Best Things to Do in Lanai During Your Next Family Vacation

Lanai is a Hawaiian Island that is visited by the fewest people. The reason for the fewer tourists is the island feels the least Hawaiian. That means hardly any tourist attractions, not as much Hawaiian culture and traditions, and not much of a Hawaiian vibe. Plus, it is only about 140 square miles in size. However, it offers views the other islands do not. On a nice clear day, you can easily see five of the other Hawaiian Islands from Lanai. And if you take the time to visit this piece of paradise, you will have an opportunity to see how truly charming and unique this destination really is.

Best Things to Do in Lanai During Your Next Family Vacation

Scuba Dive at the Lanai Cathedrals

Do you have teen adventurists in your home? If you do, you must make a trip to the Lanai Cathedrals to go scuba diving! The Lanai Cathedrals are two large caverns that are lit up by light streaming in through a hole in the ceiling. As your family is swimming through lava tunnels, diving into sea caves, and lounging under lava rock arches, you can see all sorts of sea creatures. This is an excellent way to have fun and relax at the same time!

Take a Hiking Adventure to the Poaiwa Petroglyphs

One of the best ways to learn the history of the Hawaiian Islands is to look at all the petroglyphs. The Poaiwa Petroglyphs can be found not too far from Shipwreck Beach. When you arrive at the beach, you must hike for approximately half a mile before you discover the faded pictorial carvings on the large lava rock boulders.

After you have seen the petroglyphs, you will want to stop off at Shipwreck Beach to wander around before you head out on your next adventure. The large, rusted ship is the perfect background for selfies and family pictures. There are other shipwrecks out in the water, but since the water is so dangerous, you won’t have the chance to swim out to see them under the water.

Embrace History at the Kaunolu Village Site

There are more Hawaiian petroglyphs at the Kaunolu Village Site, as well as a sacred Hawaiian temple and town ruins. You will want to spend lots of time taking in the views from the cliffs, especially Kahekili’s Leap. This sixty-foot cliff is where many locals dove to prove their courage. I don’t recommend doing any cliff jumping here, but you can at least acknowledge how brave the locals were even to attempt it so many years ago!

Swim, Snorkel, and Surf at Hulopoe Bay Beach Park

Hulopoe Bay Beach Park is the ideal destination for swimming and snorkeling during the summer months. When your family is out in the water, you can see spinner dolphins, fish, and even a Hawaiian green sea turtle if you are lucky. This is also the best time of year to explore the nearby tide pools. Those tide pools are filled with Barber Pole shrimp, limpets, starfish, and sea cucumbers.

During the winter months, there are more waves in the water at this beach park. That means you must bring your surfboard to try to catch the perfect wave!

Explore Lanai City

A city on the island of Lanai is not going to be like any city you are used to backing home! Lanai City has no traffic lights, only about three thousand residents, and a laidback vibe. I recommend bringing food, so you can picnic in Dole Park. Afterward, you can wander up and down the streets as you do a little shopping or peruse the artwork in the two galleries.

Get Your Thrills During an Off-Road 4×4 Jeep Tour

Quite a bit of the island of Lanai must be explored either on foot or 4×4. Choosing to take one of these 4×4 Jeep tours will have you seeing a couple of popular attractions, as well as some off-the-beaten-path destinations you would never have known existed otherwise. Imagine bouncing along the dirt paths as you make stops at the Garden of the Gods, the Munro Trail Lookout, and Shipwreck Beach.

The best part is along the way; you will see so much wildlife. Horses and axis deer will be running around, while wild turkeys and pheasants will probably be blocking your path.

These are the best things to do in Lanai during your next family vacation. I can totally understand if you do not think your family can do an entire vacation on the island of Lanai. But you can include this island on an epic family vacation in Hawaii by combining it with at least one of the other Hawaiian Islands. Simply let me know what your dreams are when it comes to exploring these islands, and I will make sure those dreams come true!

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