The Hawaiian Island of Lanai was surprising. Before going there, we didn’t know what to expect but we thought that we would be visiting a typical tropical island filled with beaches lined with coconut trees and giant resorts surround by lush jungle. As it turned out, Lanai is nothing like anywhere we have ever been.
An extremely dry and barren island, it was very few visitors and with only three choices of places to stay on the island, it doesn’t see a lot of action when it comes to the usual party-goers and sun-seekers.
Lanai Photos
Landscape of Lanai
If you are looking to step back in time, get away from it all and unwind from the daily grind, Lanai is the place for you.
Koele Lodge run by The Four Seasons feels like you should be sipping scotch in the Library while smoking a cigar with Hemmingway.
The Manele Bay Four Seasons has the perfect blend of an upscale resort with an intimate relaxed atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.
We spent nearly a week exploring this tiny island that takes mere hours to drive around and discovered some picturesque locations, touching scenes, relaxing moments and we even managed to have a bit of adventure travel along the way.
Our trip to Lanai was made possible by the Lanai Vistors Bureau where we are a part of the New Media Artists in Residence program for Travel Blogs.
Planning Resources for your Maui Vacation
- Maui: 26 Best Things To Do In Maui
- Oahu: The Best Things To Do In Oahu, Hawaii
- Lanai: Things To Do In Lanai, Hawaii
- Road to Hana: The Best Stops On The Road To Hana, Maui
- Adventure in Hawaii: 22 Unique Adventures In Maui
- Big Island: Big Island Of Hawaii: 15 Best Things To Do
- Hawaii Hotels: Where To Stay In Maui – The Best Hotels
Beautiful pictures, the Molokai pic is just amazing.. I’d love to ride it down on a bicycle.
Wonderful photos, as always. I love the ones with the horses, they are so mystical. Love horses and the ranch must have been a great experience!
As of 2011, the two resort hotels on Lanai were managed by Four Seasons Hotels; the Four Seasons Resort Lanai and the Lodge at cool. The Hotel Lanai in Lanai City was built in 1923 by James Dole of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company as a lodge to house the executives overseeing the island’s pineapple production. It was the island’s only hotel until 1990.
I live in Honolulu, but have never been to Lanai, just flown over it many times. Thank you for sharing these great pics!
Gorgeous photos : I hadn’t thought about visiting Lanai, but your photos certainly give one pause for thought!
Great photo! I’ve included this post in our Best Posts of July round up. Great work!
Definitely won’t be missing out on visiting Lanai, as part of our around the world trip. The whisky and cigar sounds like a great idea. So much love for the travel photography – awesome.
Hi there! Just wanted to say how happy I am that I have found your blog. Your photos and posts are just wonderful. I’ll thank you for giving me the travel itch again 🙂
OMG, I just loved these photos. I wished I can have the same opportunity to visit this place and write about it. I just loved them.
Amazing – and so different from the islands of Hawaii that I’ve been to!
Awww…. Another place to add on a list that’s getting longer and longer 🙂 Awesome pics. I particularly liked the one with the horse grazing!
Gorgeous pictures, they can all be turned into posters!
Gorgeous! Love the opening shot. I would have had absolutely no idea that was Hawaii if I saw those photos without any text!
These photos are incredible! Amazing shots. Although I have to say that I’m a sucker and the one of your feline friend has to be my favourite. I want snuggles!
I used to think of Hawaii as a place people just go to enjoy the sand, sun, and beach. I don’t look at Hawaii like that any more. I think there is so much more to it than that. I’ve experienced a little of it the few times I’ve visited and I want to experience even more. The islands are so diverse and different. I love the photos of Lanai – looks like a place I would definitely enjoy!
Thanks Jeremy, I think Lanai is different than most of the islands. It is very unique. With only around 3000 residents, it truly feels like you have it all to yourself. Especially when you rent a jeep and head out to explore.
Absolutely not what I would expect from a Hawaiian island. I guess we get inundated with volcanoes, beaches and hula girls. I have definitely heard the name, but not sure if i have seen pictures. Pretty cool, though I still think if I was to stuff myself on a plane long enough to get there, I would like to see volcanoes, beaches and hula girls.
Haha, true Andrew. the good news is you can do day trips to Lanai from Maui. Just a one hour ferry ride and you are there and then back in time for sunset and Hula girls:)
Really great shots, love the 2nd one especially, oh to hit up Lanai!
