Kanepuu Preserve. This nature preserve is located on the western side of Lanai. The preserve is comprised of some 590 acres of land and it is the home of 48 different species of native plants. The Kanepuu Preserve shelters the largest remain of olopua/lama dry land forest that can be found on Hawaii. These types of forests were once what covered all of the dry lowlands of all of the Hawaiian Islands, however, as humans have evolved and the earth has changed, the majority of these forests have been destroyed. The trees that can be found on this landscape include the lama and the aiea, which were once knocked down and used to build canoes, which lead to the deforestation of the lowlands. Hike through this preserve and take in the sheer majesty of the landscape.

Polihua Beach. This beach is situated in North Lanai, across the channel from Molokai. It is truly a unique beach because it is truly secluded. Though the water here is very dangerous, this is a great place to see green sea turtles, as well as humpback whales, or to just walk along the beach and take in the beauty of the island.

Kaunolu Village. Located on the southern edge of Lanai, this village was once the place where King Kamehameha loved to fish. In this village, you will find the remnants of a temple, petroglyphs, as well as the location for the famed “Kehekili’s Leap,” a 60-foot cliff that warriors would jump off of to show how brave they were.

Lanai City. No trip to Lanai would be complete without a stop in Lanai City. This city is located in central Lanai and is the main hub of activity on the island – though you may be pressed to find crowds and hustle and bustle, because that just doesn’t exist on Lanai. Lanai City features restaurants, shops and museums that you can enjoy.

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Whale and Dolphin Watching. Just like the waters that surround all of the islands of Hawaii, the waters off the coast of Lanai are frequented by dolphins and whales. You and your family will love having a chance to see these majestic marine animals as they breech and play around in the surf. Books a tour on a chartered boat so that you can your family can see the animals as they swim by. This is truly one of my favorite things to do with my family, no matter what Hawaiian Island I am visiting.

Horseback Riding. If you and your family want to have a chance to explore the natural landscape of Lanai in a truly unique way, plan on go horseback riding. There are several locations that offer horseback riding tours throughout the island. These tours are guided and the guides will take you through some of the amazing landscapes that the island has to offer, including the beaches and the rugged hills. This is a wonderful way to enjoy nature, as well as an unforgettable time with the family.

The Garden of the Gods. Tour the famed Garden of the Gods with your family. People of all ages will be awed by the landscape that seems so foreign to Lanai that can be found here. This is such an impressive location that I visit it each time I come to this amazing island.

Hulopoe Bay. Yesterday, I wrote about Hulopoe Beach and today I will tell you that this is certainly an enjoyable place for you and your family to visit. Everyone will enjoy exploring the tide pools, swimming in the calm waters and just soaking up the sun on the white sand beaches here.

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Located on Hulopoe Bay, Hulopoe Beach was named the Best Beach in America in 1997. Upon approaching the beach, you can easily see why. The beach is located on the protected Hulopoe Bay and it also serves as the front of the illustrious Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay. The beach is not only regarded for its impeccable and incredibly soft white sand beaches, but it is also famous for being the best spot on all of Lanai for swimming and snorkeling. Although the beach is the front of the Four Seasons, it is open to the public, so don’t think that you have to spend big bucks booking a room at the resort in order to enjoy the beach.

The Hulopoe Bay is so famed for swimming and snorkeling because of it is comprised of amazing tide pools. These pools, which can be found on the eastern edge of the bay, have been carved from volcanic rock, and they are extremely well protected by the rough waters of the ocean, making them a great place for marine life to call home and an ideal place for humans to get an up close look at this marine life, as well as swim. As the tides roll in over the tide pools, many different types of marine organisms are deposited here. Some of the organisms that you can expect to see include starfish, limpets, sea stars and hermit crabs. You can also see some species of colorful fish swimming through the waters here.

Since the water is relatively warm and calm, Hulopoe Beach is a wonderful place for taking a dip and cooling off. When you aren’t playing around in the water or exploring, you can also enjoy spending some time on the pristine white sand beach that hugs the bay. There picnic tables, barbecue grills, as well as restrooms that are outfitted with showers, so you really can enjoy spending an entire day here.

Of all of the beaches on Lanai, I have to say that Hulopoe Beach truly is my favorite. The beach certainly lives up to its expectations and it is a place that I would highly advice you experience while visiting Lanai.

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Kaiolohia, or Shipwreck Beach, acquired its name because, well, you guess it; there have been so many shipwrecks here. It is a small, 8-mile span of beach, but the conditions here are extremely windy and the water is very shallow and rocky, which has lead to the destruction and skinning of several ships throughout history. In fact, you can still see the hull of an oil tanker that was shipwrecked here in the 1940s. This hill sits on the coral reef of Kaiolohia Bay and just out of the water, giving the beach the look of a Hollywood movie set.

