Perfect Day #48 -- Hulopo’e Beach

For most people, Lana’i is a day-trip aboard the Expedition Ferry that leaves at 6:30am (check the current ferry schedule) from Lahaina Harbor, takes 45 minutes across the Auau Channel, and arrives in Manele Bay Harbor. The early ferry is best to get the most out of your day on Lana’i, but four more ferries run until 5:45pm (if you plan to stay overnight) and five return from Lana’i, 8am-6:45pm ($25 one-way, children $20, reservations call 800-695-2624 or 661-3756) or simply show up at the pier since seats usually are available.

The easiest thing for anyone to do after arrival in Manele Bay is take a short walk to Hulopo’e Bay Beach Park for wonderful snorkeling or to explore the tide pools on the eastern side of the Bay. Lana'i's only swimming beach, this Marine Life Conservation District usually has clear waters, excellent snorkeling reefs, and views of spinner dolphins at play. Hulopo’e also has shady trees and grassy areas for picnics (bring lunch with you from Lahaina), plus showers, rest rooms, and changing facilities.

For a Perfect Day with Kids, take them to the lava-rock tide pools at Hulopoe and let them explore for asteroids (sea stars) and holothurians (sea cucumbers), spaghetti worms, opihi, Barber Pole shrimp, and other such creatures, and enjoy swimming in the big tide pool at the eastern edge of the bay. Keep your eye on the kids, and tell them that they have to leave the marine life just the way they found it.  Another treat for kids is to walk along the bay to the left to Pu'u Pehe Cove and see its multi-colored volcanic rock formations and more tide pools teeming with marine life.

Since the Manele Bay Hotel is only a five-minute walk from the beach, you can spend the morning at the beach, have lunch at the Manele Bay or take the hotel’s shuttle to Lana’i City and the Lodge at Koele, and then back to the Manele Bay Hotel later in the afternoon for the return ferry to Lahaina, all without renting a car. At the Lodge, besides one of the best lunches you’ve had in Hawaii, you can take a leisurely Koele Nature Hike that covers 5 miles on the property, in Hulopoe Valley and up Koiki Ridge, for great views if the clouds haven’t rolled in. Ask the concierge for a map of the trail, one of the most beautiful walks on the island, and it requires no driving.