Thanks Liz, Lanai was certainly surprising. To stay at one of the Four Seasons was definitely a dream and a great destination for a special occasion. Lots of people were there for anniversaries.
Amazing photos! We love Hawaii but have not yet been to Lanai. You definitely make it look worth visiting. I think that the next time we go, we will have to include Lanai for a few nights at least.
That’s a great idea Evan. You can catch a ferry from Maui to Lanai, people even do day trips there. but to stay over at the Koele Lodge or Manele bay is pretty special and worth doing.
Wow, these photos are stunning guys! They’re all so tranquil and relaxing. Also cool to see a series of photos of an island that isn’t all white sand and blue beaches 🙂
Beautiful. Looks like a unique and stunning island.
What fabulous photography!! Especially loved the Shipwreck beach shot, its just overwhelming to look at it.
Wish you a wonderful week ahead:)
Thank you Arti and a wonderful week to you too!
I don’t know what I expected Lanai to look like, but definitely not like this. Great photography!
Thanks Laurel, we didn’t know what to expect either:)
Picture Perfect!
http://aawaara.blogspot.in/2012/06/comic-tour-of-tintin-land.html
I love the dark and mysterious effects on all your photo’s.
Do you do it yourself or is it the way the images come out?
Hi Surminga, These photos of Lanai were taken in HDR which is a method of layering exposures. However, I do process all my photos a little dark. I like that way too.
Wow stunning photos. Looks beautiful.
Oh wow… that cat really came out of nowhere hahaha
Haha, it really did. We were all sitting down below brushing and playing with the other cats when this one jutted his head out from the beams. It was so cute!
Awesome shots! HDR? I think the cat is my favorite, those green eyes! 🙂
You guessed it, yes. HDR. I think the cat is our favourite too. visiting the cat rescue centre was also our favourite experience on the island as well.
I don’t think most people realize just how remote the Hawaiian islands are (the most remote inhabited in the world). Your pictures really transmit that lovely sense of remoteness, truly getting away from “it” all. Beautiful!
Thanks Lesley, you are right. They are very remote. Just a cluster of islands in the Pacific with nothing else around. Lanai and even it’s neighbour Molekei are very remote. Only a few thousand inhabitants.
Love the photos! We run trips for our travel club to the Big Island all the time but would love to check out Lanai!
Thanks Steve, we’d love to check out the big island too! Now that we had a taste of Hawaii we want to go back!
These are great!! I particular like the close up of the fern and the cat’s eyes. Stunning. 🙂
I think that cat is definitely the winner in melting everyone’s hearts. So adorable.
While that first image steals the show, I love the simplicity of the seventh shot down. Blue, Green and not much else. I haven’t made it to many tropical destinations, but Hawaii has always been in the back of my mind.
Thanks Jeff. That’s exactly why I chose that one too. I also loved the simplicity of it. I don’t take a lot of shots like that normally, so it was something fun to play with.
Your photos and stories never cease to amaze me.
Aw, thanks Beth. It’s all Dave. 🙂
As always, Dave and Deb, your photos are magnificent. I can hardly wait to get there and see for myself!
We’re looking forward to following along on your trip as well Barbara! I hope you love it. Not long now right?
It must be nice to live in a such colorful place + old school church looks very great.
That church was just re-furbished a few years ago. It’s interesting to check out the ruins and history of the island as well. It was quite the pineapple plantation.
I’ve been to four of the Hawaiian islands, but never Lanai. I’d really like to visit someday.
Wow! that is so cool. You’ll have to add lanai onto the list. I’m not sure how many you are allowed to visit. I know one is off limits due to being filled with unexploded bombs and I think another doesn’t allow visitors (it’s private I believe) so that would just leave Lanai and Molokai for you?
Simply gorgeous.I knew nothing of Lanai other than it was laid back. Looks like a place I would enjoy visiting to recharge.
You’ve enjoy it Leigh. Especially the hiking at Koele Lodge.
Amazing photos but the cat took me by surprise!!
Ha, it took us by surprise too!
Wow, gorgeous photos! These could be postcards. I especially love the photos of the horses.
Thanks Jennifer. The horses were such an amazing thing to see from Koele Lodge. They were just hanging out in the corrals of the stables and as we sat out during sunset there they were. It is a very romantic setting.
These photos are so amazing. I want to frame them all and put them on my wall.
Thank you Kristen. My mom has a bunch of Dave’s photos up on her walls and yes, they do look really good:)
Absolutely breathtaking photos!