From the mountain to the sea in about 45 minutes

On our first full day in Lana'i we went from one of the highest points to the lowest.

We set off in the drizzle on hike up Koloiki Ridge that starts behind the hotel.

 

This 5-mile hike traveled through a forest that was planted to collect water on the island.  In the mid-1800's developers built ranches across the middle of the island.  Cattle demolished the native flora leaving the land desolate.  Later the land was used to harvest pineapples and the island became the world's largest pineapple plantation which lasted until the last pineapple harvest in 1992.  Around 1928 George Munro realized that Cook Island Pines could collect water from the fog and clouds and initiated a program to plant pine trees across the island.  We kept all of this in mind as our trail merged with part of a very foggy Munro Trail.

 

From the hotel we went up the cart path past the "famous 17th fairway".  We suppose you have to be an avid golfer to know why this is famous?  We're not even sure it's remarkably pretty.

Thank you, Four Seasons, for making sure we're on the right path.

Sisal plants

A view of Maui

Trying not to get blown into Naio Gulch

The fog was rolling in through Maunelei Gulch

A dug up some ginger

We didn't see any bighorn sheep or axis deer but when we got back to the hotel it was overrun by turkeys.

We took off from one of the wettest spots in Hawai'i to one of the dryest at The Four Seasons at Manele Bay. 

We hung out by the pool and enjoyed a nice lunch (we recommend the fish taco and poké) while we watched dolphins in Hulopoe Bay.

We tore ourselves away from the most comfortable chaises we've ever sat on to explore the coastline past the hotel.  First we poked around the tide pools.  

Then we climbed up for a view of Pu'u Pehe, or Sweetheart Rock.

Sweetheart Rock on the left

Legend says that Sweetheart Rock is named for a woman who drowned in a nearby sea cave, where her husband had confined her, and she was buried on this giant rock.  Not really the nicest story, actually.

Sweetheart Rock

View of the Manele Bay properties across Hulopoe Bay

We walked back to the hotel's beach and went for a quick dip with a snorkel.  Then we lounged on the beach to watch the sunset.