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The private Hawaiian island of Lanai is worth a trip from Maui. But, the most popular things to do on Lanai aren’t open to day trip visitors or they will require a Jeep.
Welcome to Lanai, a privately owned island by Oracle Corporation founder and billionaire Larry Ellison. After purchasing Lanai in 2012 for $300 million, he took ownership of 98% of the apostrophe-shaped island. The purchase included Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort.
Now, you must be a guest at the resorts in order to visit the restaurants, Manele Bay Golf Course, horseback riding, boat tours leaving from Lanai, and other popular Lanai activities.
That doesn’t mean there is nothing to do on Lanai. After numerous trips to Lanai, here are our favorite things to do that are free, require a car rental, or a reservation at the resorts. 14 of them are free!
Here are the 21 best things to do on Lanai for you to consider a day trip or stay the night!
Why Lanai is Unique
Lanai is like no other Hawaiian island. With a population of only 3,367 per the 2020 census, the island has few paved roads, no stoplights, one school, and one gas station. Few visitors make it out to Lanai compared to the other Hawaiian islands.
Choosing the right Hawaiian island to visit for you can be a tough decision, let alone throwing in an extra island when staying on Maui. But, if you’re staying on Maui for seven days or more, then a day trip to Lanai should be on your radar.
Related article: Is Lanai Worth a Day Trip? (without a doubt)
The proper spelling of Lanai is Lānaʻi. It is pronounced laa-na-ee, with a pause or glottal stop between na and ee. For simplification, I will write it as Lanai in this article.
Lanai is believed to have been settled by Hawaiians from neighboring Maui or Molokai in the 15th century. They set up fishing villages on the coast and taro fields in the interior. It is believed the island’s population was decimated by disease by 1792, shortly after Western contact.
The island was used for ranching and sugar cane farming during the 19th century until James Dole, the founder of Dole Food Company, bought the island and turned it into the largest pineapple plantation in the world. Hence, Lanai is nicknamed the Pineapple Island. Pineapple is no longer grown commercially on the island.
How to Get to Lanai
The two ways to arrive on Lanai are by ferry from Maui or a flight on Mokulele Airlines. If you want to see Lanai from the ocean, then check out the snorkel tours below.
The most popular mode of transport to Lanai is Expeditions Ferry. The passenger ferry leaves from Lahaina, West Maui. The ferry is a 45-minute journey across the 6-mile Au’au Channel from Lahaina Harbor to Manele Small Boat Harbor on the south shore of Lanai.
The ferry departs regularly throughout the day. For a day trip, maximize your time on the island by leaving on the early morning ferry and booking a reservation for the last ferry of the day.
The Expeditions Ferry is the only passenger ferry serving the Hawaiian islands. See our Hawaiian Islands Inter-Island Guide (island hopping) for more information on the ferry.
Visitors can also visit Lanai by flying to Lanai Airport (LNY). The tiny airport offers commercial flights from Mokulele Airlines, with a fleet of single-engine prop planes. Mokulele Airlines provides a limited number of flights a day.
For those staying at the Four Seasons Resorts, you can take their private jet from Honolulu. The inter-island trip is sometimes included in the price of the room.
Flights are limited. So, those planning to spend the day may not have the option of flying in the morning and returning in the evening.
Additional Hawaii Trip Planning Resources:
- 15 Amazing Things to Do in Upcountry Maui
- 23 Things to Do on Oahu with Kids
- 40 Things to Do on Oahu
Lanai Coastal Sail and Snorkel Tours
Exploring Lanai’s coast is also an excellent way to see many of the sights around Lanai. Hop aboard a power raft or catamaran sailboat for a tour of Lanai’s coast and experience some epic snorkeling.
From a snorkel tour, you will be able to see Pu’u Pehe (Sweetheart Rock), Hulopoe Beach, Lanai’s large sea cliffs, Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, and the pristine reefs around the island.
We enjoyed our snorkel tour with Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel for the excellent snorkeling spots, coming across a pod of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, and learning the history and stories of Lanai from the marine biologist onboard. Check out our experience below.
