Lanai City offers peaceful island life with airport access to Maui
Remote and rural, Lanai City is the only town on the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, which sits just west of Maui. This tropical landscape was once home to a massive pineapple plantation that spanned nearly the entire island and today, about 98% of the island is owned by a single person, which has kept it sparsely populated and mostly free of tourism. “Most people who move here are looking for a quiet, peaceful life,” says Kay Okamoto, owner of Okamoto Realty, who has lived on the island for more than 50 years. “They want to get away from the rest of the world.”
The town is in the middle of the island on a low hill, making it cooler than the coast. It has a public school, a library, a medical center, several general stores and a handful of shops and restaurants. “People really only need to leave the island for specialty medical care,” Okamoto says. “For that, we’ve got a small airport and there’s a ferry service that runs to Maui.” A resort along the southern coast with a golf course and vacation homes brings in some tourism, but far less than nearby islands.
Plantation-era homes and luxury estates on the coast
The city’s homes were primarily used as workforce housing for people employed at the island’s pineapple plantation until its closure in 1992. “Most of the homes are what we call plantation homes. They’re small, wood-framed homes, usually with three bedrooms. There’s no heating or AC either, because we don’t need them. We’ve got amazing weather here,” Okamoto says. A handful of luxury homes with large lots also make an appearance on the outskirts of the city. The streets are dotted with tall pine trees, brush and tropical vegetation, and some homes have views of the surrounding hillsides. Most are within walking distance of shops, dining and parks in the center of town. Prices typically range from $350,000 to $850,000 for small homes, while luxury homes have sold for more than $3 million. The Four Seasons Resort Lanai, located on the island's southern coast, features multimillion-dollar vacation homes, most of which are situated around the resort’s golf course.
Locally owned shops and eateries surround Dole Park
Lanai City’s town square is a quiet district with local eateries, shops and a small movie theater. It surrounds Dole Park, a wide-open green space lined with huge pine trees. “It’s all mom-and-pop shops. We don’t have any chains or fast-food on the island,” Okamoto says. Local favorites include Pele’s Other Garden, a New York-style deli that serves pizza and sandwiches, and Ganotisi’s Pacific Rim Cuisine, which specializes in Filipino dishes. Coffee Works is a popular spot for coffee, espresso and pastries with patio seating. For groceries and everyday goods, residents can swing by Pine Isle Market or Richard’s Market.
Lanai celebrates its pineapple legacy with a summer festival
Islanders come together every July for the annual Pineapple Festival in Dole Park, a celebration of the Lanai’s plantation past. At one point, the island provided 75% of the world’s pineapple supply. The festival brings out the whole town for live music, food trucks, cultural exhibits and games.
Parks, beaches and trails offer year-round outdoor fun
Parks, beaches and trails are a major perk for Lanai locals. “We have amazing weather. It’s not too hot or too cold. You’ll see kids playing outside all year round,” Okamoto says. In the center of town, residents can enjoy the playgrounds and picnic areas at Dole Park, swim laps at the Lanai Community Pool or play a pickup game of baseball at Lanai Little League Field. Local beaches are less than 10 miles from the city, offering sweeping views of the Pacific and plenty of opportunities for swimming and surfing. Hiking trails wind across the hillsides outside of town, including the Polihua Trail, a moderate hike that stretches about 10 miles from the city to the coast.
Lanai High and Elementary offers one campus for all students
Students can attend Lanai High and Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through 12th grade. It gets a B rating from Niche. The school enrolls about 550 students every year, and has a 90% graduation rate, putting it slightly above the statewide average. Just over half of the school’s graduates go on to post-secondary education.
Walkable town center with airport, ferry and hospital access
Lanai City is walkable and bikeable, and residents can easily walk to local shops, schools, parks and restaurants. To get off the island, people can catch a flight out of Lanai Airport, a small, inter-island airport that shuttles passengers to nearby islands. There’s also the Maui Lanai Passenger Ferry, a more affordable option that takes passengers to Maui’s Maalaea Bay. Those seeking medical care can head to Lanai Community Hospital, which has an emergency room. For surgeries and specialty care, locals will have to travel to Maui Memorial Medical Center in the city of Wailuku.
