Perfect Day #16 – Lana’i Excursions

View Lana’i as an extension of Perfect Days in West Maui located on the other side of the Auau Channel. In just one day it’s possible to enjoy one of the best snorkeling and diving excursions from Lahaina, tour unique historic and archeological sites and the former plantation town, Lana’i City, and visit two of Hawaii’s premier resorts. Take the early Expeditions Lahaina-Lana’i Ferry (661-3756) and stay as late as possible for a Perfect Day trip.

A daytrip to Lana’i doesn’t have to go much further than the area around Hulopo’e Beach, one of the best beaches in Hawaii. A Marine Life Conservation District, Hulopo’e is safe for swimming, terrific for snorkeling, with outstanding reefs, and the sandy beach is bordered by plenty of shade trees, showers, rest rooms, fire pits, a camp ground and other amenities. Hulopo’e is just a few minutes walk from the Manele Bay Resort.

Up in the highlands, near Lana’i City, the Lodge at Ko’ele is a luxurious mountain retreat sited on 21 beautiful acres. Manele Bay and Ko’ele resorts share fabulous golf courses: the Challenge at Manele, an 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus; and the Experience at Ko’ele, an 18-hole championship course designed by Greg Norman. A golf excursion to Lana’i is a Perfect Day in itself accompanied by lunch at Manele Bay or Ko’ele.

• Within a relatively small area, that can be explored in a Perfect Day or preferably over a few Perfect Days, the fascinating landscape of Lana’i includes:
• Manele Bay set in lava cliffs, former site of an ancient Hawaiian village
• remains of the sacred Halulu Heiau
• lunar landscape of the Garden of the Gods
• Kanepu’u Preserve, a rare dryland forest ecosystem under Nature Conservancy stewardship
• Lu’ahiwa Petroglyphs on 34 boulders
• clifftop Kaunolu, a large, ancient fishing village
• hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding along roads and trails to isolated beaches, ancient villages and mountain forest preserves, including beachcombing for shells and other treasure on 8-mile long Shipwreck Beach
• hiking, mountain biking or a 4WD on 9-mile Munro Trail to the island’s highest point, Lana’ihale

Hulopo’e Bay and, around the corner, Pu’u Pehe Cove and Coral Gardens all have easy entry to excellent snorkeling from pretty sandy beaches. In calm seas you can snorkel from Pu’u Pehe Cove to Coral Gardens and from there to Manele Harbor or the other way around.

Some of the best snorkeling sites along Lana’i’s coast can’t be reached by land: Kaunolu Bay, Kaunolu Point (Shark Fin Rock) and Cathedrals. Others can be reached from land but are best accessed by boat: along Lana’i’s largest reef (south to north) include Lopa, The Club (in front of the former Club Lana’i), Turtle Haven (Twin Palms) and Containers.

Accommodations
Instead of just a daytrip, stay for at least a night or two at one of the two wonderful resorts on Lana’i, the Manele Bay Hotel and the Lodge at Koele that offer reciprocal facilities and amenities.

As for vacation rentals, a room at the Hale Moe B&B or the Dreams Come True B&B costs $100 per night or less. A recently refurbished room for two at the charming Hotel Lanai costs $105-$135/nt and their cottage is $175/nt.

One large family or two families can rent the entire Dreams Come True 4-bedroom plantation-style home with 4 bathrooms that sleeps 10, between Manele Bay and Koele at 1600’, for $2280 a week.