Lanai - Activities

Activities & Attractions

Lanai has all the activities you might expect to find on a pristine tropical island, along with several that can't be found anywhere else in the islands. Not only can you enjoy an array of water activities and traditional diversions like golf and tennis, you can try your hand at such sports as archery, lawn bowling, croquet (both English and American), and target shooting at Lanai Pines Sporting Clays.

One of the best ways to experience the island's numerous natural attractions is with a 4x4, available for rental in Lanai City. You'll also find plenty of scenic hiking opportunities, as well as kayak rentals for exploring Lanai's untouched southern shores. 

However you get there, don't miss the mysterious Garden of the Gods - a bizarre and strangely beautiful conglomeration of natural rock formations. And be sure to explore the area around Shipwreck Beach, where you can spot ancient petroglyphs carved into the giant boulders just before you reach the sandy shore.

Beaches & Watersports

The beaches on Lanai are among the most remarkable in all the Islands of Aloha. Not just because of their sheer beauty, but because they are appreciated by so few people. More often than not, you will have an entire stretch of sand all to yourself. It's no wonder this place was once known as Hawaii's 'Private Island.'

While most visitors seem to enjoy just sitting and soaking it all in, you can also choose among popular water sports including snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and deep-sea fishing. 

One of the island's most prized attractions is glorious Hulopoe Bay, a marine conservation area prized by divers and snorkelers for its vivid tropical reef fish. Here you can spend days splashing in the warm waters, where spinner dolphins are just as likely to frolic.

Another unforgettable activity is charting a sailboat to whisk you away on a snorkeling or sightseeing adventure to the island's remote and starkly beautiful West coast.

Golf

Lanai has just two golf courses... but what courses they are. Both consistently rank among the best in the world by leading publications and travel guides.

In the scenic uplands above The Lodge at Koele, The Experience at Koele is an 18-hole championship course designed by legends Greg Norman and Ted Robinson. Here each and every hole is graced with awe-inspiring vistas, from mountain ravines to Pacific expanses to the neighboring Maui and Molokai across the channel. This dramatic course is a indeed a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Along the southern coast of the island, Jack Nicklaus created one of his most famous masterpieces, The Challenge at Manele golf course. Set on the cliffs above Hulopoe Bay, this target-style course roams across several hundred acres of natural lava outcroppings, using plunging ravines, native kiawe, and trees as natural hazards. The course is renowned for its dramatic over-the-water holes that require skillful drives hundreds of feet above surging ocean inlets. A challenge you'll be more than happy to accept.

Outdoors & Adventure

While Lanai's charming bed and breakfasts and luxurious resorts offer plenty to draw you indoors, the real beauty of this surprising island paradise is best discovered well off the beaten path. And you'll find a variety of ways to get there.

With over 80,000 acres to explore, one of the best ways to experience Lanai's varied and magnificent terrain is to rent a 4x4 and set off on an adventure all your own. For a different perspective, you might also consider a horseback ride through the islands cool upland meadows, along its remote sands, or through an intoxicating eucalyptus forest. And for the truly adventurous, hop on a mountain bike and wind your way through pineapple fields to discover a beach all your own.

For a broader view of Lanai's many natural wonders, stop by the Manele Small Boat Harbor and inquire about a deep-sea fishing or sailboat charter to the far reaches of the island.