The only regular nightlife venues are the Lanai Playhouse, at the corner of Seventh and Lanai avenues in Lanai City, and the two resorts, the Four Seasons Resort Lodge at Koele and Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay.
The Lanai Playhouse (tel. 808/565-7500) is a historic 1920s building that has won awards for its renovations. When it opened in 1993, the 150-seat venue stunned residents by offering first-run movies with Dolby sound -- quite contemporary for anachronistic Lanai. The Lanai Playhouse usually, but not always, shows two movies each evening from Friday to Tuesday (to Wed in summer), at 6:30 and 8:30pm, with occasional Sunday and Monday matinees; if a 3-hour movie is on, it's shown at 7:30pm. Tickets are $8 for adults ($5 for matinees) and $5 for kids and seniors. The playhouse is also the venue for occasional special events.
The Lodge at Koele has stepped up its live entertainment. In front of the manorial fireplaces in the Great Hall, local artists serenade listeners, who sip port and fine liqueurs while sinking into plush chairs, with contemporary Hawaiian, classical, and other genres of music. The special programs are on weekends, but some form of nightly entertainment takes place throughout the week, from 7 to 10pm.
The Lanai Art Center features "Stars Under the Stars," free outdoor screenings of classic films (plus a cartoon) in Dole Park. They start at sunset on the first Thursday of the month. Bring your own blankets, beach chairs, and a picnic dinner. For more information, go to www.visitlanai.net.
Occasionally, special events will bring in a few more nightlife options. During the annual Pineapple Festival, generally the first weekend in July, some of Hawaii's best musicians arrive to show their support for Lanai. Aloha Festivals (www.alohafestivals.com) takes place in the end of September or the first week in October, and the Christmas Festival is held on the first Saturday in December. For details on these festivals, contact the Lanai Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 631436, Lanai City, HI 96763; or 431 Seventh St., Suite A, Lanai City (tel. 800/947-4774 or 808/565-7600; fax 808/565-9316; www.visitlanai.net).
