Lanai v. 69

Hawaii- Where do you start?  Lanai of course!  Most famous in my family for being the home of my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Wallace.

Aunt Nancy and Uncle Wallace at our Manele Bay picnic.

Tree climbing at Manele Bay

We flew from Oahu to Lanai on Island Air.  As the agent reviewed our tickets, he offered to send us on a direct flight, rather than our puddle jumper that stopped on Molokai.  Very sweet!  Really- the Island Air staff were very accomodating, and cut 3 hours off our travel time.

Lanai and its people have made a great transformation from the "Pineapple Island" (owned by Dole) to "Hawaii's Most Enticing Island" (http://www.gohawaii.com/lanai/guidebook/top-sights).  

View of Maui from one of the the beaches

There is a big old rusty ship off the coast of Lanai, that you can see from a beach accessible only by Uncle Wallace's 4 wheel drive truck.  It is a rugged, beautiful beach, aptly named Shipwreck Beach.

I think that's volcanic rock back there!

98% of Lanai was recently purchased by Oracle's Larry Ellison.  The 2% includes my Aunt and Uncle's house.  What do you do when you own a Hawaiian island?  You renovate the 2 awesome resorts and do everything you can to make the island self-sustaining.  At least, that is the stated goal for this island's owner. I think he bought Island Air as well...  

Our trip included another 4 wheel drive trip along the top, with spectacular views of Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, and the Big Island.

We came home to some delicious warm homemade sesame donuts that a neighbor left.  What a treat!

Spectacular view from atop Lanai

On Tuesday, we went to the 7400 panel solar farm that produces 10% of Lanai's power. We ended the day at Alberta's farm.  She gave a fascinating talk on growing local produce.  The best story though, was about a midwestern tourist who was bored with just sitting around at the resort.  He went to visit the farm, and ended up plowing her fields in the straightest rows she had ever seen.  He felt right at home.  She welcomes the help!

We left Lanai on the ferry with a new - less commercial view of Hawaii.  Thank you Aunt Nancy and Uncle Wallace!!