Lanai Island. Have you ever been? Also known as the Pineapple Isle, Lanai island is the home of some iconic places like Sweetheart Rock, Garden of the Gods, and Shipwreck Beach. It houses one of the most expensive resorts in Hawaii and 98% of the island is owned by Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle. He bought most of the island, including the Four Seasons hotels, for $300 million dollars. The hotel was renovated and made into the luxury resort that it is today. 

I have been doing a lot of research about the island of Lanai, as I’m writing a retelling of a Hawaiian legend that took place on Lanai. While the popular folklore of Lanai is Pu’u Pehe, or Sweetheart Rock, there’s another known tale, shared by King Kalakaua in his book, “Legends of Hawaii.” The story of Ka’ala, the flower of Lanai, is not as well known, but a story that I think deserves to be told nonetheless. 

If you want to read the first book in my Hawaiian fairy tale and folklore retelling collection, check out Lehua. 

Since I’ve never been to Lanai, I knew I had to do as much research as possible. And, maybe one day if I’m lucky, I’ll get to visit the island. 🙂 This article includes everything you need to know about Lanai, it’s name, history, iconic things to do and places to see, and little known facts that I found along the way! I hope you enjoy! 

Is it Lanai or Lāna’i? 

The correct spelling is Lāna’i, and nobody really knows where the name originated. For the purpose of ease and because “Lanai” is how the word is commonly spelled and used, I’ll be writing the name of the island as “Lanai” in this article. 

There’s a Hawaiian legend that a prince from Maui, Kaulula’au, was sent to Lanai because he pulled up a breadfruit tree and his father was displeased. Lanai had been known to have man-eating spirits but instead of getting killed by them, the prince was able to drive the man-eating spirits away.

As a reward, Kaulula’au was given the island to rule over. The island was then called “Lāna’i o Kaulula’au,” which means “day of the the conquest of Kaulula’au.” 

Today the word “Lanai” is used, instead of Lāna’i, for ease. 

Why is it called the Pineapple Island? 

For some reason, Oahu has always seemed like the pineapple island because it has pineapple fields and is home to the big tourist attraction, Dole Plantation. However, the first pineapple was planted on the island of Lanai in 1921 by Charles Dole.

So it makes sense that the island received the name! By 1930 the island of Lanai would export over 65,000 pineapples a year. Lanai produced most of the world’s pineapples. The last pineapple harvest occurred in 1992, but Lanai still keeps its name as the Pineapple Island. 

How big is Lanai? What is the ecology and geography of the island? 

Lanai is about 18 by 13 miles and was formed 1.5 million years ago by the volcano Palawai. Some parts of the island are dry and red, while other parts are lush and green.

Lanai has such a variety of landscape and ecology, it’s amazing. One second there will be high sea cliffs and the next thing there are white sandy beaches.

You’ll learn a little more about the diversity in the “Main Attractions” section of this article. 🙂 

Does Lanai have deer? Can you hunt them? 

I talked to my mom about my research on Lanai and she mentioned it has plenty of deer. I didn’t know this so dug deeper and guess what?

The island has tons of deer!

In 1868, the country of India gifted eight axis deer to King Kamehameha V of Hawaii. Without any natural predators, the deer have multiplied over the last hundred years. It’s estimated that there are about 40,000 to 60,000 axis deer between the islands of Molokai, Maui, and Lanai.

In the fall, Lanai residents are allowed to hunt the deer for free. People who are not residents of Lanai also can register to hunt the deer. 

Check out the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for more information.

What are some interesting historical facts about Lanai? 

• Lanai is said to be the place where cliff jumping was born. Hawaiian warriors would leap from the southeast 80-foot Kaunolu Point to prove their courage. 
• Europeans spotted Lanai on their departure from Hawaii. Captain Clerke took charge of Captain Cook’s ship, the HMS Resolution, after Captain Cook was killed in Kealakekua Bay on February 14. Captain Clerke spotted Lanai on February 25, 1779. 
• Before Lanai was one of the world’s biggest pineapple producers, it was owned by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The people started a colony and herded sheep. Walter Murray Gibson was a leader of the church at the time and helped build the colony. He got involved in fraudulent activity, paying for land with the church’s money and putting the titles in his name. He was excommunicated and members of the church moved to Laie on O’ahu, building their community and faith there. 

Do people live on Lanai? 

Yes! Lanai has a high school and elementary school, but the island has no traffic lights! About 3,200 people live on Lanai. There are three hotels and two of them are luxury resorts. 

Other random facts about Lanai

• There are plenty of feral cats on the island, because there are no natural predators. 
• Larry Ellison most of the island, but the rest is owned by the government. 
• There is no public transportation on Lanai. To get there, people have to take a ferry or plane from Maui. Once on the island, visitors can rely on rental cars (or jeeps, because so much of the island is off-roading), or hotel vans to get around. 
• The town in Lanai has local shops, art galleries, and restaurants. 

Traveling to Lanai: How to get to Lanai, how to get around, where to stay 

• You can get to Lanai by taking a ferry from Lahaina, Maui (it’s only about 8 miles). There are car rentals, though a jeep is advised because many of the island roads are not well developed, and many of the attractions require 4-wheel drive. 
• There are only three places to stay in Lanai: Hotel Lanai (around $400/night), Four Seasons Resort ($1k or more a night), and Sensei Lanai ($5k or more a night). If you’re staying at one of the hotels, there is usually an air service provided to get to Lanai. All of the hotels provide shuttle services too. 
• The island also has many tourist vans and shuttles available for visitors coming off the ferry. 
• Many Maui tour companies, like Sail Trilogy, offer snorkeling and day experiences on Lanai, so keep an eye out for those options too. 

