Lanai is the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in Hawaii, about 9 miles off Maui’s west coast, and the most private in feel. Most of the island is owned by Larry Ellison, and its tourism centres on two resorts: the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Mānele Bay, set above Hulopoʻe Beach, and Sensei Lanai, a wellness retreat in the cooler upland pine forest at Kōʻele. Lanai City, a former plantation town of small shops around a central park, sits between them. There are few paved roads, no traffic lights and a small population, which is exactly what visitors come for: golf above the sea cliffs, four-wheel-drive trails to Keahiakawelo (the Garden of the Gods) and quiet beaches.
Lanai Airport (LNY) lies about 3.5 miles (6 km) south-west of Lanai City, with both resorts a short drive away. Airline access is limited to small inter-island aircraft, so a private flight is often the simplest way to arrive with luggage and on your own schedule. The single runway is shorter than those on the larger islands, which makes aircraft selection important for direct flights from the mainland; many guests fly to Honolulu or Maui first and continue in a smaller aircraft. Flight times are around 30 minutes from Honolulu, under 20 minutes from Kahului and about 5 hours 30 minutes from Los Angeles in a suitable long-range jet. The Jet Collection matches the aircraft to Lanai’s runway, plans any inter-island connection and arranges the transfer from the ramp to the resort.