Our two recommended Lanai snorkel tour companies are Sail Maui and Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel.
Save 10% on your booking with the promo codes below!
Sail Maui’s Lanai Coast Snorkel (promo code HVG10) – depart from Lahaina Harbor for a 5-hour snorkel and sailing tour of Lanai’s epic coastline. Dive into secluded snorkel spots, see spinner dolphins, and snack on fresh banana bread and a deli lunch. An open bar is included.
Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel’s Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel (promo code HVG) – depart from Lahaina on a power raft for a comfortable and active adventure for spinner dolphins and snorkeling. They offer a 3-hour and 4-hour tour. The 4 tour includes two snorkel spots. We did the 4-hour tour, their most popular, and loved the time out on the water.
These snorkel companies both made our list of the 8 best snorkeling tours on Maui. Find all of our Hawaiian Islands vetted and recommended tours and activities before you book with those other guys!
Snorkel tours used to have permits allowing them to land on Lanai. They have not regained access to land on Lanai for a picnic and hike since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to Get Around Lanai
Lanai is 18 miles long in its longest direction. While the island is small, the rough dirt roads make getting to some beaches and trails a long trip.
Paved roads connect the boat harbors (Young Brothers industrial harbor and Manele Small Boat Harbor) to Lanai City and Lanai Airport. Outside of Lanai City and those main routes, you will find dirt roads in varying degrees of disrepair. A Jeep is required for most activities on the island.
We have done day trips where we haven’t gotten a rental car and trips where we have rented a Jeep.
Jeep rental companies typically won’t pick you up at the harbor or the airport. You will need to take a shuttle to Lanai City to pick up your rental.
How to Get to Lanai City
When you disembark from the ferry at Manele Small Boat Harbor on the southern tip of the island, there will be a few 8-10 person shuttles waiting there to take people to Lanai City.
Manele Small Boat Harbor to Lanai City is about 17-minutes (8 miles) on a well-paved but windy road.
Have cash on hand for the shuttles.
We find ourselves taking Rabaca’s shuttle the most often. I recommend calling ahead to get a spot on the shuttles.
- Rabaca’s Shuttle: (808) 559-0230
- Dela Cruz Taxi: (808)649-0808
- Uber/Don: (808) 563-0150
The Four Seasons Resorts provide transport for guests arriving at the harbor or Lanai Airport.
Lanai Jeep Rentals
For those who want to explore more of the island than just Lanai City and Hulopoe Beach, then a Jeep rental is required. You can rent a regular car but the rental company will have restrictions on where you can travel.
For example, you may need to park the car and make a long hike to Shipwreck Beach. A Jeep can navigate the sand and rough terrain of Lanai’s roads.
The Four Seasons Resorts offers Jeep rentals to their guests for a rental fee. For a lower cost and for those not staying at the resorts, you can rent with Lanai Cheap Jeeps. While not that cheap, they are convenient and have high-quality, lifted Jeeps. They provide a map, directions, and advice on navigating Lanai.
What to Do on Lanai For the Day (1-day itinerary)
Be it a day trip from Maui or wishing to escape the resorts for the day, there are two ways to explore Lanai.
The first and easiest is to explore the area around Manele Small Boat Harbor and take a shuttle to historic Lanai City. This itinerary does not require renting a Jeep. See our video below on our experience of spending the day playing at Hulopoe Beach and then heading to Lanai City.
Lanai City is very walkable as it is a planned plantation town with Dole Park in the center.
Note that day-long parking in Lahaina can be challenging. Three-hour parking is available across from Kamehameha III Elementary School. They will ticket you. I recommend you take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi to Lahaina Harbor to avoid finding parking.
The second option for exploring Lanai for the day is to head to Lanai City upon arrival to get a Jeep rental. Once you are in the Jeep, you can take your time in Lanai City and then explore some of the more unique sights and hiking trails around Lanai.
