We move on to Lanai. With a resident population of just over 3,000. This small island is noted for bespoke luxury. Hotels like Hotel Lanai, with only 10 charming rooms in an estate house built in 1923 bt James Dole, to the Uber Luxury Four Seasons Resort Lanai. All 217 rooms have a private balcony and resort views of Hulopoe Bay. Some of the world best chefs reside on Lanai, with menus that feature locally grown food at it’s best. This is a Garden Paradise, but there are famous Golf Courses interspersed like the Challenge at Manele or The Experience at Koele. Shipwreck Beach on the Northeast shore is a trove of diving on shipwrecks. Four wheeling is very popular as is Garden Horseback Riding. You can visit the “garden of The Gods” or Keahiakawelo. Lanai City is the only city on Lanai, and is a tribute to the Dole Family. Enjoy pineapple in every form as well as great dishes unique to this Island Paradise. Lanai is just off the shoreline of Maui, and frequent ferry service is available, as well as Lanai Airport. This is the island for laid back leisure as well as exploring. If you like an island with everything, in a package you can walk the entire circumference of, then Lanai is your island.
Molokai is the more underdeveloped of any of the islands. It is most known for the “Leper Colony” at Kalaupapa. The medical term for this disease is Hansen’s Disease. A Belgian Priest Damien, formed a colony here for these poor people who were banished from the home towns wherever they lived. Father Damien was later declared a Saint for his unfaltering dedication to these people who no one else would speak to or go close to. It is just because of the undeveloped and remoteness of Molokai, that Saint Damien chose this island.
The island is replete with Nature, and the island has been called “Hawaii By Nature”. Residents cling to the old ways, with most making a living by fishing. The beaches remain mostly empty, and many roads underdeveloped. Culture is what the residents offer tourists who visit. See the way these islands were before tourism and pearl harbor. You can charter a sightseeing boat and see the entire island by sea. You can ride a mule down to the Leper Colony. Visit a working Academia Nut Plant and see how this fruit is grown and harvested. Papohaku Beach is billed as Hawaii’s largest white sand beach. But during winter months the shoreline becomes dangerous with extreme waves. During May this beach is the setting for the Molokai Ka Hula Piko, a very popular local festival. There are just a few hotels on Molokai, and may be better served by a day visit.
Check back next week for part 5 of Hawaii.
