25 Best Non-Touristy Things to Do on Lānaʻi, Hawaiʻi
The Island of Lānaʻi is Hawaiʻi’s hidden gem!
From its pristine, untouched beaches to the rugged mountains that tower above Lānaʻi City, to the slow-paced lifestyle on an island that doesn’t even have a single traffic light, Lānaʻi is a paradise unlike any other island in Hawaiʻi—and it’s easily one of my personal favorites!
That being said, the best things to do on Lānaʻi can’t be discussed without first talking about the cost of visiting. Yes, the costs for both accommodations and a rental car exceed those of every other island in Hawaiʻi by far, which, in turn, is the single biggest reason so few visitors come to Lānaʻi compared to the other five main Hawaiian Islands.
However, the cost of staying a few days shouldn’t be all to blame, as the lack of visitors on Lānaʻi is truly one of the things that makes this paradise so special!
It’s certainly no Waikīkī, and that’s why I like to think of Lānaʻi—much like Molokai—as an island all about making your own adventure. This explains why the vast majority of cars available are 4x4 rentals, as having a high-clearance vehicle to drive around the island is truly the only way to see Lānaʻi!
Why am I Recommending these Lānaʻi Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
25 Best Things to Do on Lānaʻi
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but more importantly, I talk about what NOT to do at the end. Don’t skip over the end!
Additionally, more than any other island, I highly recommend booking a 4x4 rental on Lānaʻi. Rental cars are always pricey on Lānaʻi, and getting a Jeep definitely won’t help with that. However, I recommend a 4x4 anyway because your opportunities to explore the island open up immensely, which should be apparent from the list below.
1. Koloiki Ridge Trail
Distance (Roundtrip on Koloiki Ridge): 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
Distance (Full Koloiki-Kaiholena Loop): 6.4 miles / 10.3 km
The Koloiki Ridge Trail is the best of the best when it comes to hiking on Lānaʻi!
I say this because the relatively moderate 2.2-mile (3.5 km) trail out to Koloiki Ridge leads to one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island—especially when hiked early for sunrise!
Furthermore, the reason there are two distances listed above is that, as of 2024, a once-local trail known as Kaiholena Ridge opened to the public. This means that both Koloiki and Kaiholena Ridge can be linked together to create a 6.4-mile (10.3 km) loop.
To learn more about this full adventure, I highly recommend checking out my separate article to help you decide whether to hike just Koloiki Ridge or the full Koloiki-Kaiholena Loop Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Koloiki Ridge Trail
2. Polihua Beach [4x4 Needed]
Renowned for its untouched, beautiful white sand and stunning year-round sunsets, Polihua Beach is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaiʻi—and yes, I mean Hawaiʻi, not just Lānaʻi!
The beach, which stretches some 1.5 miles (2.4 km), is something out of a painting, but this doesn’t this doesn’t go without saying that the long drive to Polihua Beach is a bit of a challenge.
Located roughly 4.2 miles (6.8 km) past the Garden of the Gods, Polihua Road quickly turns into a high-clearance, 4x4 drive. That said, only the final 2.0 miles (3.2 km) are particularly challenging, but it’s worth noting that Polihua Road is certainly not the most difficult off-road drive in Hawaiʻi.
In any case, I recommend visiting late in the day—meaning a few hours before sunset—to enjoy the best of Polihua. However, locals will tell you that swimming at Polihua is never advised due to the extreme currents that circle across Lānaʻi’s North Shore—not to mention there are no rescue services this far out.
Google Maps Directions: Polihua Beach
3. Blue Ginger Café
The Blue Ginger Café is the best dine-in breakfast restaurant on Lānaʻi!
Personally, I recommend stopping by when you’re interested in walking around and exploring all the fun little shops in Lānaʻi City, as the best places to explore in downtown are located on 7th and 8th Streets, the two streets that surround Dole Park.
Yelp: Blue Ginger Café
4. Puʻu Pehe Trail (Sweetheart Rock)
Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
The Puʻu Pehe Trail, more commonly called the Sweetheart Rock Trail, is one of the best day hikes on Lānaʻi, second only to Koloiki Ridge in my opinion!
However, while Koloiki Ridge is best hiked at sunrise, Sweetheart Rock is best hiked at sunset, as the entire South Shore—from Puʻu Pehe to the Hulopoʻe-Huawai Fisherman’s Trail—is one of the best places on Lānaʻi to catch the sunset year-round!
Read My Separate Post: Puʻu Pehe Trail (Sweetheart Rock)
5. Lānaʻi Adventure Park
Sitting at the base of the beautiful, lush Kaiholena Valley and the Munro Trail, the Lānaʻi Adventure Park offers everything from zip lines to a challenge course, guided bike rides, and more!
