One of the largest – 6th largest- of the Hawaiian islands is the island Lanai (hence, it is quite small compared with the other islands of Hawaii).
It is commonly called as the pineapple island because the island had an island wide pineapple plantation in the past.
Lanai city – a small settlement is the small town of Lanai.
The island has a comma shape and has a width of 29km in the direction in which it is longest and has a land area which is approximately about 364 km2. Lanai is hence, the 42nd largest island in the whole of United States.
Lanai Island is separated from the Molokai Island by a channel named as Kalohi which is to the north and is separated from Maui by a channel called Auau which is to the east.
Lanai has a total population of approximately around three thousand one hundred and ninety three according to the year 2000 census done by the United States Census Bureau.
Four-wheel drives are required to access the important sites of Lanai island as well as its landmarks, as they are located off dirt roads.
As the pineapple industry declined in Lanai Island, tourism industry took its place, as of the recent years.
Managed by Four Seasons hotels, there are two resort hotels on Lanai namely: Manele bay and the lodge at Koele.
Lodge at Koele is rather unusual when compared with other Hawaiian resorts as it is located inland rather than near the beach.
Used mostly by people visiting Lanai residents, there is a small hotel in the Lanai city.
Hotel lanai, with eleven rooms that are available for guests, is a quite charming bed and breakfast hotel. This hotel was built in the year nineteen twenty three by James Dole who was working at the Pineapple company at that time. It was intended to be used as a lodge to provide housing to HAPCO executives who were overseeing the pineapple production and hence it was the only hotel in the Lanai island until around the year nineteen ninety.
Golf courses are a important feature provided by both of these Lanai hotel resorts.
With old fishing villages and many historical places present, Lanai is a place of deep cultural importance.
The boulder strewn Keahikawelo is a very unique feature in the lanai island.
The Lanai city, situated in the centre of the island, has the lanai playhouse and theatre which is simply lovely.
All in all, Lanai Island is one of those islands that have a rather large number of things to offer to its visitors.
