| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
Lanai is not an easy place to reach. There are no direct flights from the mainland. 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 (pronounced lah- nigh -ee), the nation's biggest defunct pineapple patch, now claims to be one of the world's top tropical destinations. It's a bold claim because so little is here; Lanai has even fewer dining and accommodations choices than Molokai. This almost virgin island is unspoiled by what passes for progress, except for a tiny 1920s-era plantation village -- and, of course, the village's fancy new arrivals: two first-class luxury hotels. As soon as you arrive on Lanai, you'll feel the small-town coziness. People wave to every car; residents stop to "talk story" with their friends; fishing and working in the garden are considered priorities in life; and leaving the keys in the car's ignition is standard practice. For generations, Lanai was little more than a small village, owned and operated by the pineapple company, surrounded by acres of pineapple fields. Life in the 1960s was pretty much the same as in the 1930s. But all that changed in 1990, when The Lodge at Koele opened its doors, followed a year later by the Manele Bay resort. Overnight, the isolated island was transformed: Corporate jets streamed into tiny Lanai Airport, former pl
....
[ read more on Lanai.. ]
Get another perspective from.. |
| History (Source: WCities) | Top | In the Ancient Days… Frothy whitecaps dancing on the shimmering sea gave little clue of the events unfolding in the murky depths fathoms below. Far beneath the ocean floor, heat and pressure built until it no longer could be contained; molten lava spewed along the sandy bottom of the sea. Again and again throughout the eons the volcano relieved its pressure, building layer upon layer of hardened formations that would one day reach and penetrate the ocean's surface. The forces of nature, over an incalculable period of time, completed the gestation and birth of an island that would grow through the centuries to become the sixth largest in the Hawaiian chain. During its formative years, when the earliest seafaring explorers began to venture onto Hawaiian shores, the island was considered the 'home of demons' and given a wide berth. Massive explosions still lit the night sky and smoke belched from the crater. The earliest settlers, who came from the Marquesa Islands more than 2,000 years ago, found new homes on the other islands, staying away from the glowing land mass called Lana'i. Rock formations of a mysterious, almost alien nature are still to be found in the Garden of the Gods in the north central portion of the island. This isolated red plateau overlooks the Palawai Basin, the floor of the once smoldering volcanic birth mother. Pre-contact Lana'i The laws of island society were strict, with wrongdoers punished by death or banishment to Lana'i
....
[ read more on Lanai.. ]
|
| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Lanai Getting There: By Air: Lanai Airport ( LNY ) ( +1 808 836 6413/ http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/lanai/ ) is small, focused mostly on inter-island commuter travel. Despite its size, the airport is convenient, as it is located only 3 miles from Lanai City. Airlines include: Aloha Airlines ( +1 800 367 5250 / http://www.alohaairlines.com/ ) Hawaiian Airlines ( +1 800 367 5320/ http://www.hawaiianair.com ) Island Air ( +1 800 323 3345/ http://www.islandair.com/ ) Taxi companies include: A B Taxi ( +1 808 667 7575 ) Rainbow Taxi ( +1 808 661 0881 ) Rental Car companies include: Dollar ( +1 800 4000/ http://www.dollar.com ) Hertz ( +1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com ) Thrifty ( +1 800 847 4389 / http://www.thrifty.com/ ) By Ferry: If you're hoping to travel to a neighboring island and are not interested in catching a jet, consider the ferry. Ferries connect Lanai with the rest of the Hawaiian Islands and are scenic, affordable, and make frequent trips. A ride on an Expeditions Inc. ( +1 808 661 3756 ) ferry will set you back USD40-50 roundtrip. Molokai Ferry ( +1 800 275 6969 ) offers roundtrips for USD40-80. By Car: Drivers, beware! Due to frequent rainstorms, roads can be washed out without warning. Also, the Axis deer population on the island outnumbers the people 2 to 1. Route 440, Kaumalapau Highway, is shaped like a 'V' and runs from Kaumalapa
....
[ read more on Lanai.. ]
|
| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Visitors to Lana'i from the mainland are overheard saying such things as 'I thought I'd want to go somewhere else... but the days just slipped away'. The island has the sort of timeless quality that makes people forget about schedules, appointments, and anything beyond the relaxed enjoyment of the moment. The downtown scene only heightens the illusion that the hourglass has stopped on Lana'i. Small clusters of people lounge about talking. Old men amble down the street and through the park, placing their feet on an unseen path with the greatest precision. Occasionally a truck will rumble down the main street, usually stopping at a general store or a café. Other than that, nothing seems to happen. Outdoor activities are the island's main attraction. Golf on either of the two main resorts is world-class, while the rest of the island provides great 4x4 off-roading. Other activities include hiking, sailing and diving. Lana'i By Day Swimming Beaches Unlike the other islands, Lana'i has almost no decent swimming beaches. The best one is at Hulopo'e Bay , right behind the Manele Bay Hotel . This place is also a part of the Manele Marine Preserve , and dozens of exotic fish populate the waters offshore. Swimming at other beaches can be unpleasant or dangerous. Snorkeling/Scuba Diving While there is only one decent snorkel spot (at Hulopo'e Bay ), offshore Lana'i is known for its world- class diving. Trilogy Excursions offers dive excursions. Adven
....
[ read more on Lanai.. ]
Get another perspective from.. |
| |