For a perfectly planned out day on Lanai so you can stop researching articles like this one, check out our Maui Adventure Itinerary. A day trip to Lanai is one of the excursion days for your trip to Maui.
6 Things to Do on Lanai Without a Car
Here are things to do around Lanai if you decide not to rent a car. Upon disembarking the ferry, you can walk 10 minutes (0.5 miles) from the harbor to Hulopoe Beach. While at the beach, you can fill your day with many things to do around the beach.
Going to lunch at Four Season Resort Lanai used to be a popular thing to do and a food option for non-guests. Now, one must be a guest at the resort to have lunch or enter the resort in general.
You can pack a lunch from Maui, pick up some snacks at the General Store at Manele Small Boat Harbor, or head to Lanai City for a great selection of local restaurants and two grocery stores.
All the things to do below are free.
Hulopoe Beach
Located on the Manele-Hulopoe Marine Life Conservation Area, you will find one of the best beaches in America, as previously ranked by Dr. Beach. We love this beach for the lack of crowds, amazing and large marine life, and things to do around the beach itself.
Hulopoe Beach is well known for snorkeling. The pristine reef and protected bay make for great visibility. Always check ocean conditions before you venture out as there can be strong currents and high surf.
We find Lanai to be better than Molokai for secluded snorkeling.
The gold sand beach is excellent for walking or just relaxing under the sun.
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins rest in the bay so encounters are common. Per NOAA law, you can’t swim or approach the dolphins within 50 yards. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy watching their acrobatic spins.
- Restroom facilities
- Showers
- Parking
- Picnic tables and BBQ grills
- No lifeguard on duty
Keiki Tide Pool
This is our son’s favorite thing to do on Lanai. The Keiki Tide Pool is a large tide pool that feels like a small swimming pool. It is located southeast of Hulopoe Beach. Take a 5-minute stroll along the coast till you see steel and concrete stairs leading you down to the tide pools.
The main Keiki Tide Pool was blasted from the lava rock for Lanai children decades ago. The protected pool is great for swimming and watching the fish. Natural tide pools from the lava rock also line this area making scavenger hunts for eels, fish, shells, and other animals a great way to keep the kids entertained.
Sweet Heart Rock (Pu’u Pehe)
A short 10-minute walk past the Keiki Tide Pool is Sweet Heart Rock. The landmark is a beautiful addition to the coast. It is named Sweet Heart Rock as it is in the shape of a heart and legend says a heartbroken warrior jumped from this 80-foot summit, rising from the sea, overcome with grief after his princess wife’s passing.
Fisherman’s Trail
A 4.4-mile out and back trail starts at Hulopoe Beach on the northwest side, under the Four Seasons Lanai Resort. Follow the rocky coastline on this easy to moderate hike that should take a little over two hours.
Bring hiking boots or closed-toe shoes as there are loose boulders on the trail. The coastline is gorgeous and you will most likely not encounter anyone on the trail with you.
Lanai City
No trip to Lanai is complete without exploring the historic plantation town of Lanai City. Located 17-minutes from Manele Small Boat Harbor, the planned community is home to Lanai’s 3,000 residents.
While a shuttle is required to get to Lanai City, once you arrive you will find a walkable town village. The quaint town has the large Dole Park with a playground at its center.
While the bowling alley has been converted into a community center, you will find restaurants, cafes, and art galleries surrounding the park.
Lanai City is a small town so check operating hours if you’re set on having lunch or dinner. Many places close in the afternoon.
We like to go to Lanai City for the local restaurants, coffee, and a little shopping. Below are our favorite places.
Lanai City Restaurants
- Blue Ginger Cafe: a great no-frills breakfast and lunch spot for local eats and fresh baked goods.
- Pele’s Other Garden Deli: Italian fare set in a retro diner, this mom and pop deli is open for lunch and gets more lively at night.
- Coffee Works: located a block from Dole Park, enjoy excellent coffee and pastries in this bohemian cafe.
- Ganotisi’s Pacific Rim: Opened in 2022, they offer plate lunches, burgers, fish and chips, and sandwiches. This is the new, popular place to eat in town.
