Arrival/Check-In: After a couple of pleasant days on Oahu, we looked forward to a short flight from Honolulu to Lanai. Hotel staff met us at the island’s small airport, collected our bags and transported us, along with other guests, to the resort. Once a pineapple plantation, Lanai is a quiet, less-traveled island — I couldn’t find anyone in Honolulu who had visited. At the resort we were welcomed with fresh juice and leis and checked in by Xavier, who quickly escorted us to Suite 7552. Instead of traditional keys, guests receive waterproof wrist bands that activate the suite door. In 2012 Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, purchased nearly 98 percent of the island. One of his first major projects was a $75 million renovation of Manele Bay Hotel, transforming it into the Four Seasons Resort Lanai.
Guest Quarters: The walk to our room was pleasant, passing aviary enclosures on the way to dinner or the beach; their mimicking whistles added charm to the stroll. Our suite featured a hallway that turned left to a spacious marble-tiled bathroom and led straight to the main bedroom where a well-stocked minibar sat near the entrance. The bathroom had double sinks, a large soaking tub and an expansive shower with a rain head and handheld sprayer. Toiletries came from the Aloha ʻĀina line, featuring kukui nut oil. The bedroom included a Four Seasons king bed and a built-in desk where I set up a laptop between activities. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opened to a lanai with garden and ocean views. A built-in closet offered ample storage, a safe and a useful beach bag for pool and beach days. At the foot of the bed a sofa provided a convenient place to lay out clothes, while a large flat-screen TV was mounted opposite the bed. With so many resort activities available, however, you’ll likely spend little time indoors.
Services/Amenities: Service, dining and activities were excellent, and we made an effort to experience many of the highlights. Restaurant renovations have refreshed the dining options; Nobu Lanai proved a standout. Our server, Grace, brought energy and humor to the table and helped create custom sushi and a Japanese scotch pairing for my birthday dinner. Our first meal at Malibu Farm — one of the early additions after the island’s ownership change — was memorable. Perched above Hulopo‘e Bay with ocean views, Malibu Farm offers fresh, farm-to-table dishes in a casual outdoor setting near the pool. One Forty, named for Lanai’s 140-square-mile size, serves breakfast and features American steaks and Hawaiian seafood with an emphasis on local ingredients; don’t miss the local venison. (There are more deer than people on Lanai, so be cautious when driving at dusk.) The Lobby Bar’s outdoor lanai features sunset entertainment with traditional Hawaiian songs and chanting, a pleasant pre-dinner experience.
PHOTO: © FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANAI
The golf course is exceptional and uncrowded; I enjoyed a round on my birthday. We also toured the island in a 4×4 Jeep, circumnavigating Lanai and stopping at several beaches and at Lanai City. The Lanai Cat Sanctuary proved unexpectedly interesting: the facility helps control feral cat populations to protect ground-nesting birds, keeping the cats well fed and medically cared for within enclosed areas.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ Outstanding golf with minimal crowds.
◆ A beautiful beach with an attentive attendant and powerful surf; waves can be large.
◆ Visit Lanai City Bar & Grille — it’s a popular local spot and often shared by hotel guests; the resort provides shuttles.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANAI
1 Manele Bay Road Lanai City, HI 96763
tel 808 565 2000
fourseasons.com