The secluded island of Lanai is home to 3,000 inhabitants, several historical sites and prominent fishing villages. It is the sixth largest Hawaiian island and a quintessential tourist destination. The island's appeal lies in its rustic characteristics. The environment is serene with natural features that have been preserved through limited development. The island contains one town known as Lanai City, which is essentially a modest settlement. Visiting many of the sights and landmarks in Lanai requires the use of SUVs that can navigate dirt roads leading to special points of interest. A defining feature of Lanai is its laid back atmosphere which is ideal for the tourist who desires to connect with nature while enjoying much needed rest and relaxation. Lanai remains one of the most important Hawaiian Islands because of the preservation of its historical sites, down to earth culture and distinctive past.

A Look into the Past
Lanai is thought to have been populated later than most other islands, sometime in the 15^th century. There are several legends depicting the initial settlement of Lanai. The island itself was thought to be inhabited by man eating spirits. This deterred the people of nearby Maui from visiting or establishing villages of any kind. One legend speaks of the prophet Lanikaula who rid the island of the evil spirits leaving it open to new inhabitants.

Yet, the most popular myth is that of the Maui prince Kauluaau who was banished from his homeland for digging up every ulu tree he could find on the island. His father sought to punish his mischievous child by sending him to Lanai where he thought he would likely meet his final demise. From the safety of Maui the king observed a lit fire every night for several days. Intrigued by his son's ability to survive for so long he sent men to rescue him and declared Lanai under the control of the prince. It is believed that Kauluaau used his cunning and wit to eradicate the spirits from the troubled area.

The island was not officially called Lanai until after Kauluaau's triumph. Its original name, Lanai o Kauluaau is translated to mean "Day of the conquest of Kauluaau". The new ruler of the island made it his mission to populate it. He enticed other Polynesians to settle there, who, at first, built fishing villages near coastal regions but later moved inland where farming communities were established. Kauluaau once more dug up all the ulu trees he could find, which is thought to be a reasonable explanation for why none of these trees exists on the island today.

Although the island of Lanai was technically considered a part of the Kingdom of Maui, the people maintained a sense of autonomy. They were left to establish their own rules and develop communities in the manner they saw fit. The small island enjoyed several decades of peace and stability. This would later change when the warrior chief, King Kamehameha invaded the island in the 18^th century slaughtering many in an attempt to unify all the Hawaiian Islands. Subsequently, the population was drastically reduced. By 1792 when explorers discovered the Hawaiian territory, Captain George Vancouver noted that the island seemed unpopulated and thus chose not to land on Lanai. Kamehameha is said to have preferred Lanai of all the islands for fishing and made use of it regularly. The Europeans first spotted the island on February 25, 1779 after the death of Captain James Cook.

Lanai made yet another transition in 1870. Many of the lands, which were mostly uninhabited, were bought out by Water M Gibson for ranching. Some fifteen years later his daughter and her husband established the Maunalej Sugar Company, however, it was not largely successful and ceased operations in 1901. Native Hawaiians still occupied small sections of Lanai in the more fertile areas of the windward coast. Their main means of support was ranching and fishing, this would later change when pineapple became a big export crop. James Dole bought out all of Lanai's lands and devoted most of it to pineapple production creating the most impressive pineapple plantation the world had ever seen.

In more recent years the majority of Lanai's lands are now owned by David H. Murdock who acquired Castle and Cooke. The island has one school which caters to all the inhabitants. The Lanai High and Elementary School serves as an institution for toddlers to teenagers. There are few developed roads in Lanai and absolutely no traffic lights. Tourism has become one of the major economic earners with its major market being visitors from North America.

The Lanai Tourist Experience
Tourism gained a great advantage once the pineapple and sugar plantations went into decline. The island is home to two major resort hotels, Resort Lanai and the Lodge at Koele, which are both controlled by the Four Seasons chain. The Hotel Lanai is the island's oldest formal lodging. It was built by James Dole to house the executives placed in charge of overseeing activities on the pineapple plantation. The island attracts many golfers each year because of the two major golf courses located at either of its two resorts. "The Challenge of Manele" is by far the most celebrated. It was designed by Jack Nicklaus and includes a sensational view of the nearby ocean.

The island's chief town Lanai city is a modest area which has no shopping malls, public transportation or even traffic lights. Once outside of the town, only dirt roads can be used to access attractions on the outskirts.

Major Attractions and Significant Sites
Many of the stunning attractions on Lanai can only be visited using SUVs capable of four wheel drive. The quaint dirt roads add to the feeling of uninhibited adventure. Tourists are encouraged to indulge in activities including visiting the ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs, surfing or swimming at nearby exotic beaches, visiting the Garden of the Gods, enjoying a round of golf, exploring the deep blue waters for cathedrals, viewing delightful humpback whales and discovering the wonders of a WWII shipwreck.

Underwater Exploration
The beauty of Lanai is partially submerged several feet below the surface. Enormous underwater temples formed from natural rock formations are home to a wide variety of marine life. Through the roof of these cathedrals emerge rays of sunlight that illuminate the oceanic paradise filled with pristine blue waters. The First and Second Cathedrals are both accessed by boat from the coastal region. This activity is generally recommended for intermediate to advanced divers.

The First Cathedral has depths of 45 - 60 feet and also has a 100 foot lava tube running throughout it. There are a myriad of creatures found here including sea turtles, octopuses and several species of exotic fish. The Second Cathedral maintains varying depths ranging from 15 to 65 feet. Among the more popular creatures to see here are the blue stripe snapper, cowry shells and trumpet fish.

Shipwreck Beach
Shipwreck Beach is not considered safe for swimming. It derives its name from the old World War II ship that can be observed from the safety of the shoreline. The ship was disposed just off the coast of Lanai and was built sometime between 1942 to 1944. The beach is perfect for picnics, taking scenic photographs, sunbathing and walking along the beautiful eight mile coastline.

Lanai Petroglyphs
The petroglyphs are carvings produced by ancient natives exhibiting drawings of people, animals and other subjects. They were carved on lava rocks using primitive tools. Their meanings are unknown to scholars but many suggest they may have a connection to sacred rituals or they were used as a form of recording history or they were experiments in early art work that had no other significance outside of replicating real life objects. These petroglyphs are seen in many places throughout the archipelago.

The drawings display several different themes. Some show men, women and children in a family setting, others depict wild animals being hunted and then, there are those that display typical activities such as surfing and fishing. Most of the prominent petroglyphs in Lanai can be found on the southern end of the island. They are preserved because of their importance to the island's and indeed the archipelago's history and are a testament to ancient man's utility.

Garden of the Gods
The rock formation deemed "Garden of the Gods" is a natural geological accomplishment. These formations are the result of erosion that began some thousands of years ago. The massive structures are absolutely enthralling. The arrangement of the rocks is unique to the island of Lanai and is one of its most prominent attractions. Natives regale stories of the birth of these formations. Some claim they fell from the sky while the gods were busy working in their garden. Others say the rocks are home to the spirits of ancient warriors. And then there are those that claim that the gods had an unparalleled sense of art and beauty and thus created these divine sculptures.

The island of Lanai is cushioned in the wonders of nature, detached from the typical fast paced characteristic of most modern societies. Its tranquil atmosphere is its primary allure. A visit to Lanai provides a sense of calm ideal for complete rest and relaxation. Its modestly sized population and level of development has helped preserve its culture and major historical locations. It is a place of unlimited beauty with sights and wonders seen nowhere else in the world.

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