However, not every adventure is available every day of the week, so be sure to call in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on the activities being offered during your stay!
Google Maps Directions: Lānaʻi Adventure Park
6. Lōpā Beach
Lōpā Beach is Lānaʻi’s most remote beach!
Located on the far, remote eastern end of Keōmuku Road, Lōpā Beach is about as quiet as it gets on Lānaʻi.
This is all to say that the beach, which stretches for roughly 0.4 miles (0.6 km), is one of the best secluded beaches in all of Hawaiʻi, and for these reasons, I recommend coming to stay a while. Bring food, water, and snacks because the 9.5-mile (15.3 km) drive past the end of the pavement at the bottom of Keōmuku Road definitely warrants some time spent at this local hidden gem!
Google Maps Directions: Lōpā Beach
7. Lānaʻi Helicopter Tour
A helicopter tour around any of the islands is truly something breathtaking, and Lānaʻi is certainly no exception!
However, all Lānaʻi helicopter tours leave out of Maui, meaning that a helicopter tour around Lānaʻi is truly a Maui-only adventure!
This is one of many reasons why I believe that a Hawaiʻi trip to Lānaʻi could easily be paired with another island, like Maui—especially because the two are so easy to travel between.
8. Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail (Lānaʻi Petroglyphs)
Distance (Roundtrip): 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
Petroglyphs in Hawaiʻi can be found scattered across the islands, but few are as accessible and well-preserved as the Pōāiwa Petroglyphs near Shipwreck Beach.
The petroglyphs, which are estimated to date back to the 15th century, can be reached along a fairly easy trail. However, since there is more than one route that hikers have created over the years, I recommend checking out my separate article to follow the easiest and most straightforward route in an otherwise very remote area.
Read My Separate Post: Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail
9. Ganotisi’s Pacific Rim Cuisine
Ganotisi’s in Lānaʻi City is one of my favorite places to eat on the island because of how diverse their menu is!
It’s the kind of place that will truly make everyone in your party happy with the number of choices. Not to mention, the cooking is spectacular—featuring some of the most authentic local food on the island, always made fresh to order!
10. Sensei Lānaʻi, Four Seasons
Yes, staying at the Four Seasons on Lānaʻi is one of the more touristy things one can do, but it goes without saying that there isn’t much in the way of options for accommodations on Lānaʻi.
That said, this is where the criticisms regarding the cost of visiting usually lie, but it’s worth noting that Lānaʻi may be the island with the best resorts across all of Hawaiʻi.
So, it’s hard not to recommend the Sensei Four Seasons in Lānaʻi City or the Hulopoʻe Four Seasons in Mānele because these hotels stand out as some of the best and most beautiful across all the islands!
11. Kānepuʻu Preserve
The Kānepuʻu Preserve on Lānaʻi is one of Hawaiʻi’s most valuable conservation areas because the preserve protects what little is left of the state’s dryland forests—a landscape that used to span much of Hawaiʻi but is all but lost today.
For this reason, visiting Kānepuʻu is a unique opportunity, and it’s an experience that truly cannot be had on other islands because of how much Hawaiʻi’s landscapes have been altered.
Without giving it all away, I highly recommend checking out my separate Kānepuʻu article linked below, because with a graduate degree from the University of Hawaiʻi in Natural Resources and Environmental Management, including a focus on rare plants in Hawaiʻi, I’m able to provide detailed context before visiting Kānepuʻu, so that you can gain a greater appreciation for the preserve and understand how special it truly is!
Read My Separate Post: Kānepuʻu Preserve
12. Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods)
Keahiakawelo, better known as the Garden of the Gods, is an otherworldly volcanic rock garden on the uplands of western Lānaʻi.
That being said, Keahiakawelo is not a trail but rather a place to run around, explore, and drive through on the way down to Polihua Beach.
I personally recommend visiting at sunset, as this is when the colors at Keahiakawelo begin to come to life, making the entire landscape a photographer’s dream with the number of angles that one could find!
Google Maps Directions: Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods)
13. Hiʻi Trail
Distance: 5.1 miles / 8.2 km
The Hiʻi Trail is one of the best day hikes on Lānaʻi because the beautiful 3.9-mile (6.3 km) Hiʻi Loop atop the island’s Bench Lands is a stunning place to hike, bike, and even trail-run.
That said, what truly sets the Hiʻi Trail apart from other similar adventures, like the nearby Waiapaʻa Trail, is the Hiʻi Heiau on the uppermost part of the Hiʻi Loop.
