[2011] Maui to Lanai questions

[OKPACIFIC]

We have started our 2 weeks at WKORVN yesterday and want to do a day trip to Lanai. We are not wanting to snorkel or do a dinner cruise, just want to see the Four Seasons hotel and Lanai City. What kind of transportation is avaiable to get to Lanai? And how would you get from the shore to Lanai City? Is it necessary to rent a car? If so, what is the best way to do it? TIA

 

[dvc_john]

I'm interested in seeing the responses to your thread, as I'm planning on doing the same thing my next trip to Hawaii.
I'm hoping to find some kind of island tour, as I'd prefer not to rent a car on Lanai. I do know that they have scheduled boat service from Lahaina.

 

[DeniseM]

You can fly, or you can take the ferry, or there are some excursion boats that go to Lanai as well.

There is a shuttle that runs between the two hotels - one is walking distance from the harbor, and one is in Lanai City - inland.

We took a private island tour that was super - we visited both hotels on the tour and also saw many remote parts of the island in a 4WD.

But our favorite way to visit Lanai is the all day Discover Lania Tour on the Trilogy Catamaran - it includes an island van tour.

http://www.sailtrilogy.com/lanai/discover/

This catamaran trip includes 3 meals - including a great Bar-Be-Que on Lanai, drinks, beach activities & equipment, snorkeling, sailing, and an island tour. It's our favorite Hawaii activity of all - it would be fun even if you didn't snorkel. They serve champagne as you sail back into Maui at sunset.

 

[Rumpled]

I chartered a fishing boat to Lanai from Lanai in '93. Only spent about 20 minutes on Lanai before following the boat back to Kaanapali.
Sorry, I can't help you on your visit; I just like telling my story of swimming between Hawaiian islands.

 

[artringwald]

We took the all day Trilogy tour in Feb 2009 and really enjoyed it. It included a van tour of the island, and the driver did a great job describing what it was like to live there. When she was in high school she used to work in the pineapple fields during the summer, before they stopped growing them on Lanai. The BBQ was nice, even the gecko eggs (peas). On the way over and going back there were whales everywhere. The captain had to slow down the boat several times to keep the legal distance. As he said, "looks like we're in whale soup". Here's some of the pictures we took: http://artringwald.smugmug.com/Travel/2009-Lanai

 

[mjm1]

We took the all day Trilogy tour in Feb 2009 and really enjoyed it. It included a van tour of the island, and the driver did a great job describing what it was like to live there. When she was in high school she used to work in the pineapple fields during the summer, before they stopped growing them on Lanai. The BBQ was nice, even the gecko eggs (peas). On the way over and going back there were whales everywhere. The captain had to slow down the boat several times to keep the legal distance. As he said, "looks like we're in whale soup". Here's some of the pictures we took: http://artringwald.smugmug.com/Travel/2009-Lanai

We are planning to go from Maui to Lanai in late April. Debating on taking this type of tour or taking the ferry along with a rental jeep package on Lanai.

With this tour, does the van tour take you to all of the high points including Shipwreck Beach, Garden of the Gods, and the hotel at the top of the mountain?

Has anyone taken the self guided tour where you rent a jeep and explore for either half of the day or all day?

We generally like to explore on our own, but are open to a tour if that is the best way to see the island.

Thanks.

 

[DeniseM]

With this tour, does the van tour take you to all of the high points including Shipwreck Beach, Garden of the Gods, and the hotel at the top of the mountain?

It takes you to all of these sites, but the hotel isn't on top of a mountain, it's just inland.

 

[mjm1]

Thanks Denise.

 

[J&JFamily]

We took the all day Trilogy tour in Feb 2009 and really enjoyed it. It included a van tour of the island, and the driver did a great job describing what it was like to live there. When she was in high school she used to work in the pineapple fields during the summer, before they stopped growing them on Lanai. The BBQ was nice, even the gecko eggs (peas). On the way over and going back there were whales everywhere. The captain had to slow down the boat several times to keep the legal distance. As he said, "looks like we're in whale soup". Here's some of the pictures we took: http://artringwald.smugmug.com/Travel/2009-Lanai

Great pictures, thank you for sharing!

 

[RichardL]

Lanai Jeep tour

The jeep rental was great in that at my request they provided a driver guide who drove the back roads at our requested slower speed and provided a lot of information.

Your regular ferry price includes the tourist bus from the Harbor, to the lower Four Seasons, stops mid way in Lanai city, and then goes up to the Upper Four Seasons. It runs I believe every 30 minutes and for a day it is great.

I was surprised this tourist bus which is rarely full allows for no locals. That seemed almost Un-Hawaiian.

Enjoy Lanai, and it is a must for all golfers. This summer I am planning on the Ferry to Molokai.