How to best experience Lanai

Small town living and secluded beaches make this island a vacationer's paradise. 

Where to Eat

When breakfast calls, stroll into Blue Ginger Café, a hallmark of Lanai City for its homey interior and fresh-baked pastries daily. For a satisfying lunch, take the leisurely walk across the town square to Lanai Ohana Poke Market to hole up at its camping-style tables with a bowl of fresh island fish. Get there when it opens—these bowls go fast.

Where to Stay

The only resort on the island, Four Seasons Resort Lanai, is perched above Hulopoe Beach, a tranquil half-moon bay rivaled only by the property’s luxurious suites. Hide away in private sanctuaries tucked about the grounds, oversize lounge chairs nestled in lush gardens and a 24-hour adults-only pool. In Lanai City resides Hotel Lanai at a more affordable price point with a bed-and-breakfast air.

How to Explore

Here, the journey is just as memorable as the destination. Buckle up and rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach and explore the island’s remote cultural sites, such as Kaunolu Village, dating back to the 1400s. If golfing is more your speed, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Manele Golf Course features jaw-dropping greens that sit above steep sea cliffs on the island’s southwest shores. Don’t be fooled by the modest exterior of the recently renovated Lanai Culture & Heritage Center—the deceptively small venue is packed with local knowledge and artifacts unique to the island’s Hawaiian legends and modern plantation-day history.