- Richard’s Market: one of two grocery stores in town, you can find picnic supplies here, fresh poke, and drinks for wherever you plan to explore.
Lanai City Shops
- The Local Gentry: full of cute Lanai souvenirs, clothing, and artwork.
- Mike Carroll Gallery: the local art gallery and artist is known for its art and hospitality
- Lanai Hula Hut: a little blue shop featuring Lanai clothing and souvenirs
Lanai City Attractions
- Lanai Culture & Heritage Center (temporarily closed): at the top of Dole Park, explore Lanai displays and find events that showcase the local community.
- Lanai Theater: derelict since the 70s, Larry Ellison transformed this movie theater into a state-of-the-art venue with luxury seating. He planned to start a film festival but local residents now get to enjoy it!
Explore the Town! Sit in Dole Park, walk amongst the historical churches, check out the old courthouse and jail, and walk the neighborhoods to appreciate the plantation architecture. Lanai City is a little city lost in time.
Related articles:
- Your Maui Honeymoon: 10 Unforgettable Things to Do
- Which Hawaiian Island Has the Best Beaches?
Free Golf – The Cavendish
You read that correctly, Lanai City has a free, 9-hole public golf course. On an island of exclusivity, you can go golfing on this local course in Lanai City. No tee time reservation required.
The course was designed by Edwin Cavendish in 1947 to give Dole plantation workers some rest and relaxation. Today, the local community of Lanai maintains the course and cutting hole positions.
Adjust your expectations as this is a free course. You may find the tee boxes and fairways to be shaggy, axis deer footprints across the bunkers, and drainage can be an issue. If you are looking for 18-holes on the ocean, then make you will need to stay at the Four Seasons.
The Cavendish is the pride of the local community so treat the course with respect and follow the lead of local residents.
8 Things to Do on Lanai Requiring a Car
Time to hop into your Jeep rental to check out more of the things to do around Lanai.
The Four Seasons Resorts can also recommend local tour guides to show you around the island. But, renting your own Jeep makes for a great adventure.
All the activities below are free to visit.
Shipwreck Beach (Kaiolohia)
Located over 30-minutes (9 miles) northeast of Lanai City is one of Lanai’s most interesting things to do. Travel time varies based on road conditions.
The scenic and windy drive down the side of Lanai’s extinct volcano will land you on the edge of Shipwreck Beach. Park the car and walk the 8-mile beach and rocky coastline to explore more shipwrecks.
At least a dozen vessels have been intentionally stranded or accidentally sunk on along the hazardous north shore coast of Lanai.
The prominent rusting hulk of a YOGN-42 navy fuel barge can be seen beached on the reef. It isn’t a Liberty Ship, but a fuel tanker made of concrete and steel. The concrete hull is why it is still there today.
I wouldn’t recommend swimming here as strong currents and high surf make this a dangerous place to enter the water. You will feel the remoteness of Lanai when you visit this beach.
Poaiwa Petroglyphs
Located along the Shipwreck Beach coastline is the Poaiwa Petroglyphs. Ancient Hawaiians carved these images into the rock. Follow trail markers along Shipwreck Beach to find them. Be respectful by not touching the rock carvings.
Lanai Cat Sanctuary
Some would say this is the most popular attraction on Lanai. The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is a well-designed and well-run cat sanctuary built to shelter the large homeless cat population that was on Lanai.
Since opening in 2006, they have saved over 3,000 cats. By sheltering feral cats, they have saved countless native and endangered ground-nesting sea birds on the island.
Open daily, come over to frolic and play with some of the 600+ cats. Admission is free but donations are welcomed!
They are located 5 minutes from Lanai Airport.
Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods)
Take a rough ride 45-minutes from Lanai City to see a volcanic rock garden.
