Lanai, Island in Maui County, United States.
Lanai is the sixth largest island in Hawaii and covers 140 square miles (364 square kilometers), with Mount Lanaihale reaching 3366 feet (1026 meters) as the highest point. The landscape ranges from dry plains in the southwest to forested hills in the central and northern areas, with only a few paved roads beyond the main town of Lanai City.
The Dole Corporation bought the island in 1922 and turned it into the largest pineapple plantation in the United States. Cultivation ended in the early 1990s, and the economy shifted toward tourism and other activities.
The ancient village of Kaunolu holds religious structures and house remains from the time when King Kamehameha I used the area as a royal retreat. Visitors can walk through the remains of this settlement and see traces of how people lived centuries ago.
Visitors reach the island by ferry from Maui or by small aircraft, with few paved roads beyond Lanai City. Many routes are unpaved and a vehicle with clearance is often recommended for reaching remote beaches and viewpoints.
Larry Ellison, cofounder of Oracle, owns 98 percent of the island, making it the largest privately owned inhabited island in Hawaii. This ownership shapes much of how the island looks and develops.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