What are the main attractions of Lanai? 

Hulupo’e Beach 

This beautiful white sand beach is perfect for all ages. Snorkel and see the fish in the reef off the shores, and maybe you’ll even get a glimpse of the spinner dolphins in the bay. 

Hulupo’e Beach attracts people every year, as the ferries dock not far from here! If you travel to Lanai for a day, swimming at Hulupo’e beach is a great option to experience!

Sweetheart Rock (Pu’u Pehe Rock) 

The Hawaiian tale of Sweetheart Rock says that a young warrior from Lanai, Makakehau, fell in love with Pehe, from Lahaina. Makakehau loved her so much, his eyes would mist each time he saw her—hence his name, “maka,” meaning eyes, and “kehau,” meaning misty. Makakehau took Pehe to Lanai and put her in a sea cave at the base of Manale Cliffs.  

One day while Makakehau left the cave to work, a storm blew in. He dropped all of his things and ran straight for the cliff to get Pehe. Unfortunately, a strong surge had drowned Pehe. He gathered her in his arms, climbed the 80-foot cliff of the cliff rock, and buried her at the top. After he mourned, he leaped into the surf below. 

I chose to retell the story of Ka’ala of Lanai, instead of Puhe’s story. There are too many unanswered questions, like, “Why did he put her in the cave in the first place?” It seemed too controlling and overprotective for me. Also, this story is a tragedy, which is why I chose Ka’ala’s story over the Sweetheart rock story. Keep reading til the end to learn about Ka’ala’s story. 

You can reach Sweetheart rock by going southeast past Hulopoe Beach. 

Garden of the Gods 

Legend says that the formations in this garden were created by gods who dropped rocks from the sky while making their gardens. The red lava is unique and beautiful, it’s almost like walking on Mars. Is this really Lanai? Yes, it is!

The funny thing is that there’s a “Garden of the Gods” in Colorado Springs but this is a different one. 🙂

Polihua Beach 

Located at northern Lanai, you can drive here with a 4-wheel vehicle. You can also go with a tour guide to this beautiful beach. Watch the waves and water carefully, as strong winds can cause currents and dangerous swimming conditions.

Shipwreck Beach (two ships from World War II) 

While you can’t swim at Shipwreck beach, due to the tides and currents, it provides a unique scene of ships wrecked on the shores. Abandoned and left to rust and deteriorate overtime, the 1940s oil tanker creates a haunting yet mesmerizing scene.

Use a 4-wheel drive vehicle and drive about 30 minutes from the port to see Shipwreck beach. Please use caution when driving so your vehicle does not get stuck in the sand!

If you walk on a trail past Shipwreck beach, you will find a petroglyphs!

Read more about it here: Go Hawaii Shipwreck Beach

Lanai Culture and Heritage Center

The Lanai Culture and Heritage Center seeks to educate its visitors and community on ways to protect and care for the island. It offers historical, cultural, and artistic artifacts meaningful to the people of Lanai.

If you would like an educational experience or simply want to learn more about Lanai, check out this center.

*As of writing this article, the museum website says that the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center is closed until further notice.

Check out their website for the latest information: Lanai Culture & Heritage Center

Lanai Cat Sanctuary

If you want to snuggle with a cat, check out the Lanai Cat Sanctuary. It homes over 600 cats on 3.5 acres of land. If you love cats, this is a fun place to stop and hang out with some furry friends… and admission is free!

Check out the website here: Lanai Cat Sanctuary

Munro Trail

This is a 12.8 mile hike through lush rainforests of ‘ohia lehua, eucalyptus, ironwood, and pine trees. At an elevation of 1,600 feet, you’ll get gorgeous views.

You don’t need to do the whole hike to see everything. At about 2.5 miles in, there’s a scenic lookout. Go Hawaii’s website says that on a clear day, you can see 6 Hawaiian islands. Also expect canyon views of Maunalei gulch.

The end of the trail takes you to the highest spot on Lanai, called Lanaihale, an elevation of 3,370 feet.

Manele Golf Course

Four Seasons Lanai includes the Manele Golf Course. I’d probably be at the beach all day, but if golfing is your thing, you have that option to do it at Lanai!

From what I researched, weekday prices are $350-$425.

Check out the website here for the most up-to-date prices: Manele Golf Course

Mike Carroll Gallery 

I love local artists and work, and Mike Caroll has a gorgeous gallery on Lanai. On his website, he says, “I try to capture a sense of place in my paintings.”

Hawaiians are all about finding their sense of place in the world, so I love that Carroll said this. His artwork showcases beautiful, bright colors, scenes of the beach, palm trees, and waterfalls. If you are in Lanai, definitely stop by and appreciate his artwork.

You can also order any of his work on his website!

Check it out here: Mike Carroll Gallery

Cathedral Dives 

Scuba divers love this dive! I don’t scuba dive, but I have heard neat reviews about Cathedral Dives. Look up “Cathedral Dives” in Google and admire the pictures. Light pouring in from holes in the cave create a mesmerizing underwater scene.

Experience Cathedral Dives by taking a guided tour from Maui or Lanai.

For more information, check out GoHawaii’s page about Lanai Island here.

Did I miss anything?

Let me know in the comments if you want to visit Lanai and/or if you’ve already visited. What’s your favorite thing about Lanai?

Save this for later

Share the aloha!