Hawaii Series Part Two – Lanai

Our second day at the Four Seasons Resort Manele Bay Lanai started with breakfast looking out over the pool to the ocean and surrounded with beautiful flowers. We were the guest of Shea the sales manager who showed us around.  She was a great guide with lot of information on both Four Seasons Resorts as well as island living;  she has lived on Lanai for awhile with her husband…if you meet her ask her how she met him, it’s a great story.

I had met a man in the pool the day before and he commented on the beautiful art work around the hotel; as you walk abound you keep coming to beautiful pieces of Asian Art.  We looked at different rooms, even the rooms back from the water have a great view of gardens and all the room were very spacious and have the same amenities.  There were lovely little gardens all around; my room was an ocean front room and when I went out the door there was a Japanese Garden.  We stopped to see the Spa; it’s a full service spa including some local specials; Lava Shell Massage, Ali’l Banana Coconut Scrub and the Pineapple Citrus Polish.  The Spa and teatment rooms were set up in a very inviting way and they offer so many services.

After touring the resort, it was off to the world class golf course – The Challenge at Manele an ocean side course where Bill Gates was married. Built by Jack Nicklaus every hole has an ocean view, Imagine the Pacific Ocean as your water hazard! We went out in a golf cart to see the course…breathe taking views, just beautiful!

Then it was off to Lanai City…when I say city I don’t want you thinking of a big place, remember this is the island without a traffic light.  We passed the gas station, I didn’t see any prices listed, but as it was pointed out it didn’t matter what the price was…it’s the only gas station so you pay what they charge. This was a small plantation town built by the Dole Pineapple family.  The other Four Seasons hotel is located here in Lanai City.

The weather was different then on the coast, it was cooler and there was a light mist. Also different was The Lodge at Koele, a grand country estate this lodge could be in Colorado, with its large stone fireplaces and high beamed ceilings; there are more pine trees then palm.  The Four Season’s high level of service and the smaller resort makes this feel warm and cozy.  We had a nice lunch looking out at the beautiful grounds including a reflecting pool and Chinese pagoda. This resort is surrounded by mountains and forests.

Yes, they have their own world class golf course –  The Experience at Koele.  Designed by Greg Norman and architect Ted Robinson this course is surrounded by mountains and lush greens.  The signature hole #17 plays from a 250 foot elevated tee to the fairway. Imagine going from one course to the other…what are you waiting for? 

You can stay at one and use the facilities at the other resort; if you want to split your stay between them you only have to register at the first one – you will then be transferred to the other property – it’s seamless.

After a lovely lunch with Shea we headed back to the Manele Bay.  We decided to leave the pool area and head to the beach, we were greeted by attendants who offered to set up chairs and umbrellas for our comfort…I’m going to hate to go back to my real life!

We had dinner outside, looking out at the pool and torches that are lit every night around the resort…a great way to end the day!

If you want to be active there is a lot to do  – swimming, world class golf, archery, clay shooting, mountain biking, croquet, horseback riding, tennis, hiking, lawn bowling, snorkeling, diving and 4 x 4 sight seeing adventures.

Next blog will be on our last day on Lanai and ferry to Maui.

The Hawaiian Language has 13 letters including five vowels and eight consonants.

First in a series of Hawaii Blogs from my trip! 

If you follow my blogs you know I had become obsessed with going back to Hawaii…well I’m now blogging from Maui! 

My friend and I started our trip in Oahu, staying at two wonderful but different hotels – The Royal Hawaiian and The Kahala – and had a special dinner at Alan Wongs.  I will get back to Oahu on a future blog.

Let me start my series of Hawaiian Blogs with the special and little known island of Lanai.  Only 13 x 17 miles in size and having no traffic lights…this is not a problem since there is no traffic!  Population is 3,193.

We arrived on an Island Air flight from Oahu and were met by a driver from the beautiful Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay.  The driver took us on a road winding down to the coast for the resort check-in –  where the pampering begins with a lei greeting, cold drink and chilled cloth to refresh from our journey.  We were taken to our spacious room with a lanai (terrace) facing the ocean…this would be nice any time but during whales season it was wonderful!  Imagine sitting on your lanai watching whales and spinner dolphins playing in front of your room.  This area is where whales come to give birth in the warm water and play during the winter season, they were everywhere. 

We had lunch by the pool at the Ocean Grill looking out over the ocean…and the whales.  One of the things I love the most were all the beautiful and colorful flowers and lovely grounds; lush green lawns and vegetation, many shades of green and bright colorful flowers along side clear blue water that you can see right down to the sandy beach. By Jan/Feb in Boston I long for color!

After lunch it was time to change and head for the pool, where the beach staff does all possible to assure that you need nothing.  During the day they come by with fruit skewers, water, sun screen and ice cold clothes to keep you cool.  They will also spray you with Evian spritzers and clean your sun glasses…life at Manele Bay is good!  

They have beach chairs and cabana style chairs by the pool – No Charge.

Kid’s full-day program – No Charge.

Fitness Center –  No Charge

And No Resort Fee.

After a busy day at the pool we ordered room service, arriving with orchards on the plates. The pool water was like bath water…I kept thinking this is January!

I’m not sure how they do it, but in a very short time everyone seemed to know our name, they create a warm and comfortable environment where they seem to anticipate your every need before you do, you have to love the Four Seasons service level.

So much more to come about my stay in Lanai and the other islands I visited.

To all the people who said they were my friend,  sending me home with holiday cookies and candy, what where you  thinking and what was I thinking – I ate them!  

I’m going to Hawaii, this is the good news – the bad news is I have to take out my summer clothes, including my bathing suit, and see what fits.  I think I will just focus on the fact that I have friends to give me cookies and candy and if I have to buy a big beach cover up, so be it.

