Things To Do On Lanai: This Is Not Your Typical Hawaiian Island

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If you’re looking for things to do in Lanai, you’re in the right place. The following is a list of my favorite Lanai attractions and activities after spending ten days on the island. So, whether you take a day trip to Lanai from Maui or decide to stay longer, there is sure to be something on the list you’ll enjoy.

“You’re still here?” Mark asks as I walk in the door, hoping to get some dinner before they close at 8 PM. I smile and say, “Of course – I love it here!” as I sit down and order my regular Lemongrass Luau beer (brewed in Hawaii) and look at the menu. Mark and I chatted about how my previous six days had gone and talked about all the things I’d been doing on the little island of Lanai. I tell him about people who I’ve met by referring to their first name only, and Mark nods, knowing exactly whom I’m speaking of.

I’m experiencing small-town life in Lanai City, the one town on the little-known Hawaiian island of Lanai. Everyone knows each other, and they all know me after only 6 days on the island. For a nomadic traveler, there’s something very comforting about it for me.

Table of Contents

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• Where is Lanai, Hawaii?
  • Lanai, Hawaii Fun Facts
• Lanai History – What is Lanai Famous For?
• Things To Do on Lanai
  • 1. Visit the Cultural Heritage Center
  • 2. Go Off-Roading Around the Island
  • 3. Stop at Shipwreck Beach
  • 4. Stop at Garden of the Gods
  • 5. Stop at Polihua Beach
  • 6. Turtle Watching
  • 7. Drive to Lopa Beach for Kayaking
  • 8. Wake Up to Spinner Dolphins
  • 9. Hiking – One of the Best Things to Do on Lanai
  • 10. Practice Your Aim at Lanai Shooting Clays and Archery Center
  • 11. Volunteer or Visit the Cat Sanctuary
  • 12. Experience Local Life on Lanai
  • 13. Lanai Farmer’s Market
• More Things To Do On Lanai
• FAQs About Lanai, Hawaii
  • 1. Is Lanai Safe?
  • 2. Is It Worth Going to Lanai?
  • 3. Who Owns Lanai?
• 5 Travel Essentials for Your Trip to Lanai
• Check Out More Island Adventures

Where is Lanai, Hawaii?

I know what you are probably thinking – “I’ve never heard of Lanai – where is it?”

Lanai is one of the lesser-known islands in the Hawaii island chain. However, it’s becoming more and more popular to visit all the time. It’s the smallest inhabited island in the Hawaiian Islands and can be seen from Maui. Get there via an easy, one-hour ferry ride across the Auau Channel, 9 miles from Maui via Expeditions Ferry.

Lanai, Hawaii Fun Facts

• Population 3,100
• Length – 18 miles | Width – 13 miles
• Highest Point – 3.370 ft.
• City – Lanai City, Hawaii (yes – only one city)
• Hotels – the Sensei Lanai Resort, Four Seasons Resort Lanai, and Hotel Lanai (only three on the whole island!)
• 30 miles of paved roads (which basically break down into three actual roads) and 400 miles of unpaved roads stretching in every direction possible!
• No stoplights on the entire island
• One gas station on the island

Book a room at Four Seasons Resort Lanai here

Lanai History – What is Lanai Famous For?

I love the obscure, lesser-known, unique places, and I absolutely love rooting for the underdog – this is most likely why the small island of Lanai won me over the moment I landed at the tiny little Lanai Airport and looked out over the scruffy, dry cliffs.

Before flying to Lanai I heard from many people who have lived in Hawaii their whole life but had yet to visit Lanai. This isn’t too surprising considering the facts and history of the island.

It was originally thought that evil spirits lived on Lanai, and therefore, the island was used as punishment. Legend has it that in the 1500s, the island’s first inhabitants were banished to the island as punishment for uprooting breadfruit trees on Maui.

But he surprised the Chief of Maui by surviving, thereby proving that living in Lanai was possible. Life on Lanai was born, and natives continued to inhabit it for hundreds of years.

Modern Lanai Hawaii really came into being when Dole Pineapple bought the island in 1922 and utilized the private island as one big pineapple plantation.

The plantation era’s history and impact are still a cultural thread that runs through the island today. From the plantation-era homes that line the few streets of Lanai City to the plastic-covered landscapes, which are unfortunate remnants of the planting techniques used in the 70s, to the pineapple motifs seen everywhere on the island.