As the Hawaiian Tourism Authority explains the legend of this area:
According to Hawaiian lore, this windswept landscape is the result of a contest between two kahuna (priests) from Lanai and Molokai. Each was challenged to keep a fire burning on their respective island longer than the other, and the winner’s island would be rewarded with great abundance. The Lanai kahuna, Kawelo, used every piece of vegetation in Keahiakawelo to keep his fire burning. The landscape is the way it is due to the introduction of ungulates and subsequent erosion.
Hawaii Tourism Authority
Located on the top of a hill, you can see Oahu and Molokai on a clear day.
Kaunolu Village and Trail
Take a Jeep ride to the ancient Hawaiian village of Kaunolu. It was a retreat for Kamehameha the Great as he enjoyed fishing on Lanai. An interpretive trail is available to describe the history, Halulu heiau (temple), Kaneapua Rock, and other sights in the village.
Koloiki Ridge Trail
With a trailhead just outside of Lanai City, explore this 4.2-mile out and back trail with a 782 feet elevation gain. This trail is popular for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The lookout at the top is worth the hike.
Note, you can walk to this trail from Lanai City but I recommend taking a car as you will already have a 4.2-mile hike ahead of you.
Polihua Beach
The most isolated beach on Lanai is Polihua Beach. Getting here is a trek. Located on the north shore of Lanai, you will find a secluded, 2-mile stretch of beach. An excellent place for sunbathing but the strong currents make this a bad place for swimming.
Check weather conditions before you make the voyage out here!
- No restroom facilities
- No showers
- No lifeguard on duty
Munro Trail
Note: temporarily closed for construction and restoration efforts.
Starting behind the Sensei Resort, this is a 12.8-mile out and back hike. The elevation gains 1,600 feet along a rustic road (cars are no longer allowed) to the top of Lanaihale, Lanai’s highest peak at 3,370 feet.
The trail is famous for the views and also for walking amongst the Cook pine trees that George Munro planted to help bring more water to Lanai.
Note, you can walk to this trail from Lanai City but I recommend taking a car as you will already have such a long climb ahead of you.
7 Things to Do on Lanai: Reservation Required
Lanai is designed for exclusivity. The newly remodeled Four Seasons Lanai Resort and Sensei Resort are 5-star luxury accommodations.Larry Ellison invested $450 million in the remodel.
While the pools, restaurants, and bars are made for relaxing, resort guests can also explore more of Lanai. Unfortunately, the things to do below are only for resort guests. But, lucky you if you decide to stay the night!
- Horseback Riding: stables near the Sensei Resort will take you on horseback rides on Lanai’s many trails.
- Lanai Archery and Shooting Range
- Manele Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus-designed, championship golf course
- The Experience at Koele, designed by a noted Southern Californian golf course architect Ted Robinson Sr., the course is located near Sensei Resort on the side of Lanaihale volcano.
- Scuba and Snorkel Trips from Manele Bay
- Spa – relax in the spas located at both Four Seasons Resorts. Sensei Lanai was remodeled around their wellness retreats.
- Yoga Studio Featuring Aerial Hammocks
Lanai Itinerary for Your Hawaii Vacation
Finish your planning with our Maui Adventure Itinerary. We include a full excursion day of exploring Lanai, incorporating many of these things to do around Lanai. Learn more below.
If heading over to Lanai for a day trip isn’t in your future, we recommend seeing the island from the ocean on a snorkel trip. Erica and I had a blast snorkeling and seeing Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins with Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel. Find the right tour for you!
Save 10% on your booking with the promo codes below!
Sail Maui’s Lanai Coast Snorkel (promo code HVG10) – depart from Lahaina Harbor for a 5-hour snorkel and sailing tour of Lanai’s epic coastline. Dive into secluded snorkel spots, see spinner dolphins, and snack on fresh banana bread and a deli lunch. An open bar is included.
Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel’s Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel (promo code HVG) – depart from Lahaina on a power raft for a comfortable and active adventure for spinner dolphins and snorkeling. They offer a 3-hour and 4-hour tour. The 4 tour includes two snorkel spots. We did the 4-hour tour, their most popular, and loved the time out on the water.
