How to Plan an Awesome Day Trip from Oahu to the Charming Island of Lanai✈️🐈🏖️

Hawaii’s friendliest isle is also its least visited. Here’s how to take a fun day trip from Oahu to Lanai (& what to do while you’re there!).

If you’re looking to truly get away from it all on your Hawaii vacation, there’s no better place to go than the quiet island of Lanai.

With few visitors and friendly, welcoming locals, a visit to Lanai is like stepping back in time to the Hawaii of old. 

And while most visitors to Hawaii stick to the four main islands, Lanai is a fun and easy day trip, especially for visitors to Maui or Oahu.

My husband and I took our first trip to Lanai on one of our weekend trips to Maui a few years ago. What we discovered was a quiet, laid-back island with a rural vibe and an intimate charm.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will likely blow on mai tais, poke, and shave ice.  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

Far less touristy than other Hawaiian islands. In fact, hardly any tourists at all.

We took the ferry between islands on that trip, and it was a super fun day. I’ve already covered the ins and outs of planning a day trip from Maui on this site.

Read More: How to Plan a PURRfect Day Trip from Maui to Lanai ⛴️🍍🐈

However, we recently returned for another visit. This time, we flew over just for the day from Honolulu (where we live).

I was surprised at how quick and easy the flights were. And I almost preferred this visit to our last one. Primarily, because with flights, we had more options in outbound and return times.

And since many visitors to Hawaii stay on Oahu, I decided to share our experience visiting Lanai from Oahu. Because it really was easy (and not much more expensive than visiting from Maui!).

And though it is home to two luxury resorts, Lanai still easily maintains its small-town feel. It’s easy to get around and the perfect, compact size for a day trip.

So let’s get to know it…

Lanai’s Pineapple History 🍍

Nicknamed the Pineapple Isle, tiny Lanai was once the world’s largest exporter of pineapples. 

In the 1920s, James Dole transformed the island into the world’s largest pineapple plantation, with the crop dominating Lanai’s economy for decades.

However, pineapple production ceased in the 1990s, and today the island has shifted its focus to tourism and conservation.

Read More: 5 Pineapple-Perfect Things to Do at Oahu’s Dole Plantation

Fun Facts About Lanai:

• Lanai is the sixth-largest Hawaiian island, covering about 140 square miles.
• The island is sparsely populated, with just over 3,000 residents.  
• About 98% of Lanai is privately owned by Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle (which led to significant infrastructure investment). 
• There are no traffic lights on Lanai.
• Only 30 of the island’s 400 miles of road are paved, so it’s a popular destination with off-road enthusiasts.

Quick Tips for Visiting Lanai

• Download the Lanai Guide app (Apple devices only, unfortunately) for a guided walking tour of Lanai City, hiking information, driving tours, and more.
• Bring cash! Many businesses and shuttles are cash only. There is one ATM in Lanai City, but it’s best to bring cash with you.
• Bring cat treats for visiting the Lanai Cat Sanctuary.
• If you visit in July, don’t miss the annual Lanai Pineapple Festival, which celebrates the island’s history as a major pineapple producer. All-day festivities end with a fireworks display, and Expeditions runs a late ferry back to Maui for festival-goers.

How to Get to Lanai

There are two ways to get to the island of Lanai: flight or ferry. From Maui, you can either fly or take the ferry, but I highly recommend taking the ferry. Especially if it’s whale season (you’ll see plenty!).

From Oahu, you’ll need to fly.

Flights from Oahu to Lanai ✈️

Flights to Lanai’s tiny airport (LNY) are available from Maui or Oahu with Mokulele Airlines. 

Flights are frequent from Honolulu (HNL) with half a dozen flights daily, so it’s totally possible to do a day trip from Oahu to Lanai.

Similar to the flight schedule for day trips to Molokai, flights depart Oahu as early as 6:00am and return from Lanai as late as 7:00pm. 

On our recent day trip to Lanai, we booked the 8:45am flight to Lanai and the 6:55pm flight back to Oahu. The cost of the flight was $208 per person, but there were other flights available for as low as $188.

Considering ferry tickets from Maui will run you about $140 round trip (including taxes and fees), it’s not much more expensive to fly. Not to mention it’s faster (less than 40 minutes in-flight) and you don’t have to worry about seasickness.

The in-flight experience between Oahu and Lanai

From the Honolulu airport, Mokulele flights depart from Terminal 3. If you can call it a “terminal.”

