Introduction to Lanai Island

The island of Lanai is the smallest inhabited island in the Hawaiian Island chain. Tourism infrastructure is limited to one airport, a ferry service, two luxury hotels, and one historic boutique hotel, and three golf courses. Main activities include golfing, tennis, and pool swimming at the island's luxury resorts, ocean water sports, and exploring the isalnd in off-road vehicles.

What to expect: If you plan to spend all of your time relaxing or playing golf at one of the resorts, you will probably love Lanai. Exploring the rest of the island is possible with a four wheel drive vehicle, but it is advisable to hire a guide.

Lanai is a relatively dry island, with hot dry regions and cooler regions at higher elevations.

Commercial pineaple production ended in October of 1992 except for about 100 acres grown for local consumption. After pineapple production died out on Lanai, the Lanai Company decided to turn the island into a golf and spa destination by building two luxury resorts. Today the island's economy is completely dependent on tourism.

There are three main residential and resort communities on Lanai: Lanai City, Koele, and Manele. Lanai City is in the center of the island at an elevation of approximately 1650 feet. It was built as a plantation town in 1924 and it is the only town on the island. Lanai City looks much as it did during the plantation era. The small Hotel Lanai in Lanai City has eleven rooms and a restaurant. Koele is a cool region in the central highlands of Lanai. It has one luxury resort and two golf course that are located at the edge of a pine forest, Manele is on the dry southwest coast of Lanai, and it has one luxury beach resort, two golf courses, and a small boat harbor.

Expeditions Ferry "About Lanai" Article

Lanai Island Travel Guide

Other Islands of Hawaii

Visitor Destinations in Hawaii

Hawaii for Visitors