Lānai (IPA: ) is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is also known as Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation. The only town is Lānai City, a small settlement.

The island is somewhat circular in shape, with a width of 18 miles in the longest direction. The land area is 140.53 square miles (363.97 km²). It is separated from the island of Molokai by the Kalohi Channel to the north, and from Maui by the Auau Channel to the east. The United States Census Bureau defines Lanai as Census Tract 316 of Maui County, Hawaii. Its total population was 3,193 as of the 2000 census.Census Tract 316, Maui County United States Census Bureau

History

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Lānai was first seen by Europeans on February 25, 1779, when Captain Clerke sighted the island from aboard James Cook's HMS Resolution. Clerke had taken command of the ship after Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay on February 14, and was leaving the islands for the North Pacific.

In 1922, James Dole, the president of Hawaiian Pineapple Company later the Dole Food Company, bought the entire island of Lānai, and developed a large portion of it into the world's largest pineapple plantation.

Tourism

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Tourism on Lānai started more recently as the pineapple industry was phased out in the islands.

There are two resort hotels on Lānai: Manele Bay and the Lodge at Koele, the latter a rather unique resort in Hawaii in that it is in the cool hills nowhere near the beach. There is also a small hotel in Lānai City used primarily for people visiting Lānai residents. Both resorts have golf courses. Four Seasons currently has a contract to manage both resorts while David Murdock (Castle & Cooke) maintains ownership of the resorts as well as about 98% of the island.

The highest point is Lanaihale which is 3,370 feet high.

References

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Volcanoes of Maui Nui | Maui Nui | Islands of Hawaii | Lanai | Lanai | Lanai | Lana'i