It’s really just an open-air trailer with a partially covered outdoor area to wait for your flight.

There’s convenient paid parking available right at the terminal, so there’s no need to park at the main airport garage (in fact, don’t, it’s really far away from Terminal 3!).

The small planes operated by Mokulele are 10-12-seat aircraft, so if tiny planes freak you out, this might not be the best day trip for you!

But I actually love these planes. They’re almost like taking a scenic flight over the islands because they fly at a lower altitude than larger aircraft and have nice big windows.

Our aircraft for this trip was a super fancy Surf Air plane (part of the same company as Mokulele, which also includes Southern Airways). It had plush leather seats and felt more like a private plane than a commuter aircraft.

And every seat is a window seat, so there are no bad seats.

Seats are assigned by weight to ensure the correct weight and balance for the aircraft. How can they be sure of your weight, you might ask?

Expect to be weighed at the check-in counter (carry-ons included), both in Honolulu and before the return flight from Lanai.

Based on that, they’ll line you up just before boarding and tell you which seat to take when you get on the plane.

But enough about the flight! Let’s talk about how to get around once you arrive. It’s a little different than the other Hawaiian islands and takes some planning.

How to Get Around Lanai

There are two main ways to get around the island of Lanai – rent a car or book a shuttle. 

Decide which one you’ll do at least a few days before you arrive. Do not get on the ferry or plane without your ground transportation already booked. Cars and shuttle seats can and do sell out. 

Here are your options: 

Rabaca’s Limousine Service 

Don’t be fooled by the name, these are actually just shuttle vans! Rabaca’s offers shuttle services to and from the Lanai Airport and Manele Boat Harbor, as well as tours around the island. 

They don’t have a website (because Lanai), so you’ll have to call them at (808) 559-0230 to get pricing and make reservations.

808 Day Trip (Car Rental) 

We have gone this route for both of our day trips to have a little more flexibility.

Depending on how many stops you want to make, it’s probably cheaper to do the shuttle. But if you like to do things on your own schedule, renting a car from this small family business is a great option. 

They do have a website with some helpful island information, but the best way to reach them is by texting Judi at (808) 649-0664.

All of the rental paperwork is handled in advance, so it’s super easy when you arrive. They will deliver the car directly to the port or airport, and you’ll be off exploring in minutes. 

We rented a Jeep SUV for $195 for the day (there’s no half-day rate), and with taxes, it came out to $210. The car was spotless and in perfect condition, and Judi was readily available by text if we had any questions or issues. 

We also spent $11 to refuel the car before returning it to the harbor. There’s a $50 fuel deposit that was promptly refunded when we texted a picture of our gas receipt from the island’s only service station. 

Our credit card’s insurance covered the rental.

There’s also a $300 refundable security deposit held on the credit card in the event you get excessive amounts of sand or dirt in the car, and it requires cleaning. We were careful to keep our shoes clean, and that deposit was also refunded promptly. 

Note that all of their rentals are for PAVED ROAD driving only. 

Now, let’s talk about the off-road option…

Should You Rent a 4×4 Vehicle?

Lanai’s rugged terrain makes it perfect for off-roading adventures. And it’s true that some of Lanai’s most beautiful places to visit are only accessible with a 4×4 vehicle.

Yes, it’s possible to rent a 4×4 vehicle and explore the island’s backroads and remote beaches. If you decide to rent one, here are the additional places you may be able to visit:

Shipwreck Beach: Famous for its rugged beauty and the visible remains of a World War II-era shipwreck.

Garden of the Gods (Keahiakawelo): An otherworldly landscape of rock formations (even more stunning at sunset).

Lanaihale: The island’s highest peak, offering panoramic views and a cool, misty climate.

Kaunolu Village: An ancient Hawaiian fishing village and a National Historic Landmark. The area is rich in cultural history and features petroglyphs and the remains of a heiau (temple).

However, renting a 4×4 does not guarantee that you’ll actually be able to visit any of the above. Access is totally dependent on the current road conditions.

That means you may spend the extra money to rent a 4×4 only to arrive at the office to discover the roads are off-limits on the day of your visit. 

And there’s one more VERY good reason not to go this route…no insurance company will cover you on the dirt roads of Lanai. 

That’s right, none of the few car rental companies on the island offer off-road insurance. So, if you rent a Jeep for an off-road adventure, you’re on your own if you damage the vehicle or get stuck in the sand. 

I’m not as young as I used to be, and I consider myself fairly risk-averse, so this one was a big NO for me.