Kaiolohia is not only famous for its ghostly past and still visible shipwreck, but it is also regarded for it is also famous for its landscape and some other items of historical significance. The beach is quite pristine and offers amazing views of Maui and Molokai on clear days. You can stroll along the beach and explore the marine life, soak up the sun and just take in the simple beauty of this portion of the island. It should be noted, however, that swimming is not advised, as the water here is quite dangerous (if you could not already guess by the name Shipwreck Beach.)

You can get a glimpse at some ancient history while visiting Kaiolohia, as well. About 200 yards away from the beach, you will find the Kukui Point petroglyphs. These petroglyphs are the markings of ancient native Hawaiians that have been etched into the rocks. They just add to the mystery and wonder of this amazing location.

If you want to visit Kaiolohia, you will need to have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to do so. The terrain is quite rugged and cannot be accessed any other way. Once you make it to the sandy portion of the area, you will be able to park your vehicle, where you can get out and walk the rest of the way to the beach.

For a truly mystical experience, plan a trip to Kaiolohia, Lanai.

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Keahiakawelo, or the Garden of the Gods in English, is located on the northern coast of Lanai at the end of Polihua Road. This place truly is a marvel and it is like nothing else that I have ever seen on earth. As you approach this famous Garden of the Gods, you will immediately notice that it features a completely unique landscape, one that you too, have likely never seen before. That is because the landscape of the Garden of the Gods is made up of large boulders and tall rock towers that reach up into the sky. If you ever wanted to know what the surface of the moon looked like, this must be it.

As with so many things in Hawaii, there is a legend that surrounds the Garden of the Gods. According to this legend, the garden was created as a result of a fire burning contest that took part between two kahuna (priests) who hailed from Molokai and Lanai. The challenge was to see who could keep a fire burning on their island the longest and whoever the winner was, his island would be rewarded with great riches. Well, as the legend goes, the priest that hailed from Lanai used all of the vegetation in the Garden of the Gods to keep his fire blazing and as a result, the landscape was left barren and is still barren today.

Whether or not this legend is true, one thing that can’t be denied is the sheer majesty of the Garden of the Gods. The rock towers, spires and other rock formations that are found here are truly inspiring and are amazing examples of geology. Not only are the rock formations a sight to be see, but so are the nearby islands of Oauh and Molokai, which can be seen from the Garden of the Gods.

A trip to the Garden of the Gods is something that I highly suggest you do if you are visiting Lanai. It’s something that you won’t soon forget.

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Lanai is, simply put, laid back and completely relaxed. I know that this is the vibe that all of the Hawaiian Islands give off, but in Lanai, the laid back vibe can really and truly be felt. Being laid back is such a way of life here, in fact, that there is not a single traffic light located on the island. Sounds crazy to use busy folks who are always on the go, go, go, but in Lanai, there is no go, go, go; the people here really do stop to smell the roses.

The island of Lanai is located just 9 miles from the shores of Maui, yet it truly feels like it is a world away from the island. This is the smallest island in the Hawaiian chain that is actually inhabited and you can really gain an understanding of the simplistic lifestyle that is lived here.
Though the island of Lanai may be small, there is no shortage of things to do while you are here. One of the most popular things to do here include hiking along the famous Munro Trail, where you can take in truly amazing views of the island and become one with nature. Another activity that visitors and locals alike enjoy doing is looking out over Hulopoe Bay, where it isn’t unusual to see a playful dolphin or two splashing around in the water. The Garden of the Gods is another place that people just love to explore and something that I personally do each time that I visit Lanai.

Now, just because Lanai is so small and the lifestyle is so laid back, it does not mean that you can’t find luxury on this island. In fact, the island is home to some truly impressive and high class resorts. There are many resorts that offer world-class amenities, such as spas, swimming pools and five-star restaurants. You will also find some impeccable golf courses on this island.

If you want to experience a truly serene vacation in Hawaii, then I highly suggest you visit the island of Lanai.

The post About Lanai first appeared on Rediscover Maui.

For today, I am going to let you in on some of the major points of interest on Hawaii’s Big Island. Again, just like with the rest of the Islands of Hawaii, there are many things to see and do on this island and I want to make sure that, if you are planning a trip here, you include some of the big attractions on your list of things to do. So, without further ado, here are some of the biggest points of interest on the Big Island.

Volcanoes National Park. I know that I have already highlighted this point of interest in previous blog posts, but Volcanoes National Park is just that amazing that it needs to be mentioned several times. At this park, you can actually see a volcano erupting and creating new land before your very eyes. It truly is a sight to behold and something that I highly stress that you do while visiting the Big Island.

Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve. Located on the Kahola Coast, the Puako Petroglyph Archeological Preserve is another amazing site to see on the Big Island. Here, you will find more than one thousand petroglyphs that have been carved into lava rocks. These carvings were created centuries ago by the Native Hawaiians and while the real meaning of the information depicted in the drawings is not known, it is believed that they are records of significant events of the Native Hawaiians.
Hilo. Located along the eastern coast of the Big Island is Hilo. This region is dotted with cascading waterfalls, lush rainforests and stunning gardens. Hilo was one a major farming and fishing region that later turned into the center for the sugar industry and today, it is a bustling area that is teeming with things to see and do. You can tour the rainforests and gardens, shop the markets and meet the people of Downtown Hilo and learn about the history and culture of the island. Hilo is a very popular place to visit and someplace that I would highly advice you to experience.

Of course, there are many other interesting things to see and do on the Big Island, but these are my top three choices.

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Kahua Ranch. Kids of all ages and adults alike will enjoy learning about paniolo – Hawaiian cowboys – at the Kahua Ranch in Waimea. At this real life working ranch, you and your family will learn what life is like as a cowboy on the island of Hawaii, try your hands at cowboy life and even get an opportunity to go on a real wagon ride! It really is pretty neat to explore the life of a cowboy on a tropical island.

Ellison S Onizuka Center for International Astronomy. You and your family will be able to explore far away worlds at this amazing astronomy center. Here, you will not only learn about the planets of our solar system, as well as far off solar systems, through the interactive exhibits and the planetarium, but you will also get a chance to look through the powerful telescopes at this center and actually see these other worlds for yourself. This place is sure to leave you and your kids imagining what life is like on other planets.

Liliuokalani Gardens. You and your kids will be able to explore some truly amazing species of plant life at these botanical gardens. You can get up close and personal with so many different species of plants, many of which you have likely never seen before, nor will ever see again. This place is peaceful and Zen and really makes for a great afternoon of family togetherness.

Volcanoes National Park. Not only will your children be amazed, but so will you when you come face-to-face with an active volcano at Volcanoes National Park. Here, you will get to see the most active volcano on earth spewing lava into the sea, creating new land right before your very eyes! This place truly is something that the whole family is sure to love.

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Mookini Heiau State Monument. This location is regarded as one of the most sacred locations on the entire island of Hawaii, as this is the birthplace of King Kamehameha; the greatest king that ever presided over the kingdom of Hawaii (back when it was a kingdom.) There is a monument that marks that birth of this great king. Also located on this spot is a 1,500 year old temple, which was once the site of human sacrifice (a little stomach-churning, I know, but fascinating all the same.)

Kealakekua Bay. This is a Marine Life Conservation District and is also the spot where the famous British explorer Captain James Cook first landed on the Big Island – who was coincidentally killed just a year later during a large battle with the native islanders. Here, you will find a large statue that pays tribue to this great explorer.

Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site. This is the site of one of the largest, and more importantly, the last temple in Hawaii. This temple was built under the order of King Kamehameha and was to serve as a structure that would bring the Hawaiian’s into great regard with the war god, Ku. This temple was King Kamehameha’s attempt to bring together the then un-unified Hawaiian Islands.

Puuhonua o Hanaunau National Historical Park. If you were a felon on the Hawiian Islands years ago, you would seek protection at this location. Today, you won’t find any lawbreakers residing here, but you will find temples, ponds and the famous Hawaiian Great Wall. This park encompasses 180 acres of land and is a fantastic location to learn about this history of the Hawaiian people.

The Hawaiian Islands have a deep-seeded history and a strong heritage that span for centuries. If you want to learn about the history and the culture of these islands, the Big Island is absolutely one of the best places to do so.

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Kolekole Beach Park. Just north of Hilo, about 12 miles or so, on the Hamakua Coast, you will find this incredible beach oasis. The Kolekole Beach Park is a jungle amidst the ocean, where you will find streams, waterfalls and a banyan tree that, complete with a rope swing for falling into the water. This beach is truly a laid back location where you can enjoy being one with nature.

Onekahakaha Beach Park. If you are looking for calm waters that are safe for swimming, then you need to check out this beach. Situated along the Hilo coast, this is a small beach with a shallow ocean pool that is lined with sand. There are small tide pools and inlets where you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. It truly is a great place to experience the beach with little ones, as the waters here are so calm.

Punaluu Black Sand Beach. About 30 miles south of the famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the beach that is just as famous; the Punaluu Black Sand Beach. The sands on this beach are black, thanks to the volcanoes of the island and truly make for an unbelievable sight to see. Not only is the black sand truly remarkable, but so are the green sea turtles that come ashore and bask in the sun on the black sand. I absolutely love this beach and if you really want to spend some time exploring it, there is a campground nearby where you can spend a few days camping out.

Samuel Spencer Beach Park. Situated just outside of the Historic Kailua Village, you will find this incredible stretch of beach. The water here is protected by a reef, which makes for calm surf to enjoy swimming and snorkeling in. Enjoy a full day here, as there are picnic pavilions, complete with grills and tables, where you can fire up a few meals.

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