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Top Attractions and Activities on Lanai, Hawaii

Visit the Culture Center, Go Clay Shooting, Watch for Whales

© Kara Williams

Exhibit at the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center, Kara Williams
Though Lanai is tiny (the sixth largest of the Hawaiian Islands) there are some great natural attractions to see and fun things to do on this peaceful island.

Lovely Lanai attracts visitors for its laid-back vibe. You won't find a ton of activities and man-made attractions here, but those that are available to guests are both fun and educational. Here are a few highlights:

1. Visit the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center

Executive Director Kepa Maly is a wealth of information about the history and heritage of Kauai -- he's lived on the island off and on since the early 1970s. He staffs the center most days it's open: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. He'll happy tell you a bit about Lanai's first settlers, the island's transformation into a thriving Dole Pineapple plantation, and its evolution into the premier vacation destination it is today. (The last pineapples on the island were picked in 1992.) Exhibits include ancient artifacts as well as fascinating photos from the ranching and plantation days. In Lanai City, on Lanai Avenue, near the Hotel Lanai.

2. Marvel at Garden of the Gods

This location is better known for its nickname than its official moniker: Keahiakawelo. It's a nifty landscape of interesting looking rock formations created by wind erosion over hundreds of years. It is also off of a four-wheel-drive road, on the way to Polihua Beach (see below) on the northwest side of the island.

3. Look for Turtles and Whales at Polihua Beach

Turtles nest here and whales pass by on their annual migration from December through April. It's especially worth a look-see (bring your binoculars!) if you visit during these months.

4. Shoot Clays at Lanai Pine Sporting Clays

Even if you've never tried the sport of clay shooting, the patient staff here will set you up with a shotgun and teach you the basics of this thrilling activity. You can ride with a knowledgeable staffer on a golf cart through the pine-wooded forest to stop at various stations and try hitting the different targets. Experts are challenged too, with targets that fly fast or simultaneously. Other sports here are archery and a shooting gallery. Make reservations through the concierge at either Four Seasons resort (Manele Bay or Lodge at Koele); round-trip transportation from either property is complimentary. 800-559-4600.

5. Play Golf

If golf is your game, it's worth setting up a tee time at either of the championship courses at the Four Seasons resorts; both are ranked among the best in the world. The Lodge at Koele's is set among pretty pine trees in the misty upcountry; the course at the Four Season Manele Bay offers sweeping vistas of the coastline.

Interested in learning more about Lanai? Check out:

More Top Things to Do on Lanai

Budget Hotel, Cheap Eats on Lanai, Hawaii

Shopping on Lanai

Hawaii Visitors Bureau


The copyright of the article Top Attractions and Activities on Lanai, Hawaii in Hawaii Travel is owned by Kara Williams. Permission to republish Top Attractions and Activities on Lanai, Hawaii in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.





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