500) is a historic 1920s building that has won awards for its renovations. When it opened in 1993, the 150-seat venue stunned residents by offering first-run movies with Dolby sound -- quite contemporary for anachronistic Lanai. Lanai Playhouse usually, but not always, shows two movies each evening.

The Lodge at Koele has stepped up its live entertainment. In The Lodge's Great Hall, in front of its manorial fireplaces, local artists bring contemporary Hawaiian, classical, and other genres to listeners who sip port and fine liqueurs while sinking into plush chairs. The special programs are on weekends, but throughout the week some form of nightly entertainment takes place from 7 to 10pm.

 

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for foreign visitors outside of the United States

Under the Visa Waiver Plan, designed to speed up immigration procedures, citizens of Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and most European countries in possession of full passports do not require visas for trips to the United States of less than ninety days. Visa waiver forms are handed out on incoming planes, and are processed during immigration control at your initial point of arrival on US soil. The form requires details of where you are staying on your first night, and the date you intend to leave the US. You should be able to prove that you have enough money to support yourself while in the US. You may experience difficulties if you admit to being HIV-positive or having AIDS or TB. Part of the form will be attached to your passport, where it must stay until you leave. The same form also covers entry across the land borders with Canada and Mexico.

Citizens of all other countries should contact their local US embassy or consulate for details of current entry requirements. Even those eligible for the visa waiver plan must apply for a free tourist visa if they intend to stay in the US for more than ninety days. Whatever your nationality, visas are not issued to convicted felons or to anybody who owns up to being a communist, fascist or drug dealer.

Money

ATMs-- Hawaii pioneered the use of ATMs more than 2 decades ago, and now they're everywhere. You'll find them at most banks, in supermarkets, at Long's Drugs, and in most resorts and shopping centers. Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587) are the two most popular networks; check the back of your ATM card to see which network your bank belongs to (most banks belong to both these days).

Traveller's Checks-- Traveler's checks are something of an anachronism from the days before the ATM made cash accessible at any time. Traveler's checks used to be the only sound alternative to traveling with dangerously large amounts of cash. They were as reliable as currency, but, unlike cash, could be replaced if lost or stolen.

You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank.

Visa offers traveler's checks at Citibank locations nationwide, as well as at several other banks. The checks come in denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000. Call tel. 800/732-1322 for information. AAA members can obtain Visa checks for a fee (for checks up to $1,500) at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378. MasterCard also offers traveler's checks. Call tel. 800/223-9920 for a location near you.

If you choose to carry traveler's checks, be sure to keep a record of their serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Emergency

Lanai is part of Maui County. In case of an emergency, call the police, fire department, or ambulance services at tel. 911, or the Poison Control Center at tel. 800/362-3585. For nonemergencies, call the police (tel. 808/565-6428).

 

Map of Lanai

 

Lanai Weather

 

Weather Averages

Average High Temperatures 75.0°F 23°C 76.0°F 24°C 76.0°F 24°C 77.0°F 25°C 78.0°F 25°C 79.0°F 26°C Average Low Temperatures 57.0°F 13°C 59.0°F 14°C 59.0°F 15°C 60.0°F 15°C 62.0°F 16°C 63.0°F 17°C Average Temperature 66.0°F 18°C 67.0°F 19°C 67.0°F 19°C 68.0°F 20°C 70.0°F 20°C 71.0°F 21°C Average Precipitation 4.2% 3.0% 4.8% 1.5% 0.7% 0.4%

Average High Temperatures 81.0°F 27°C 82.0°F 27°C 81.0°F 27°C 81.0°F 27°C 79.0°F 26°C 76.0°F 24°C Average Low Temperatures 64.0°F 17°C 64.0°F 17°C 63.0°F 17°C 63.0°F 17°C 62.0°F 16°C 60.0°F 15°C Average Temperature 72.0°F 22°C 73.0°F 22°C 72.0°F 22°C 72.0°F 22°C 70.0°F 21°C 68.0°F 19°C Average Precipitation 1.0% 0.5% 1.1% 1.4% 4.2% 4.3%

General Details

Temperature and Climate Zones

Weather on all of the Hawaiian islands is very consistent, with only moderate changes in temperature throughout the year. This is possible due to the year-round warm sea surface temperatures, which keeps the overlying atmosphere warm as well. In practical terms there are only 2 seasons here: the summer months (called Kau in Hawaiian) that extend from May to October and the winter months (Ho'oilo) that run from November to April. The average day-time summer temperature at sea level is 85 degrees F. (29.4 C) while the average day-time winter temperature is 78 degrees (25.6 C). Night-time temperatures are approximately 10 degrees F. lower.

