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Lana'i Beach Information
Shipwreck Beach |
 On the way down to this quiet area, take in breathtaking views of the white-sand-rimmed coastline. As you near the lower part of the road, you will see the rusting remains of a WWII liberty ship sitting on the shallow reef, most of it above water. (Liberty ships were the workhorses of World War II, the largest class of civilian-made warships ever built.) At the end of the road are ancient Hawaiian rock carvings (petroglyphs) and the start of an eight-mile beach trail to Polihua Beach. Hiking this trail's entirety may not be for everyone, but about a mile down the beach is the liberty ship, with excellent beachcombing and views of other shipwrecks on the way. |
Polihua Beach | polihua = eggs [in] bosom (as in, turtle eggs) |
 Accessible mostly by four-wheel-drive, this secluded white sand beach was once a major egg-incubating area for sea turtles. A trail hike eight miles to the southeast will lead you to Shipwreck Beach. |
Hulopo'e Beach |
 This bay's pristine waters and soft white sand give it the distinction of being one of Lana'i's finest beaches and possibly the best snorkeling area in the Hawaiian Islands. Picnic spots and the island's only official camping area are partly shaded by palms. |
Water Activities
• Whale & Dolphin Watching: Each winter, from mid-November through mid-May, approximately 3,000 humpback whales travel from Alaska's frigid waters to the sheltered shores around Maui, Molokai and Lana'i to birth their young and mate. Whale-watching on organized expeditions or while you're traveling to Lana'i via Expeditions’ ocean shuttle service are popular ways to view this magnificent creatures. |
  Today, only 7,000 to 8,000 humpback whales exist in the wild. Humpback whales average 45 feet in the length and weigh about one ton per foot. Their newborns calves are one-and-a-half to three tons in weight, and consume 80 gallons of their mother's milk daily. Whales are protected in Hawaiian waters, and federal laws regulate whale-watching activities in order to ensure the animals’ comfort and well being. |
You can also encounter the humpback's smaller cousins, the Hawaiian spinner dolphins, in the waters around Lana'i year round. Hulopo`e Bay and Manele Bay are part of a Marine Life Conservation District where the aquatic mammals are protected. These spirited creatures can be seen from various vantage points on land and during sailing expeditions offered by Lana`i’s recreation companies. |
• Deep Water Activities: Lana`i’s recreational companies offer professionally guided snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and deep sea fishing expeditions in the amazingly clear waters between Maui and Lana'i. Cathedrals, along Lana`i’s southern coast, is a magnificent diving area, with an unrivaled reef community and visibility typically reaching at least 75 feet. It is one of the reasons Skin Diver magazine rated the island among the top 10 snorkel and scuba sites in the world. You can also sign up for diving lessons and sunset cruises.