Hawaii is a special place! I have live in Hawaii and have been back many times to visit or take groups,  I’m going back to see the changes and what’s new, I’m a designated Hawaii Destination Specialist and need to keep up on all that is Hawaii.  One of the areas I’ll be focusing on is golf, especially the two Four Seasons’s courses on the Island of Lanai – The Challenge at Manele, imagine playing on a cliff with the Pacific Ocean as your water hazard…are you up to the Challenge?  The other course on the island is The Experience at Koele, designed by Greg Norman and architect Ted Robinson, with stunning views. I will also be visiting Hualalai the Jack Nicklaus signature golf course at the Four Seasons on Hawaii and courses on Maui…so many course so little time!   I met with the people at www.golfgurls.com and have a list of things to check while I’m wondering around the golf course.  Did I tell you I love my job!

I have reservations at Alan Wongs Restaurant for Pacific Rim cuisine, directions to Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and will do research  on malasadas (Portuguese  kind of doughnut) and Hawaii’s famous shaved ice…once I buy that big cover up all will be well.

I leave this weekend, I will be working from Hawaii, checking my messages and emails…so I will be reachable.

Come back and check my blog to follow my Hawaiian adventure!   I’m also at @TravelByTatten  Please be my Twitter friend,  this is new, I will start sending tweets from Hawaii…I feel like a big girl!

I’m Imagining the Possibilities… 

Aloha

The Arizona Memorial, home to 1,177 heros. 

On my first visit to Ha,aii, many years ago, I visited the Arizona Memorial with a cousin who was living there at the time.  I didn’t have any real desire to go to see a memorial, with so much to see in my limited time on the island, there were other things that held more interest. My cousin, being nice, arranged the trip so off I went.  We first walked through a building with newspapers from December 7th, seeing the headlines and photos; this started to be about real people and not just a structure.  I boarded a ferry that took me out to the Memorial, which sits across the submerged ship. As I stood on the Memorial looking down at the ship, I realized how many men were lost and how young they were, there is a list on a marble wall with the names of the 1,177 lost on that Sunday morning. I was given a poem to read and realized I was too emotional to read it. As families left flowers for their lost loved ones, I boarded the ferry and return to shore; it was a quiet and reflective trip. Now, after many years and visits to the Memorial, I was back with a friend who was visiting Hawaii for the first time.  There have been changes through the years, there is now a Visitors Center and courtyard that looks out at the Memorial. When you arrive you are given a ticket with a number, it can take a while to be called, this is the most visited attraction in Oahu. When you are called you enter a theater and are shown a 20 minute film on the bombing of Pearl Harbor, at the end of the film everyone is quiet as they go out to the ferry for the ride over to the Memorial. There are less family members visiting, so many years have passed, maybe that is why I especially noticed the few older visitors, the ones that remember December 7th – or was it that I miss my Dad, who was in the Navy and now is gone.  Once again the Memorial brought me to tears.  The Arizona is still considered an active ship in the U.S. Navy and flies the flag.

When planning your visit, don’t go on a day when a cruise ship is in port, as the lines will be even longer then usual. Go early as tickets are given out on a first come bases and sometime run out.  If you have a long wait you can go over to visit the USS Bowfin, a submarine, and museum and then return to the Arizona.  In this area you will also find the USS Missouri, where the signing of the Terms of Surrender took place.

I’m not a monument person, but I do recommend a visit to the Arizona Memorial, home to 1,177 heroes.
 

You could win four free nights at one of the  beautiful Four Seasons Hawaiian Hotels.

If you are a regular reader of my Travel Blog you know I feel  Hawaii is a special place, so I’m excited to be able to give someone a chance to enjoy Hawaii  first hand!

Enter Travel by Tatten’s
Four Free Nights in Hawaii Draw

Deadline was Dec. 15th. Thanks to all who participated!

Other exciting trips and events being offered by Travel by Tatten…

• January – Fabulously Frivolous Night at Foxwoods!

Last month we announced that Travel by Tatten will be giving away Four Free Nights at a Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii. The Four Seasons Resort of your choice! We are very happy to be able to offer this fabulous opportunity to you and very grateful to the Four Seasons for their generous participation.

Update
We are putting the finishing touches on the draw….doing final testing to make sure that all is in place for smooth sailing during the draw period.

The official start date is Friday, October, 30, 2009. The details about the draw and the registration form will be posted then. Deadline for entries is December 15, 2009.  The lucky winner will be announced in The Travel Blog (here) December 17, 2009.

Eligibility
The draw is open to everyone over 18 years of age.

Preparation
There are four questions on the registration form. The questions are about the four Four Seasons Resorts in Hawaii. Take some time now to familiarize yourself with the four Four Seasons Resorts in Hawaii and to read the posts in this blog about the Four Seasons Resorts in Hawaii.  

Time for a slower pace without shopping malls and traffic lights, then it’s time to visit Lana’i – the secluded Hawaiian island. 

The Four Seasons Hotels have two resorts located on Lanai. The island is only 140 square miles and has less than 3,000 people. When people think of Hawaii, they think tropical and swaying palm trees; Lana’i has African kiawe trees, Cook pines and eucalyptus.  There is more of a desert feel with red dirt roads.  You won’t find traffic lights on any of the only three paved roads…a good place for a four-wheel drive!

The two deluxe hotels are Four Seasons Resorts and are different from each other. The Manele Bay is located by the ocean and borders a marine preserve that teems with colorful reef fish and protected species such as green sea turtles and spinner dolphins.  Their second resort, The Lodge at Koele is in the central highlands and not your typical Hawaiian resort, but more like a gracious country manor with two world-ranked golf courses.

Each of the Hawaiian Islands has a different feel…which is best for you?