Visitors to Hawaii will find that it is a marvel of nature. As a result of the shielding effect of her volcanic mountains and the differences in weather found at various elevations, there are as many different climate zones here as exist along the entire coast stretching from Alaska to Costa Rica. The islands can be described as an incredibly diverse collection of many micro-environments, each possessing unique weather, plants and animals. To see the full impact of this natural wealth visitors only need to explore the islands by car, or helicopter and they will be struck by the beauty of tropical rain forests, cool alpine regions, stony deserts and sunny beaches, all within the span of just a few short miles.

Rainfall and Storms

Through most of the year Hawaiian weather patterns are effected primarily by high pressure zones in the north Pacific that pump relatively cool, moist trade winds down onto the island's northeastern slopes. This pattern holds true for most of the summer and approximately half of the time in the winter. These winds are forced up-slope by the mountain heights where ultimately their moisture condenses into clouds that produce rain. Most of the rain then falls in the mountains and valleys on the windward (northeastern) side of the islands. It is this weather phenomenon that creates the rich tropical environment of flowers and verdant greens that have made Hawaii famous. The wettest months are from November - March, but these winter rains do not generally disrupt vacationer's plans, since the very localized nature of the weather usually means that if it is raining where you are, there is almost always a sunny spot to be found by a short drive around the coast.

The action of trade winds here means that there is always a cooling breeze. The strength of this wind builds as the heat of the day rises and reaches a peak in the afternoon, only to diminish in the evening and start again the following day. Several times during the year the trade winds will stop completely and the wind will switch around to come out of the south or west, bringing stormy or hot sticky weather. Islanders sometimes call this "Kona" weather, because kona is a polynesian word that means leeward or South, and this points to the direction from which these weather systems arrive. Stormy weather does come to the islands, primarily in the winter and sometimes lingers for several days. Severe storms, however, are not a common occurrence here.

Water and Surf Conditions

Beach-goers will be happy to learn that the temperature of Hawaii's near-shore waters stay comfortable throughout the year. The average year round water temperature is 74 degrees F. (23.3 C), with a summer high of 80 degrees F. (26.7 C). Wave action varies a great deal between winter and summer, and between island coasts. Generally summer waters are very gentle on all beaches. This changes in the winter on many north facing beaches, as storms far out into the Pacific drive ocean swells towards the islands, which build into large breaking waves.

As with island rains, wave conditions are often very localized, so if there is too much surf on your beach, you can usually find calmer water by taking a short drive to a beach that is sheltered from the prevailing surf. Swimmers should keep in mind that h4 currents can make any beach unsafe at any time during the year, but this is particularly true in the winter. When in doubt, simply ask your hotel staff or a local for their recommendations and also watch for warning flags and posted beach conditions.

Hawaii's Mountains and Volcanos

Many visitors to the islands will be drawn to the natural beauty found in the higher elevations such as Kokee on Kauai, or Haleakala on Maui, or Kilauea on the Big Island. In preparing for your trip you'll want to take long pants and several layers of cool weather clothing because the temperature in the higher locations drops 3.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet above sea level that you climb. For example, the summit of Haleakala at an elevation of 10,023 feet can be as much as 30 degrees F. cooler than the resort areas on the coast. Similarly the summit of Kilauea, which is at an elevation of 4,078 feet, can be 14 degrees cooler than the sea level temperature.

You should also be aware that because these peaks rise through the earth's atmosphere, there is less protection at these elevations from the sun's powerful burning rays. This burning effect can be easily masked by the cool temperatures on the mountain, so be sure to use your sun block liberally, and bring your hat and sunglasses.

Fun Things To Do in Lanai

Attractions & Activities

Lanai Attractions

Below are some of our favorite Lanai attractions.

Snorkeling Hulopoe Beach. Crystal-clear waters teem with brilliant tropical fish off one of Hawaii's best beaches. There are tide pools to explore, waves to play in, and other surprises -- like a pod of spinner dolphins that often makes a splashy entrance.

Exploring the Garden of the Gods. Eroded by wind, rain, and time, these geologic badlands are worth visiting at sunrise or sunset, when the low light plays tricks on the land -- and your mind.

Hiking the Munro Trail. The 11-mile Munro Trail is a lofty, rigorous hike along the rim of an old volcano. You'll get great views of the nearby islands. Take a four-wheel-drive vehicle if you want to spend more time on top of the island.