Things To Do on Lanai

I stayed in Lanai for ten days, and I had ample time to experience all of what Lanai had to offer! It’s an unusual island because it is so small and simple, but it is big in terms of the types of things you can do. In addition, the types of things you’ll find on Lanai to do are unique from any other island – and that’s what makes it so special!

1. Visit the Cultural Heritage Center

The Lanai Cultural Heritage Center is a great place to start your Lanai visit. You can get an excellent overview of the history of the island and its time as one of the largest pineapple plantations in the world at the Cultural Heritage Center in the center of town across from Dole Park.

2. Go Off-Roading Around the Island

You’ll find only 30 miles of paved roads on Lanai. However, they aren’t lacking roads; it’s just that most of Lanai, Hawaii, has 400 miles of unpaved roads. If you want to drive around Lanai to find hidden gems and secluded beaches, then you’ll need to rent a Jeep on Lanai to get around.

Here are a few of the best places to see on Lanai while off-roading:

3. Stop at Shipwreck Beach

View this historic ‘shipwreck’ from shore! It’s strange to see such a big ship rusted out and stuck just a little way offshore, normally you’ll find shipwrecks under the water! Strangely, it wasn’t a ‘real’ shipwreck – in fact, it was a failed project by the Navy, which was trying to sink the ship, but it refused to cooperate and ended up lodged on the reef.

4. Stop at Garden of the Gods

Don’t let the name fool you – there’s nothing lush and green – this is a rock garden – formed by wind erosion. The alien-like landscape is stunning to take in and walk around. Prepare to get dirty, though, as it’s often quite windy, but it’s worth a stop to see this unique landscape!

5. Stop at Polihua Beach

You’ll find this gorgeous secluded beach at the end of the road to the Garden of the Gods. It takes about an hour to get to Polihua from Garden of the Gods because the road is just so rough and slow. You can’t swim at this beach due to the strong rip tides, but if you are looking for secluded beach time, this is it!

Note: Check the road conditions to Polihua as it is not always open.

6. Turtle Watching

Lanai is a great place to see sea turtles. You can see them on one of many Lanai snorkeling tours, or you can get lucky and see them up on the beach as I did! We saw 3 giant turtles resting and sunning themselves on the beach! They often come up on the beach to escape predators.

To our surprise – we then noticed two more giant turtles – but they weren’t sunning themselves – instead, they were mating! We sat on the beach completely silent and watched the whole process – and yes, it was s-l-o-w. We were turtle-mating voyeurs!

I found the whole process fascinating – and funny at the same time. After they mated, the male slowly came up on the beach and lay next to the female. They just hung out right next to each other for a long time. Even turtles like to cuddle after sex, I guess. Then the female just turned around and slowly took off and swam away – she apparently had enough.

Granted – I am no expert on turtle reproduction – but you can learn more here: SeeTurtles.org

7. Drive to Lopa Beach for Kayaking

Another great way to see turtles is on a kayak! I hired a local guide to take us kayaking at Lopa Beach. We bumped up and down on the sandy ‘road’ out to Lopa beach, stopping at a few cool old sites that were being restored. It was a very windy day, and I would get glimpses of the water occasionally and see big white caps, which made me slightly nervous about kayaking.

After an hour, we finally arrived at the deserted beach and were greeted with crashing waves and wind – definitely not calm kayaking weather! Plus – it was high tide and that made kayaking even more challenging for a couple of beginners who just wanted to see the turtles. Due to the weather, we ended up not kayaking that day – but it certainly is possible to do so on calmer days!

8. Wake Up to Spinner Dolphins

While staying at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, each morning, I got up, went to the beach, and saw the schools of spinner dolphins arrive in the bay after hunting all night. They come to the bay to relax and be away from predators….and, of course – play. It’s easy to see how they have earned the name spinner dolphins as they jump out of the water and do spins and flips. It’s an amazing sight to see these giant schools relax and have fun in the bay.

9. Hiking – One of the Best Things to Do on Lanai

I was able to do a number of hikes on Lanai, some on my own and a more obscure one with a guide. In addition, I drove portions of other hikes.

There is only a handful of what I would call hiking trails on the island, and some of these are really roads that would be better to be biked than hiked.

My favorite hike was the Koloiki Ridge trail – a moderate 4.2-mile hike out to the sea cliffs and through the unique Lanai forests. The Koloiki trail is a perfect place to experience the pine trees of Lanai. The trail is well-marked, and you can easily do this hike solo if you want.

Check out the other hiking trails on Lanai I conquered!

