Hiking & Camping

Hiking

A Leisurely Morning Hike

The 3-hour self-guided Koele Nature Hike starts by the reflecting pool in the backyard of the Lodge at Koele and takes you on a 5-mile loop through Norfolk Island pines, into Hulopoe Valley, past wild ginger, and up to Koloiki Ridge, with its panoramic view of Maunalei Valley and of Molokai and Maui in the distance. You're welcome to take the hike even if you're not a guest at the lodge. The path isn't clearly marked, so ask the concierge for a free map. Do this hike in the morning; by afternoon, the clouds usually roll in, marring visibility at the top and increasing your chance of being caught in a downpour.

The Challenging Munro Trail

This tough, 11-mile (round-trip) uphill climb through the groves of Norfolk pines is a lung buster, but if you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Molokai, Maui, Kahoolawe, the peaks of the Big Island, and -- on a really clear day -- Oahu in the distance. Plan on 7 hours. The trail begins at Lanai Cemetery along Keomoku Road (Hwy. 44) and follows Lanai's ancient caldera rim, ending up at the island's highest point, Lanaihale. Go in the morning for the best visibility. After 4 miles, you'll get a view of Lanai City. The weary retrace their steps from here, while the more determined go the last 1.25 miles to the top. Die-hards head down Lanai's steep south-crater rim to join the highway to Manele Bay, though you'll need to be picked up if you take the south-crater rim and hike to the highway. As an alternative, you can skip this steep hike and retrace the route you came in on. For more details on the Munro Trail -- including information on four-wheel-driving it to the top.

A Self-Guided Nature Trail

This self-guided nature trail in the Kanepuu Preserve is about a 10- to 15-minute walk through eight stations, or interpretive signs explaining the natural or cultural significance of what you're seeing. The trail head is clearly marked on Polihua Road on the way to the Garden of the Gods. Kanepuu is one of the last remaining examples of the type of forest that once covered the dry lowlands throughout the state. There are some 49 plant species here that are found only in Hawaii. At press time, the Kanepuu Preserve was closed but had plans for reopening, with guided hikes soon. There are also plans to re-construct the self-guided trails and signage, which have fallen into serious disrepair, but no dates or projections were available at press time.

Guided Hikes

The Lodge at Koele (tel. 808/565-4552; www.fourseasons.com/lanai) offers a 2 1/2-hour Koloiki Ridge nature hike through 5 miles of the upland forests of Koele at 11am daily. The fee is $25. It's considered moderate, with some uphill and downhill hiking.

Camping at Hulopoe Beach Park

There is only one legal place to camp on Lanai: Hulopoe Beach Park, which is owned by Castle and Cooke Resorts. To camp in this exquisite beach park, with its crescent-shaped white-sand beach bordered by kiawe trees, contact Dony Haban, Park Manager, Castle and Cooke Resorts, PO Box 630310, Lanai City, HI 96763 (tel. 808/559-7841). There's a $25 registration fee, plus a charge of $10 per person, per night. Hulopoe has eight campsites; each can accommodate up to five people. Facilities include restrooms, running water, showers, barbecue areas, and picnic tables.