On both of our day trips, we found there was plenty to see by sticking to the paved roads. 

Tip: If you want to see the off-road sights without driving yourself, the ferry company (Expeditions) does offer Half Day 4×4 Trekker Tours as part of a package with ferry tickets.

If you do decide to roll the dice and rent a Jeep for yourself, Lanai Car Rental and Lanai Cheap Jeeps are the best options.

A Word of Warning about ACE Rental Car

You may see rentals available online (typically with Expedia) with this company on Lanai. I do not recommend renting with them, and if you Google the reviews, you’ll see why.

According to several reviews, they only have a handful of cars, and they consistently overbook them, leaving some visitors without transportation around the island for the day. 

Play it safe and stick to one of the options I mentioned above. 

Now, let’s get to the fun stuff!

Things to Do on Lanai (paved roads)

Since we opted to rent a car and limit our exploration to paved roads, here’s how we spent our day:

We landed at 9:30am and our car was waiting in the airport parking lot. Just like our last visit, it was parked “Lanai style” with the keys under the passenger floor mat (don’t try that on Oahu!).

If you’re short on time, start your day at the Lanai Cat Sanctuary. It’s very close to the airport, and it now opens earlier at 9:00am.

Breakfast at Blue Ginger Cafe

Since we had plenty of time, we started our day with a delicious breakfast at Blue Ginger Cafe in Lanai City. 

Since 1991, this family-owned restaurant has been serving up made-from-scratch, homestyle cooking, and fresh-baked bread and pastries 365 days a year.  

We enjoyed amazing omelets and bought a few tasty turnovers for the road. (Note that they are cash only.)

More great food options in town include Ganotisi’s Pacific Rim Cuisine and Pele’s Other Garden Deli. And even the island’s lone service station (Lanai City Service Station) has a pretty great deli counter.

Long story short, you’ll eat well on a day trip to Lanai.  

Oh, and for a terrific cup of coffee, swing by Coffee Works (located just one block behind Blue Ginger). 

Now let’s get to the real reason we ran out of time on our half-day trip to Lanai…

A Visit to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary 🐈

If I’m being honest, this is the main reason I wanted to visit Lanai in the first place.

The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is a haven for rescued and feral cats. The sanctuary provides a safe, loving environment where these cats, nicknamed the “Lanai Lions,” can live freely without the threat of predators. 

It’s a unique and heartwarming place to visit, and it was the highlight of both of our days on Lanai. 

Affectionately known as the “Fur Seasons” (a nod to the island’s luxe resort), the Sanctuary is 100% funded by visitors. There are separate enclosures for Senior cats, special needs cats, and rowdy youngsters, but most of the Lanai Lions reside together in one well-appointed large enclosure. 

It’s a “paw-some” place to visit and spend some quality time with the 800+ cats living their best lives on a lush 4-acre “purradise.” (Sorry, I can’t help myself.) 

The sanctuary focuses on protecting the island’s native bird species by humanely managing the cat population. They also educate the public about the importance of wildlife conservation.

All of the cats are available for adoption, but if you’re not in a position to adopt, you can also sponsor your own Lanai Lion or a senior “kapuna” or special needs cat.

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They are also greatly in need of canned food donations. And you don’t have to drag all those cans on the airplane; they have a super convenient Amazon Wish List.

So, it’s easy to ship them exactly what they need most.

Like the locals, the cats are friendly and eager to welcome visitors. If you didn’t bring any cat treats, the volunteers will provide you with a small bag of treats before you enter the enclosure.

However, I suggest bringing a few bags of treats with you. For this visit, I was fully loaded with 4 bags of treats. Let’s just say I was very popular and made a lot of new furry friends.   

You can roam the sanctuary and interact with the cats for as long as you like. I honestly could have spent the entire day here making it rain with treats.

But alas, we have more to see on this day trip!

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged to help support the sanctuary’s mission. It’s a great way to contribute to a worthy cause while enjoying your visit.

Give til it hurts. These people are doing amazing work here. They also rescued more than 200 Maui cats in the aftermath of the Lahaina wildfires. 

If you can’t visit soon but want to support these fun-loving felines, you can donate online here:

Hulopoe Beach & Sweetheart Rock

Next up on our “paved-road” itinerary, the beach!

Lanai only has one swimmable beach, but it’s a stunner. Hulopo’e Beach is a picturesque arc of white sand ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

It’s also a favorite hangout for spinner dolphins, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when you visit. 

