Islands
Lānaʻi Travel Guide: The Quiet Pineapple Isle
A guide to Lānaʻi: what the small island is known for, what to do, how to get there by air or ferry from Maui, and how to plan a quiet, secluded visit.
Lānaʻi is a small, quiet island that was once the world's largest pineapple plantation - 98 percent of it owned by the Dole Food Company at its peak. Today it is known for seclusion, natural beauty, two luxury resorts, and rugged back roads that reward a 4WD and a willingness to explore without a plan. With no traffic lights and a permanent population of around 3,000, it offers the most private side of Hawaii, easily reached by ferry from Maui.
Lānaʻi overview
Most of Lānaʻi is owned by tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison, who purchased 98 percent of the island in 2012. Most visitors stay near Lānaʻi City - a small, well-preserved former plantation town at 1,600 feet elevation, pleasantly cool and pine-shaded - or at one of the two Four Seasons resorts, one inland and one on the coast at Hulopoe Bay. The island's appeal is its quiet and its landscapes rather than its nightlife or dining scene.
What to do
Hulopoe Bay is one of the finest swimming and snorkeling spots in Hawaii: protected, clear, and often visited by spinner dolphins in the early morning. Keahiakawelo - called the Garden of the Gods - is a windswept plateau of eroded lava boulders in red, orange, and purple hues, strange and beautiful at sunrise or sunset. Shipwreck Beach on the north shore has a rusting WWII-era ship hull visible from the sand. Back roads lead to hidden valleys, quiet beaches, and views across the channel to Maui and Molokaʻi. Bring the 4WD and take your time.
Getting there
You can fly into Lanai Airport (LNY) on a short inter-island flight, or take the Expeditions passenger ferry from Lahaina on Maui - a 45-minute crossing that makes Lānaʻi one of the most natural day trips or overnight add-ons in Hawaii. Because services are limited, plan your meals and transport in advance. Read getting around Hawaii for ferry and logistics details.
Planning your visit
Lānaʻi works beautifully as a peaceful add-on to a Maui trip - even a single night changes how the island feels versus a day visit. Compare it honestly with the other islands in which island to visit, and use our trip planning guides to fit it into your route without rushing it.
Planning a Hawaii trip?
Find the best flights and hotels across all islands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lānaʻi known for?
How do you get to Lānaʻi?
Is Lānaʻi worth visiting?
We research each guide against primary sources: the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Mālama Hawaii, the National Park Service, the State of Hawaii and its Division of State Parks, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Census. For culture, language, and history we lean on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Bishop Museum, and the scholarship of Mary Kawena Pukui. We send readers to those sources rather than speaking over them. When rules, prices, or conditions change, we update the page.