Plan Your Family Vacation in Lanai with this Travel Guide

A vacation in Lanai and on this forgotten-about Hawaiian Island offers the least when it comes to the authentic Hawaiian experience. However, that shouldn’t stop you from wanting to visit this most centralized Hawaiian Island! If you happen to time your visit just right, you can see five different Hawaiian Islands from this one small island. Plus, since this destination is off the beaten path, you never know what you can possibly discover during your family vacation.

History on the Island of Lanai

The island of Lanai is full of history, geology, and gorgeous views. Over the years, Lanai has earned the nicknames “The Pineapple Isle” and “The Secluded Isle”. Prior to that, Lanai had an eerie history since the Polynesians thought the island was filled with evil spirits. Therefore, it took many years, until around the 1500s, before a person lived on this Hawaiian Island. That person was Kauluaau, and he was basically banished there to Lanai by his father. Kauluaau proved to everyone that the island was not filled with evil spirits, and he earned his right to return to his home island of Maui.

Some people decided to be brave and move to the island of Lanai, but many of them were killed by Kamehameha I, who was king at the time. It wasn’t until 1922, when James Dole purchased the island of Lanai to use as a pineapple plantation, that the island changed. But by the 1980s, pineapples were no longer being grown on this island. It was at that time that Lanai was slowly transformed into a tourist destination like many of the other Hawaiian Islands.

Weather in Lanai

The weather in Lanai is amazing all year round, just like all the other Hawaiian Islands. Therefore, this is another island that basically has two seasons.

Summer in Lanai

The warmest months of the year in Lanai are April through December. Those months are considered the summer months. It is very dry during the months of June through August, although the best months for swimming are August through October.

Winter in Lanai

The remaining months of the year are considered the winter months in Lanai. These months are not much cooler temperature-wise, but they can include a lot more rain.

Best Time to Vacation in Lanai with Your Family

There really isn’t the best time to vacation in Lanai with your family since the weather is fabulous all year long. However, if you want to avoid the crowds that can form on the island, you may want to avoid any time that includes school vacations. If those are the only times you can travel, though, you will be happy to know that the island of Lanai does not get as crowded as many of the other Hawaiian Islands do during those times of the year.

What to Pack for a Family Vacation in Lanai

You will find yourself doing a lot of outdoorsy stuff when you take your family vacation in Lanai. Therefore, you will want to wear comfortable sneakers and maybe even bring hiking boots along. Other than that, shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses will basically fill your suitcase.

Of course, an umbrella or raincoat is a must if you are visiting Lanai during what is considered their rainy season.

Places to Stay While on a Lanai Vacation with Family

There are only a couple hotels on the island of Lanai, but you may also find a vacation rental or two for your vacation. While you won’t have many options, I will make sure the accommodations you are staying in will have everything you will need for this time away from home with your family.

Foods You Must Try While on Vacation in Lanai

The island of Lanai has many of the Hawaiian foods all the other islands have. The only difference on this island is you have fewer places to try them all! There are not multiple coffee shops and cafés for those quick breakfast mornings. And when it comes to lunch and dinner, you won’t have dozens of restaurants to choose from. But that is okay because the options that are available on the island of Lanai will ensure you have some of the best meals possible during your family vacation!

A few tasty island dishes you must try while vacationing in Lanai include:

• Venison
• Wagyu beef
• Hawaiian seafood
• Hawaiian small plates (called pupus)

Activities to Embrace While on Vacation in Lanai

At first glance, you may think there won’t be a ton of fun activities to do with your family when you take a vacation in Lanai. However, I guarantee there are enough activities to keep you busy throughout your visit! Your kids will love swimming in tide pools, snorkeling in the ocean, and even trying to become a pro at boogie boarding. Other thrilling family activities include:

• Movie nights at the historic community theater
• Hiking
• Tackle the 4-wheel drive trails
• Golf
• Whale watching
• Horseback riding
• Wander around the ruins at the Kaunolu Fishing Village
• Fishing
• Surfing
• Cliff diving

Top Places to See While on Vacation in Lanai

The island of Lanai may be small, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find a few must-see attractions to visit! One of the good things about taking a family vacation in Lanai is you won’t need to worry about leaving out some of the top places to see. Since there are not dozens of options, you can easily add everything to your list of things to do. Here are the top three places I think everyone should see while on vacation in Lanai.

Garden of the Gods

Most people think gardens should be full of lush green vegetation. However, at the Garden of the Gods in Lanai, you will find a dusty barren site filled with boulders. You can visit this unique terrain at any time of the day. But I prefer to go just before the sun begins to set in the sky. It is at this time when the sun hits the rocks just right and turns them into bright shades of picturesque reds and purples.

Hulopoe Bay

One of the most popular destinations on the island of Lanai is Hulopoe Bay. You can choose to simply relax on the sand during your visit. However, I recommend entering the water for a swim or doing a little snorkeling. You should not enter the water at Hulopoe Bay during the winter months, though, because the waves are too treacherous. But that is the perfect time to see humpback whales and dolphins swimming by.

Munro Trail

If you have always wanted the chance to see six Hawaiian Islands at the same time, you must hike the Munro Trail. This trail is almost thirteen miles long. You will find yourself walking through canyons, forests, and even the ocean before you reach the top. If you do not want to hike the distance, you can always rent a Jeep to reach the end of the trail. It is also important to note that you will only be able to see all six Hawaiian Islands on a clear day. Therefore, you will want to choose the day of your hiking adventure wisely.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Family Vacation in Lanai

There are a few tips you must be aware of if you want to thoroughly enjoy your time on the island of Lanai. Here are a couple of tips to get you started on the family vacation of a lifetime.

• Always Rent a Jeep – Rental cars are nice to have on many of the Hawaiian Islands. On the island of Lanai, I recommend renting a Jeep instead of a car. This will ensure you can easily reach all the destinations you want to see the most.
• Bring Multiple Pairs of Sneakers – You will be doing a lot of walking while on a family vacation in Lanai. I recommend bringing multiple pairs of sneakers, so your feet won’t hurt as much toward the end of your trip.
• Be Ready to Relax – There isn’t a traffic light on the island of Lanai, so that should tell you how laidback this island truly is. Make sure you are ready to embrace that laidback lifestyle and get some relaxation before you return home.

Planning a family vacation in Lanai is going to be a lot different than planning a family vacation on the Big Island or Maui. It will be a little easier planning your itinerary on Lanai, and you will have much more downtime too. But vacationing on Lanai will still give your family an experience of a lifetime. This is very important when you are creating memories to cherish forever.

Are you ready to plan your family vacation in Lanai?

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