Four Seasons Resort Lana’i
Words Ashley Bowling | Photos Will Bowling & Robb Gordon
Four Seasons Resort Lāna’i is elegantly placed cliffside with panoramic views overlooking the sea and is a short stroll to the most populous beach on Lana’i: Hulopo’e Bay. But don’t be fooled by populous. At this white sand beach, the local surfers, alongside native families building sandcastles, are still few and far between. A short hike up a red dirt trail reveals the most spectacular views of Sweetheart Rock at sunrise and sunset. Visiting early enough in the year lends itself to glimpses of gentle giants frolicking in the shallows where they’ve traveled great distances to birth young humpbacks.
Life exists undisturbed.
Passing fellow guests, a rarity, while wandering through the resort’s lush grounds to your room, you’ll be greeted with a delightful “Aloha!” Each guestroom has its private lanai, with plush modern amenities and spa-like bathrooms, where rich wood tones meet creamy palettes. The aesthetic throughout the resort is inviting and relaxed, seamlessly blending old Polynesian charm with hand-woven rugs and modern luxury, welcoming the tropical foliage inside at every turn.
KIDS CLUB: While Four Seasons Resort Lāna’i appeals to avid golfers, honeymooners, and the like, kids 5 to 12 years old can enjoy daily activities that include tide pool exploration, lei-making, hula lessons, ukulele lessons, and a build-your-own volcano workshop.
As if the deep wood tones and sleek furniture weren’t enough, the dining at Four Seasons Resort Lāna’i is an experience just as unforgettable. Signature teppanyaki, sushi, and elevated Japanese fare can be found at Nobu, while local organic options abound at Malibu Farm. Favorites include Pokeviché (spicy ahi tuna, sesame oil, tamari, avocado, furikake chips), Blueberry cocktail (peach bourbon, blueberry mint ginger agave, lemon), and tropical ice cream sandwiches (pineapple-coconut ice cream embedded between gingersnaps), accompanied with cliffside ocean panoramas. Osteria Mozza serves up Italian dishes fused with island ingredients, which also has one of the best seats in the house for sunset views of Hulopo’e Beach.
Whether you opt for Four Seasons Resort Lāna’i or Sensei, a Four Seasons Resort (an adults-only destination), guests can access the fine dining offered at both locations, Jack Nicklaus Manele Golf Course, and the numerous amenities and excursions. Discover Lanai’s untouched land via Jeep and get lost on secluded beaches in what feels like a far-off land. With a 40-inch telescope at the resort’s observatory, enjoy colorful planets and shooting stars in an unpolluted night sky. Explore what lies below the waters at Hulopo’e Bay Marine Sanctuary. Or, try your agility at Lāna’i Adventure Park course. Other land activities include archery, clay shooting, pickleball, and horseback riding on the hills of the Kō’ele highlands. Sea activities include sailing the Pacific at sunset, discovering the island’s lesser-touched snorkeling locales, and seasonal whale cruises, which sail into the densest humpback populations in the world where the curious mammals travel to warmer waters to birth their calves.
