Explore the Hidden Gem of Hawaii: Lana’i

The island of Lana’i is the most misunderstood of all the Hawaiian Islands. It also ranks as one of the least visited among the main Hawaiian Islands. In 2014, only 67,106 individuals visited Lana’i, compared to the staggering 5,159,078 who explored Oahu, 2,397,307 who visited Maui, 1,445,939 who traveled to Hawaii Island, and the 1,113,605 who discovered Kauai. Surprisingly, the island of Moloka’i saw even fewer visitors, with approximately 59,132.

Moreover, those who do choose to visit Lana’i often tend to be wealthier than the average traveler to the other islands. To their credit, however, the resorts have made efforts in recent years to offer more attractive rates for all Hawaii visitors.

Former Pineapple Island

Even today, when asked about Lana’i, many visitors frequently mention pineapple. Others might highlight the two world-class resorts that have opened on the island since 1992 or note that Lana’i is home to two of Hawaii’s finest golf courses. In fact, a significant number of individuals who travel to Lana’i daily on the Expeditions Ferry do so primarily for a single day of golf.

Interestingly, while many still associate Lana’i with the pineapple industry, pineapple was cultivated on Lana’i for only about 80 years of the 20th century.

Although the pineapple sector brought a considerable number of foreign workers, primarily from the Philippines, it ultimately failed to remain a sustainable enterprise. Consequently, many sons and daughters of these immigrant workers sought better opportunities elsewhere, marking this period as a failed experiment. Today, no commercial pineapple operations exist on Lana’i.

Age of Tourism

Realizing the necessity for change, or risk fading away entirely, the Lana’i Company, under the leadership of David Murdock, chose a different path by developing two world-class resorts aimed at attracting visitor traffic to the island. The original plan for Lana’i also included a diversified agriculture initiative intended to replace the pineapple industry, but that portion of the plan saw widespread abandonment.

Larry Ellison Buys Majority of Lana’i

In June 2012, Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, signed a sales agreement to acquire the vast majority of Murdock’s holdings, which included the resorts, two golf courses, a solar farm, various real estate holdings, two water utilities, a transportation company, and a significant portion of land.

Currently, Lana’i heavily relies on the tourism industry for its survival. Many residents are aware that this dependence, much like their earlier reliance on the pineapple industry, poses significant risks to their long-term prosperity. Alarmingly, visitor numbers to Lana’i have actually decreased in recent years.

Getting to Lana’i

One of the most popular options for reaching Lana’i is via the Expeditions Ferry from Lahaina, Maui. The ferry offers five daily departures, returning to Lahaina the same number of times. The approximately 45-minute journey costs around $60 for a round trip. Furthermore, in partnership with local island operations, Expeditions provides several attractive packages that include automobile rentals, golf deals, and guided tours highlighting the island’s best attractions.

Adventure Lana’i Ecocentre

During our previous visit, we selected a four-hour tour with the Adventure Lana’i Ecocentre, which also features full-day tours and sunset excursions, in addition to diving, snorkeling, and kayaking opportunities. This company is jointly owned by two Lana’i residents, one of whom served as our knowledgeable tour guide – Jarrod Barfield.

Our excursion introduced us to many of the island’s highlights, including Lana’i City, the Munro Trail, Maunalei Gulch, Shipwreck Beach, the Po`aiwa Petroglyphs, the Kanepu`u Forest Preserve, and the stunning Garden of the Gods, as well as the Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Hotel.

Not for Everyone

It’s important to note that Lana’i may not be suitable for every traveler. Outside the luxurious resorts and Lana’i City, many areas of the island can be challenging to visit. A 4×4 vehicle is essential, and having an experienced tour guide is highly recommended.

In fact, just a week before our visit, two guests got their rental 4x4s stuck in the mud on the road to Shipwreck Beach. Many visitors often attempt to navigate the island on their own, only to find themselves lost, immobilized, or causing damage to their rental vehicles. Consequently, this might explain why the majority of island visitors tend to frequent the resorts and golf courses. While the resorts are unquestionably superb, there remains a wealth of authentic Lana’i experiences waiting to be uncovered.