Lana'i Family Vacations

Of Hawaii's six main islands that welcome tourists, Lana'i is the smallest -- about 13 miles wide and 18 miles long with 3,200 residents that call it home. You won't find any huge luau productions, shopping malls, aquariums or other major attractions here -- nor any traffic lights! A family vacation on peaceful Lana'i is all about rest and relaxation, enjoying outdoor adventures -- from whale watching and snorkeling to hiking and horseback riding -- seeking secluded spots and chilling out on the beach or by the pool.

For more than six decades, Lana'i was the world's largest pineapple producer, owned by James Dole of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. When overseas pineapple production proved much cheaper than domestic operations, tourism moved to the forefront on Lana'i. It was only in the early 1990s, when two Four Seasons Resorts opened on the island, that the outside world really discovered the island. Still, accommodations remain limited today. Besides the two upscale Four Seasons resorts (one inland and one oceanfront) there is the 11-bedroom Hotel Lana'i in Lana'i City, as well as private vacation-home rentals.

It's easy to get around on Lana'i without a car, because of the smooth-running intra-island shuttles, which move guests among stops at the airport, the harbor (where a passenger ferry from Maui docks), the Four Seasons properties (guests of one can use the amenities of the other) and downtown Lana'i City. Now, "city" is a bit of a stretch -- the quiet downtown area is not more than eight blocks long. Most shops and restaurants line green Dole Park, filled with looming Cook Island Pines that are prevalent throughout the island. Some of the tin-roof, clapboard, boxy plantation houses you see in the neighborhoods in Lana'i City are a century old. Many have been restored, but still retain their quaint colorful character.

One huge bonus of visiting Lana'i is that it's so easy to get acquainted with the island. Indeed, the intra-island shuttle service is great, but I recommend renting a 4WD Jeep to explore some of the less trafficked areas of the island. With only a handful of main roads (some of them un-paved and bumpy), you really only need a rented Jeep (via Dollar Rent A Car, the island's only car-rental service) for one day to get off the beaten path to see some amazing rock formations, secluded beaches and hidden petroglyphs.

Lana'i's small size also means that it's easy to get to know local shopkeepers, artists, waitstaff and other service providers; in general, Lana'i residents are a friendly bunch, especially recent transplants from the mainland. When asked, "How'd you end up on tiny Lana'i?" people are often willing to share colorful stories of "giving up the rat race" or falling in love with Lana'i's laid-back lifestyle on vacation...and consulting on-island real-estate agents before returning home!

It's true, a Lana'i vacation is not for every family -- especially those who need a lot of entertainment, day and night. But if you have visited the more touristy islands of Hawaii, and are looking for a quiet respite in a tropical paradise with rolling farmland, craggy sea cliffs, pristine beaches and lush valleys, I'd highly recommend Lana'i.