Experience Old Hawai‘i with a visit to the state’s smallest inhabited islands. Moloka‘i blends traditional villages with jaw-dropping scenery, while the woodsy island of Lāna‘i boasts the ultimate luxury resort experience. Here's everything you need to know about Lana-i & Moloka-i.
A view of Halawa Valley. PHOTO COURTESY OF PU’U O HŌKŪ
Formerly known as the “Pineapple Isle” for housing the largest pineapple plantation in the United States, Lāna‘i is now mostly owned by software tycoon Larry Ellison. The island often feels like two separate worlds; The uber-luxurious resorts offer pampering and world-class golf, while the rugged back roads lead to ironwood forests and hikes through native ‘ōhi‘a lehua trees.
HISTORY
In the early 1900s, Lāna‘i was responsible for 75% of the world’s pineapple production. Dole Park was previously a village of houses for plantation employees and now houses boutiques and art galleries.
MUST-VISIT
The island’s two most exclusive hotels have a flavor all their own. Four Seasons Resort Lāna‘i (1 Manele Bay Road, Lāna‘i City, fourseasons.com/lanai) is a luxury oceanfront resort perfect for the family, while adults-only Sensei Lāna‘i, A Four Seasons Resort (1 Keomoku Highway, sensei.com) is a country-style mountain lodge known for its wellness offerings.
LOCALS KNOW
Much of Lāna‘i is untouched. The rugged north, a 45-minute drive from Lāna‘i City, is best explored by four-wheel drive and is home to Keahiakawelo, a lunar landscape of red rock formations very different from the rest of Hawai‘i.
The world’s tallest sea cliffs and a 28-mile-long fringing coral reef—the longest continuous one in Hawai‘i—are a few of the natural wonders found on this sparsely populated island committed to maintaining its traditional Hawaiian culture.
HISTORY
No trip to Moloka‘i is complete without a visit to Kalaupapa, a historic leprosy settlement that held patients in isolation from the world for 100 years. Take in the views of the secluded peninsula 1,700 feet below from Kalaupapa Lookout in Pala‘au State Park. More adventurous travelers can reach the settlement by foot or donkey on a dramatic descent with 26 switchbacks.
MUST-VISIT
The hills of Kualapu‘u in the middle of the island are home to Moloka‘i’s coffee region and are the place to find a delectable brew of 100% Moloka‘i coffee. In Kaunakakai, visit the island’s most recognizable landmark, the Kapuāiwa Coconut Grove. Hālawa Valley on the island’s east end is a historic Hawaiian valley with towering, 250-foot-high waterfalls that is best accessed by foot with a guide.
LOCALS KNOW
If you make it to Maunaloa, the only town on Molokai’s west end, you must pop into Big Wind Kite Factory (120 Mauna Loa Highway, bigwindkites.com). The charming mom-and-pop shop hand-makes any kind of kite imaginable, from the high-performance to the kitsch.
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