In Hawaiian culture, a Heiau is a traditional Hawaiian temple or sacred site, typically constructed of stone and other natural materials. However, many Heiaus across Hawaiʻi have been lost and forgotten over time, but thanks to the work of countless volunteers, the Hiʻi Heiau is very much alive and thriving, as those who maintain it fight back against invasive species while promoting native biodiversity.
This is all to say, I encourage you to learn more about the full Hiʻi Trail, as well as a deeper explanation of Hawaiʻi’s Heiaus, in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Hiʻi Trail
14. Lānaʻi City Bar & Grill
There isn’t much in the way of nightlife on Lānaʻi, but the Lānaʻi City Bar & Grill may be the one 'exception' to this. And yes, I do mean air quotes around the word 'exception' because their hours are certainly modest, with weekends typically open a little later than weekdays!
On a different note, Hotel Lānaʻi, where Lānaʻi City Bar & Grill is located, can be a more affordable place to stay on the island. However, I recommend starting your search across the entire island, so that you can compare the best places to stay, both in Lānaʻi City and down in Mānele.
Yelp: Lānaʻi City Bar & Grill
15. Shipwreck Beach (Kaiolohia)
Shipwreck Beach is a remote beach on the North Shore of Lānaʻi that gets its name from the WWII-era Shipwreck that was intentionally abandoned in 1950 on the reef just offshore.
It’s worth noting that Shipwreck Beach is not easy to access. The beach is located about 1.0 mile (1.6 km) from the Shipwreck Beach parking area, which is why I provided links to both below.
If you are considering the hike, prepare for a rough, rugged, and slippery coastline. It’s not all sand, and it’s not always clear where to walk either, meaning there are likely places where you’ll get wet, depending on the tide. Finally, I cannot overstate the importance of a hooded sun shirt for such an exposed adventure, which can be useful here at Shipwreck Beach and on other trails across Lānaʻi.
Google Maps Directions: Shipwreck Beach (Parking) / Lānaʻi Oil Tanker
16. Coffee Works
Coffee Works in Lānaʻi City is the best coffee shop on the island, and it’s where I prefer to stop in for a quick, light breakfast before setting off on one of many nearby adventures, like Koloiki Ridge or the Hiʻi Trail.
Yelp: Coffee Works
17. Dole Park
Located in the heart of Lānaʻi City, the Norfolk Pines, more commonly called Cook Pines, in Dole Park are a testament to Lānaʻi’s long history where George C. Munro pioneered the spread of the species across the island, observing that Cook Pines could help capture much-needed water from the passing clouds that commonly collect over Lānaihale.
Today, this remains a topic of debate among conservationists, as some advocate for a transition back to an ʻŌhiʻa lehua-dominated forest in the mountains, replacing the Cook Pines that tower above the Munro Trail. However, only time will tell what the future holds.
In any case, visitors can enjoy a walk among the beautiful, towering Cook Pines in Dole Park, which have been part of Lānaʻi’s landscape since the first one was planted in 1878.
Google Maps Directions: Dole Park
18. Hulopoʻe Beach
Located on the sunny South Shore in Mānele, Hulopoʻe Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Lānaʻi, second only to Polihua Beach on the North Shore.
This is why staying at the Four Seasons Hulopoʻe is undoubtedly one of the best places to spend a few nights, as there is so much to see and do in just this one area, including a number of my recommendations listed below.
Google Maps Directions: Hulopoʻe Beach
19. Hulopoʻe-Huawai Fisherman’s Trail
Distance: 4.2 miles / 6.8 km
The Hulopoʻe-Huawai Fisherman’s Trail, more commonly called the Fisherman’s Trail, is a coastal adventure that begins on the far western end of Hulopoʻe Beach (visible in the photo above) and extends for 2.1 miles (3.4 km) along the rugged South Shore of Lānaʻi.
The trail, which begins at sea level, gradually climbs a few hundred feet up some of the most beautiful volcanic sea cliffs, which are best enjoyed late in the day—especially at sunset! In addition to the views, the Fisherman’s Trail is also known for a number of culturally significant sites, most notably Kapihaʻā Village.
To learn more about the full hike, including my favorite places to catch the sunset on the trail, I recommend checking out my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Fisherman’s Trail
20. Keōmuku Village (Ka Lanakila Church)
Keōmuku Village, which is best known for Ka Lanakila Church on the east side of Lānaʻi, is where visitors exploring one of the island’s most remote coastlines can learn about some of Lānaʻi’s long history.
The church, seen here in the photo below, is easily the most notable landmark in Keōmuku Village. However, the entire area is a great place to walk around and read about the now-abandoned 1950s village that once served as the connection between Lāhainā on Maui and Lānaʻi.