Watching the Whales at Polihua Beach. Located on the north shore, this beach -- which gets its name from the turtles that nest here -- is a great place to spend the day scanning the ocean for whales during the winter months.

 

Lanai Activities

Garden of the Gods
A desolate, windswept place, dotted by lunarlike rock formations of awesome shapes and colors, the so-called Garden of the Gods lives up to its name. According to island legend, the strange rocks and boulders on the island's north shore were dropped from the sky by the gods tending their gardens. Scientists dismiss this supernatural explanation -- calling the area an "ongoing posterosional event" or just "plain and simple badlands." Still, it's impossible to ignore the mystery of the place -- the rock's brilliant reds, oranges, ochers, and yellows set against a rugged and barren backdrop. Go early in the morning or just before sunset, when the light casts eerie shadows on the beautiful lava formations.

Five Islands at a Single Glance: The Munro Trail
In the first golden rays of dawn, when lone owls swoop over abandoned pineapple fields, hop into a 4*4 and head out on the two-lane blacktop toward Mount Lanaihale, the 3,370-foot summit of Lanai. Your destination is the Munro Trail, the narrow, winding ridge trail that runs across Lanai's razorback spine to the summit. From here, you may get a rare Hawaii treat: On a clear day, you can see all of the main islands in the Hawaiian chain except Kauai.

Luahiwa Petroglyph Field
With more than 450 known petroglyphs in Hawaii at 23 sites, Lanai is second only to the Big Island in its wealth of prehistoric rock art, but you'll have to search a little to find it. Some of the best examples are on the outskirts of Lanai City, on a hillside site known as Luahiwa Petroglyph Field. The characters you'll see incised on 13 boulders in this grassy 3-acre knoll include a running man, a deer, a turtle, a bird, a goat, and even a rare, curly-tailed Polynesian dog.

Kaunolu Village
Out on Lanai's nearly vertical, Gibraltar-like sea cliffs is an old royal compound and fishing village. Now a National Historic Landmark and one of Hawaii's most treasured ruins, it's believed to have been inhabited by King Kamehameha the Great and hundreds of his closest followers about 200 years ago.

Ruins of 86 house platforms and 35 stone shelters have been identified on both sides of Kaunolu Gulch. The residential complex also includes the Halulu Heiau temple, named after a mythical man-eating bird. The king's royal retreat is thought to have stood on the eastern edge of Kaunolu Gulch, overlooking the rocky shore facing Kahekili's Leap, a 62-foot-high bluff named for the mighty Maui chief who leaped off cliffs as a show of bravado. Nearby are burial caves, a fishing shrine, a lookout tower, and many warrior-like stick figures carved on boulders. Just offshore stands the telltale fin of little Shark Island, a popular dive spot that teems with bright tropical fish and, frequently, sharks.

Excavations are underway to discover more about how ancient Hawaiians lived, worked, and worshipped on Lanai's leeward coast. Who knows? The royal fishing village may yet yield the bones of King Kamehameha. His burial site, according to legend, is known only to the moon and the stars.

Health & Safety Links

Travelers' Health, US Department of Health and Human Resources

Flight Overview Lanai

Tiny Lanai Airport, perched on the western edge of the central plateau around four miles southwest of Lana'i City, is served by just two airlines. Island Air, the commuter affiliate of Aloha Airlines, connects it ten times daily with Honolulu, and three times daily with Kahului on Maui. In addition, Hawaiian Airlines operates two round-trip flights daily between Lanai and Honolulu, and one each between Lanai and Kahului; Kona and Hilo on the Big Island; and Molokai.

The airport has a small store, but no café; since the plantations closed down, it seems to have become home to all the fruit flies on the island. Guests at the major hotels are picked up by bus.

Non-stop, direct or connecting flights are available to Hawaii from all major and regional airports in North America. From cities on the West Coast, the flight time to Honolulu is approximately 4 ½ - 5 hours. From Chicago, non-stop flights to Honolulu are 8 hours, and from New York, non-stop flights to Honolulu are approximately 10 ½ hours.

During the past several years, more non-stop flights have become available to Hawaii's "Neighbor Islands" of Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii from cities along the West Coast. Inter-island flights to all Neighbor Islands depart regularly from Honolulu International Airport and flight times run just 20 - 35 minutes, making island hopping simple and convenient.

Our Airline Partners Serving Hawaii:

American Trans Air
Delta Airlines
United Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
American Airlines
Aloha Airlines
Horizon Airlines