Lanai, Hawaii, is just right

Gary Crane

If Goldilocks’ fabled voyage for comfort, dining and a place to rest

her head had been set in Hawaii, then I’m confident she would have

found the island of Lanai “just right.”

In search of a Hawaiian getaway for the family, our good friends

suggested meeting them on this small, beautiful island situated off

Maui and Molokai.

Once a thriving pineapple producer, Lanai is home to about 3,500

residents, mostly in Lanai City. Although not a single traffic light

exists there, Lania has two main roads, a quaint airport and two

first-class resorts developed by David Murdoch and operated by Four

Seasons.

Manele Bay Hotel is gently carved into the bluffs overlooking the

Pacific, while the Lodge at Kohele is gracefully perched in the upper

elevations of the island’s rain forest. Each offers a unique, idyllic

Hawaiian paradise.

The ride from the airport to Manele Bay is a tour unto itself.

This is where I felt the raw splendor of this small island. Gorgeous,

untouched terrain loomed from the mountains to the ocean, clearly

depicting the natural beauty of Lanai.

As we entered the resort, the hotel’s ability to blend with the

terrain left the island as the star and the resort in a

key-supporting role. The entry to Manele Bay Hotel is clean,

refreshing and old-world Hawaii. There is no canal through the lobby

or gargantuan pillars or Vegas-style “we’ve arrived” -- just a pure,

clean, serene feeling.

The staff was very welcoming, and there was very little, if any,

“what to do and where to go” on the island. It really happens

naturally, and the visionaries of Manele kept the island vibe of less

is more.

We never felt rushed, crowded or exerted on Lanai. Whether taking

on the fabulous challenge of Manele Bay Golf Course, snorkeling in

the bay or arranging an adults’ dining night out, every moment was a

tropical breeze. As far as golf goes -- I’ve never lost more balls

and had a better day on the links. Lanai has that effect.

All good things come to an end way too soon. We were thankful our

good friends, the Choes, suggested a trip to Lanai. Our families had

a memorable time together.

Upon our return home, with luggage in the hallway and kids tucked

into bed, my wife and I turned to each other and exhaled our final

thought before a deep sleep: “Lanai was just right.”

-- Gary Crane is a Newport Beach resident.

* TRAVEL TALES runs on Thursdays. Have you, or someone you know,

gone on an interesting vacation? Tell us about your adventures in

about 400 words, accompanied by a couple of photos to choose from

that do not have the Daily Pilot in them, and send it all to Travel

Tales, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to

[email protected]; or by fax to (714) 966-4679.