Visit the most remote South Pacific Islands

10. Practice Your Aim at Lanai Shooting Clays and Archery Center

You may be surprised to learn that there are shooting clays and archery courses on Lanai. But it’s not a surprise once you learn that Lanai is also known for its world-class hunting on the island. It has one of the largest populations of Axis Deer in the world.

I’m not a hunter, but I did enjoy checking out the 14-station shooting clay course! Included in the experience is all the necessary equipment, plus an introductory private lesson that covers gun safety, course rules, and shooting etiquette.

11. Volunteer or Visit the Cat Sanctuary

This cat haven is a surprising sight on Lanai. Started by passionate volunteers, this incredible cat sanctuary is home to hundreds of cats! It rescues cats from protected areas where native and endangered ground-nesting birds such as the ‘Ua’u, the Hawaiian Petrel.

In order to visit Lana’i Cat Sanctuary, you’ll need to make an appointment. Visiting is important, though, because the nonprofit gets a majority of its funding through visitors to the island. The Cat Sanctuary is a tourist attraction on the island of Lanai that shouldn’t be missed!

Make a difference on your Hawaii vacation – volunteer!

12. Experience Local Life on Lanai

The island today exists as a tourist destination for those who are looking for a more unique Hawaiian experience. But from a local perspective, it also exists as a home for people burned out on the hustle and bustle of life and looking for a simpler way of living.

I, of course, loved the variety of tourist activities you could do on the island, but I was absolutely fixated on meeting locals and hearing their stories about how they escaped their complicated lives and decided to stay in Lanai and make a life.

The small-town feel of Lanai was fascinating to me. Since I stayed there for 10 days, the locals considered me an oddity. Most visitors typically stay for a few days at one of the resorts and leave. I took advantage of mid-range and budget options to extend my stay.

After six days in Lanai, I met many people in the town, and I could walk into the few choices of restaurants, such as Pele’s Other Garden, and receive a familiar hello from Mark as if I had known him for years. I could look around and see 2 or 3 people I knew and would be invited to come to sit with my ‘new friends.’ I waved to people as I walked down the street. I left my doors unlocked and my electronics sitting out, enjoying the feeling of not always having to be on constant guard of my items.

Book a room at Four Seasons Resort Lanai here

13. Lanai Farmer’s Market

Even the weekly farmer’s market was a blast from the past and a perfect picture of simplicity as a few older women put out blankets and placed their extra vegetables out for sale. Or a guy sold his few containers of salsa and hummus that he made just as a hobby.

Most local people who I met are there because they like the seclusion and low cost of living that Lanai offers them. Or they are working at the big resorts for a short time to further their career – ‘doing their time’.

More Things To Do On Lanai

If that’s not enough for you, here are even more things to do in Lanai.

• Visit Hulopoe Beach
• Explore large tide pools near Hulopoe Bay
• Check out Sweetheart Rock near Hulopoe Beach
• Tee off at Manele Golf Course
• Admire the work of a local artist at Mike Carroll Gallery

FAQs About Lanai, Hawaii

1. Is Lanai Safe?

The police force on Lanai is, of course, small. The old plantation-era jail cell/cage in the center of town intrigued me. It’s no longer used, but locals told me stories of how they remember friends or acquaintances being held in that cage for public display!

I couldn’t help but imagine young adults being handcuffed to the cage for doing something silly and the whole town knowing about it. It’s like something out of The Scarlet Letter!

2. Is It Worth Going to Lanai?

Whatever it is that brings people to Lanai – the big luxurious resorts, the small-town life, the simplicity – it works. It’s a slice of small-town America in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – a real getaway.

As someone who hunts for unique things and places in life, I totally understand the pull of this tiny island. The people, stories, small-town atmosphere, landscape, and gorgeous Cook Island Pines have captivated me. It’s definitely worth visiting Lanai, Hawaii!

3. Who Owns Lanai?

Lanai is fairly well known for its owner – Larry Ellison. In 2012, he bought a 98% stake in Lanai for $300 million. This sale was met with some trepidation among the locals. He plans to transition from using fossil fuels to renewable resources on the island. In addition to renovating the two Four Seasons Lanai hotels on the island, he has made a number of improvements to some old buildings in the city

5 Travel Essentials for Your Trip to Lanai

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Disclosure: I was a guest of Visit Lanai as a part of their New Media Artist in Residence Program. All views expressed here are my own honest opinions and do not reflect the views of Visit Lanai.