This is all to say that Keōmuku is most often the first stop most visitors make on the drive out to Lōpā Beach, and if you prioritize any other stops along the way, I recommend visiting the Japanese Memorial Shrine, discussed in more detail below.
Google Maps Directions: Keōmuku Village (Ka Lanakila Church)
21. Japanese Memorial Shrine
I’ve listed the Japanese Memorial Shrine immediately following Keōmuku Village because the memorial is located just 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south off Keōmuku Road.
That being said, the Japanese Memorial Shrine is a much quicker stop than Keōmuku Village, but stopping to read the sign will provide some insight into Hawaiʻi’s long sugar plantation industry and the immigrant laborers who made much of it possible!
Google Maps Directions: Japanese Memorial Shrine
22. Hulopoʻe Tide Pool
The Hulopoʻe Tide Pool is a beautiful natural tide pool located at the very beginning of the Puʻu Pehe Trail. For this reason, I love to plan the two together, with the idea of getting in after hiking down from Sweetheart Rock.
This is all to say that the Hulopoʻe Tide Pool is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do on Lānaʻi, which, again, adds to the long list of things to see and do when visiting Mānele on the South Shore!
Google Maps Directions: Hulopoʻe Tide Pool
23. Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary
Whether you love or hate cats, there’s no denying that a visit to the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary will be an experience you won’t forget, as there are truly hundreds of cats that love the attention (and treats) from anyone who visits.
That said, there is no cost and no reservations needed to visit the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary because one of the main goals of the non-profit is to find homes for their many rescues and to save Hawaiʻi’s endemic forest birds from the cats that would otherwise push them to extinction.
Google Maps Directions: Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary
24. Lānaʻi Snorkeling Tour
Lānaʻi is the best island in Hawaiʻi to book a snorkel or diving tour because of a one-of-a-kind underwater cave system, known as Cathedrals!
Now, it must be noted that visiting Cathedrals, along with several other caves along the South Shore, is only possible by booking a tour, and similar to the helicopter tours mentioned above, Lānaʻi diving tours depart from Maui.
This is yet another reason why I recommend visiting Maui on the same trip as Lānaʻi.
25. Waiapaʻa Trail
Distance: 6.2 miles / 10.0 km
The Waiapaʻa Trail is last on my list, not because it’s a bad recommendation, but because the Waiapaʻa Trail is an adventure I wouldn’t prioritize unless you have a lot of time on the island and/ or it’s not your first trip to Lānaʻi.
That being said, the Waiapaʻa Trail is second to the Hiʻi Trail in my mind because I personally think the views, the Hiʻi Heiau, and the overall maintenance of the Hiʻi Trail make it a better first choice.
However, that’s not to say the Waiapaʻa Trail can’t be a great place for a quiet hike, bike ride, or trail-run, as the views of Lānaihale, Lānaʻi’s tallest peak, are second to none on the Waiapaʻa Trail compared to any other adventure!
Read My Separate Post: Waiapaʻa Trail
What NOT to Do!
When I wrote this list for the other islands, it was with the intention that crime is a real issue. However, on Lānaʻi, I’d say not so much. But don’t get complacent.
Don’t ever leave bags or anything valuable visible in your car.
Treat Lānaʻi like you would any city, and you will be fine. Smash and grabs happen often on other islands, and some of my favorite trailheads have glass all over the place because people just don’t understand this. Again, this doesn’t speak to Lānaʻi as it does other islands.
Do NOT approach or harass our native wildlife.
This happens all too often with visitors harassing our endemic and endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals. There are strict penalties for doing this, and visitors have been hunted down and prosecuted because of social media posts in the past.
The Hawaiian monk seal, along with many other native Hawaiian species, is on the federal list of endangered species. This also applies to sensitive mountain environments, like Lānaihale, which are home to some of the rarest species in the world. Please use common sense.
Native Hawaiian Plants on Lānaʻi
I wanted to include this last section on this post because this is a subject that’s personal to me.
The native plant biodiversity in Hawaiʻi is insane! 90% of the native plants that you will see around the islands are found nowhere else on earth, and I say these things for two reasons.
The first is that I ask that you please do everything you possibly can to minimize your impact on our trails because so many of our native plants are at risk of extinction. The second is that if you have personal interest in the subject or may be curious about something that you found, I wrote a separate post entirely about native Hawaiian plants. I wrote it to help others around Hawaiʻi ID anything that you might be curious about.
For example, this species in the photo below can only be found on the island of Lānaʻi and nowhere else on earth.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
Visiting Other Islands
If you are heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in my separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
