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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. Adventure Lanai EcoCentre rents out snorkel and dive gear, while the EcoAdventure part of the company offers guided tours and dives.
Excursions
At present, the only company to offer marine excursions and cruises is Trilogy Excursions. It gives people the choice between sailing in a catamaran or cruising in a high-power raft. Snorkel sails and whale watches take place regularly. Spinning Dolphin Charters operates sport fishing excursions.
Quite a few companies offer 4x4 vehicle excursions. Highly reputed Lanai EcoAdventures is booked to capacity almost every single day. For solo travelers, Lanai City Service and Adventure Lanai EcoCentre rent jeeps.
Hiking/Biking/Offroading
Because only 39 miles of road on Lana'i are paved, most exploring of the island needs to be done in a 4x4 vehicle. Hardy visitors often choose to tackle the dirt roads on foot. Any exploration of beaches must be done on foot, as a bike can't handle the sand and 4x4s are expressly forbidden.
Two of the most popular trails on Lana'i are the Munro Trail and the Koloiki Ridge Trail. Both of them start in the same place, at the old cemetery about a mile behind the Lodge at Koele. Another popular trail leads from Lanai City out to the Garden of the Gods. From that point, an ever-more-bumpy road extends almost to Polihua Beach. A couple miles before the beach, it's necessary for everyone to park all vehicles and finish the trek on foot.
Most of Lana'i is privately owned. At this point, the owner is kind enough to let visitors explore freely. But all visitors are asked to stick with marked trails, stay off the beach in 4x4 vehicles, and always check road conditions before attempting any adventures. Stiff fines and penalties are imposed if these rules are not followed.
Golf
Two of the world's best golf resorts—the Experience at Koele and the Challenge at Manele—are located within 10 miles of each other. The courses draw golf enthusiasts from around the globe. People who don’t want to spend USD200 for 18 holes should head down to Cavendish Golf Course (just outside of the Lodge at Koele property) where the greens are quiet and empty, and monetary donations are simply stuffed in a collection box.
Shopping
Souvenir shopping in Lana'i won't even take a full day. In fact, it could take a quick shopper about an hour—and that's including transportation time. Most of the stores sell a little bit of everything, from food to sundries to souvenirs. Among the best souvenir spots are Petroglyphs (formerly Akamai Trading Post), Gifts With Aloha and Richard's Shopping Center. There is only one clothing boutique, which goes by the name of Local Gentry.
Lana'i by Night
Theater and Performing Arts
The pride and joy of Lanai's cultural scene is the Visiting Artist Program. The brainchild of a mainland luxury travel company and the island's own Lana'i Company, it brings mainland artists, writers and musicians to the two major resorts for an evening of education and entertainment. The atmosphere is relaxed, with as much emphasis placed on the meet-and-greet time as the formal program.
There is only one movie theater on the island. It is fairly spacious, and is located smack-dab in the middle of the town center. It shows first-run films when (and if) they arrive from the mainland. There are usually two or three showings per week. Live performances and special events are sometimes held in this venue.
Bars
Henry Clay's Rotisserie, the only bar in Lanai City, is inside the Hotel Lanai The Bar at the Lodge at Koele is spread out through much of the front lobby. It is warmly elegant, much like an old-fashioned hunting lodge. Live music is featured often, though it's usually just a piano player or a Hawaiian duo. Hale Ahe'ahe Bar in the Manele Bay Hotel is a great spot to relax with a drink, and will stay open till midnight if the occasion calls for it.
So why do the days slip away when visiting Lana'i? It's not that the island is a hotbed of activity—far from it. That in itself is probably the appeal. The island invites guests to sit down, pull up a chair, any chair, and relax over coffee or cocktails or a homemade breakfast. In a word: Relax.
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