Hawaii 18 years later! Part 1 Lana’i

The last time I visited Hawaii was 18 years ago on my Honeymoon. A lot has changed since.  Hawaii, although quite a trek from the east coast, is well worth the eight-hour plane ride.

My first stop was Lanai. Getting to Lana’i is quite easy. I took a 20-minute flight from Oahu into Lana’i. (Private plane transfers and helicopter charters from Honolulu and other neighboring island airports are also available). I figured I would take myself on a one-man honeymoon before I met up with my travel friends to decompress. If you are booking a trip to Hawaii with someone you want to get under the covers with, Lana’i is a MUST! Let’s just say I will not be returning there alone.

 I arrived at the itsy bitsy teeny weeny Lana’i Airport.

 

More after a short commercial break:
Lana’i, known as Pineapple Island, is the largest privately owned island in Hawaii. James Dole purchased the island of Lana’i in 1922 for $1.1 million to grow pineapples. This tiny island was exporting 65,000 tons of pineapples a year or 75% of the world’s pineapples by 1930.  Production slowly came to an end in 1992 when labor prices moved the pineapple industry to Southeast Asia, Mexico, and South America. In 2012 Oracle software billionaire, Larry Ellison, bought 98 percent of the island from another billionaire, Dole Foods CEO David Murdock, and his Castle & Cooke Co., for an estimated $300 million-plus. (State and local government and individual homeowners hold the other 2 percent).

The Four Seasons is THE hotel to stay in Lana’i. It is one of those holy shit hotels you never want to leave. A true private getaway.  It is located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Hulopoe Bay. The second you step into the lobby, you can feel the stress slowly disappear. Enter Paradise.

 

Instead of a room key, they give you a flexible, waterproof RFID wristband. Gone are the worries about losing keys while swimming in the ocean or doing an excursion. (It’s the small things). After retrieving my wristband, I was guided to my ocean view room. I couldn’t wait to throw on a bathing suit and chill after a long day of flying. I am jealous of the West Coasters who can fly to Hawaii in no time. The room was modern and super high tech. It almost had a Toyko feel to it. It came equipped with an iPad air (with over 3,000 newspapers), a wide array of light settings and a Toto Bedi toilet.

Off to the pool. There are two pools open both day and night.  A lagoon-style, free-form family pool is below the lobby and features a cascading waterfall.  Although it is considered the “family pool,” I did not see one kid. Just a bunch of honeymooners who I assumed would not like me joining their party.  The adults-only pool is located in a quiet corner of the resort and showcases waterfalls and lava rock grottos mimicking Lana’i’s dramatic cliffs.

I found a quiet sunny place with an extraordinary view of the ocean and sat down. The weight of the world shortly vanished. I was left with a polite pool attendant for cleaning my sunglasses, coconut ice cream pops and a veggie plate from heaven. I could have sat there for a month.

I finally went back to the room and showered for dinner. I knew if I had gotten into that bed, I was never getting out.  Four Seasons Lana’i has three restaurants, the signature ONE FORTY restaurant, Malibu Farm, and  NOBU LANAʿI. With only one night there I wasn’t passing up Nobu. They have the perfect bar to watch the gorgeous sunset and to top it off, Nobu makes my favorite spicy margarita. The crispy rice and spicy tuna weren’t half bad either. I was happy!!!

Now I was ready for bed! If I could have shipped that bed home, I would have. It is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. I passed out quickly and woke up very early to a breathtaking sunrise (I was still on New York time).

I skipped the gym and did morning yoga on the beach. Truly my favorite way to start the morning. There’s a path that heads down to the stunning Hulopo‘e Bay where the class is located.

If you walk the length of the beach, follow the footpath above the tide pools and walk around the bend you arrive at Sweetheart Rock. I was told not to miss it and I am glad I didn’t! It’s about a 10-to-15-minute walk to the top of the cliff that overlooks the rocks and the island of Maui. It is a killer spot!  As legend has it, a beautiful young princess from Maui was captured and married by a young warrior from Lanai. He brought her back to Lanai and he was so struck by her beauty that he was afraid to let other men see her. So he confined her to a sea cave near the rock. One day, while the warrior went fishing, the weather suddenly changed and by the time he rushed back to her cave, she had drowned. He was so heartbroken, he took her body and climbed the steep 80-foot rock island with the help of the gods and buried her in a tomb on top. He then leaped off the cliff to his death.

On a side note…I haven’t taken up golf, yet, but if you are a golfer you will be taken aback by the 18-hole ocean-view Jack Nicklaus Signature Manele Golf Course. It’s the only one in Hawaii that has panoramic ocean views at every hole. The 12th hole is particularly dramatic with its surrounding jagged cliffs (Bill Gates was married here, and he returned in 2015 to celebrate his anniversary). Personally, the best part of the golf course, for me, was the restaurant Views where they make a ridiculous BLT. It is made up of big prawns, bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and Creole aïoli packed inside pita pockets. Out of this world!

I had a few hours before my departure so I decided to have coffee, eat breakfast and chill on a beach chair until the final minute.  I was not ready to leave. You definitely need at least 2-3 nights in Lana’i!

Thank you Four Seasons Lana’i. So far, to date,  this is my favorite Four Seasons of the bunch! As every one of their hotels is known for its exceptional service, Lana’i is above and beyond anything I have experienced. The staff knew me by name! There is no resort fee or charge for valet parking. The restaurants are TOP notch. The grounds are breathtaking. The views are outstanding. It is literally a slice of heaven. I CANNOT wait to return!

Next Stop…Kauai!

Email me today [email protected] to plan your next trip to Lanai or any destination!  Remember as a preferred agent, I add valuable amenities you won’t find anywhere else!

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