Popular Areas

Koele

Manele Bay





The third smallest of the islands
Peaceful, tropical, lavish - this is Hawaii's "Private Island," the place that the richest man in the world, Microsoft mogul Bill Gates, chose for his wedding, and the ideal place for a bit of tranquility. Born from Palawai's volcanic explosion, this is the sixth largest of Hawaii's eight islands, and it remains as a small, untarnished agricultural community with nary a traffic light to disturb your carefree wanderings.For decades this 140 square mile island was known as the Pineapple Island with hundreds of acres of fields growing the golden fruit.Rapidly growing into a popular tourist destination it has been renamed "Hawaii's Private Island". Lanai epitomizes the American melting pot of ethnic diversity, including residents of Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, European, and Portuguese ancestry, as well as native Hawaiian families, to create a vivacious culture with a Polynesian flavor.

In the 1930s, Lanai was a pineapple plantation exclusively owned by the Dole Company. Since 1993, however, Lanai's economy has branched out to include other agriculture and ranching, and its main source of income is from tourists visiting 2 of the world's poshest resorts, where many of the island's 2,800 residents are employed. Two World-class golf courses, stunning white beaches, fascinating lava formations, archaeological mysteries,Hike into the splendors of Lanaihale,The crystalline waters of Hulopoe Beach are a snorkeler's delight and the spectacular Pacific surf: this is Lanai! an experience of a lifetime.




The islands of Hawaii offer travelers many sports opportunities, including surfing and other watersports, the opportunity to ride on the famous Ironman Triathlon route or mountain bike a volcano, and of course, many well-known golf resorts. But off the beaten path, just 15 miles from Maui, is an island that time has nearly forgotten. The seldom-visited island of Lanai claims only 2300 full-time residents, (that's less than the number of deer on the island), but amongst the preserved and diverse landscapes, one will find a pair of golf resorts that are among the absolute best in the world.


Recently named The World's #1 Golf Resort by Condé Nast Traveler, The Lodge at Koele promises a combination of "old world elegance and Hawaiian grace", and they deliver. The Lodge is situated in the island's dramatic uplands, providing a peaceful setting with easy access to the island's spectacular coastline.

The Experience at Koele was designed by Ted Robinson and later renovated by Greg Norman. The course's front 9 holes sit on former pineapple fields, and offer views of Lanai City - a unique village built in the 1920's by Dole Pineapple Company. The back nine rolls through the highlands of what used to be the Koele Ranch, at 2,000 feet elevation.


If you like nightlife, you might prefer the Lodge's sister property, the Manele Bay Hotel which in 2001 was named Best Golf Resort in North America. The hotel sits on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, like many of the spectacular holes on its golf course, the Challenge at Manele. The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and the No. 17 green was the site Bill Gates selected for his wedding to Melinda French in the early 90's.

No matter which course or accommodations you choose on Lanai, it is sure to be a unique visit to Hawaii, with the very best in golf and some of the finest service in the world to complement the island's stunning natural beauty.