Beach facilities here include restrooms, picnic tables, and showers. And on this sunny early afternoon, there were plenty of local families out enjoying the day.

Sweetheart Rock

In addition to swimming, snorkeling, and dolphin watching at the beach, don’t miss the half-mile short hike toward Manele Bay to Puu Pehe (Sweetheart Rock). 

Lanai’s most famous natural landmark, Sweetheart Rock is named for a tragic love story in Hawaiian legend. The view from the top of the cliffs is amazing and (I’m told) especially beautiful at sunset. 

Along the hike around Hulopoe Bay, you’ll also see metal stairs that lead down to beautiful tide pools. Be careful, the rocks can be slippery, but the tide pools are a good place to cool off and spot tropical fish and other marine life.  

After our stop at Sweetheart Rock, it was time for lunch.

Lunch at Views at Manele Bay

Part of the Four Seasons Resort, the restaurant at the Manele Bay Golf Course is the perfect spot for lunch.

We didn’t know this place existed on our last visit to the island. But a helpful Lanai resident on our flight told us it was the best lunch spot on the island.

She recommended making a reservation, so we made one online as soon as we landed. But it wasn’t too busy when we arrived, and I suspect we probably could have gotten in without a reservation.

It’s easy to see why they named it “Views” because that’s the first thing you see when you arrive. The restaurant has incredible views of the ocean, Hulopue Beach, and Sweetheart Rock.

And the food is outstanding. We started with the crab tempura roll, and it was probably one of the best (and most unique) sushi rolls I’ve ever had.

After that, we shared the Prawn B.L.T., and it was also delicious.

Fair warning, this restaurant is a little pricey…it is, after all, part of the Four Seasons! But it was definitely a highlight of our day.

A visit to Lanai Bowl

Next up, the newest addition to Lanai City, Lanai Bowl. Located in the center of the main square, it just opened in December 2025.

It’s a project of Larry Ellison’s Pūlama Lānaʻi, the island’s land management company, cultural steward, and community builder. It’s new since our last visit to the island, so this was another helpful tip from our Lanai local on the flight.

With a full-service restaurant and a ’50s-style diner theme, this place is the cutest bowling alley I’ve ever seen. Think Disney diner meets cosmic bowling.

So much fun and officially now my second-favorite place on the island (obviously, the cats are #1!).

Stop by to bowl, play arcade games, or just grab a milkshake from the soda fountain bar. Lanai Bowl is a terrific new spot for the local community and a fun stop when you visit the island.

The decor is totally on point, and the food is reasonably priced and delicious. We purposely ate a light lunch at Views so we could try an appetizer and a shake here. For research purposes, of course.

Tip: Try the Pull-Apart Pizza Pretzel; it was cheesy, garlic heaven.

It’s only open Wednesdays to Sundays from 2:00pm-9:00pm, so save it for the afternoon if you want to check it out (and you should, it’s completely adorable!).

Explore Lanai City

Since we were already in Lanai City and just minutes from the airport, we spent our remaining time on the island exploring the cute shops in town.

Lanai City is the main hub for local life. It’s the island’s heart, with charming shops, galleries, and eateries.

It’s also where you’ll find Dole Park, a central gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. If you visit on a Saturday, there’s also a weekly farmers’ market.

Lanai Culture & Heritage Center

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center is a museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history, culture, and natural heritage of Lanai. Visitors can explore exhibits on the island’s Hawaiian history, ranching, and plantation eras, and its unique ecosystems.

The center serves as a cultural hub, offering educational programs and resources for both locals and visitors.

The center is open Monday – Friday from 11:00am – 3:00pm (unfortunately we missed it since we visited on a Saturday). 

Shops & Art Galleries

The cute shops and galleries that line Dole Park in Lanai City are a good reason to spend a full day on Lanai. 

Here are just a few places to visit: 

Lanai Art Center – This community-supported non-profit offers art classes and cultural experiences for locals and visitors. Here, you’ll find unique, hand-crafted items from local artists.

Deep Hawaiʻi Art Gallery– If you love island-inspired art, don’t miss a stop here. Formerly the gallery of local artist Mike Carroll, Mike and his wife, Kathy, retired in late 2025. (Fun fact: Kathy is the founder of the Lanai Cat Sanctuary.) Since Mike’s retirement, the gallery is now a showcase for several local artists.

Lanai Theater – If you have time, this recently renovated historic theater is a great place to take in a matinee. 

Lanai Hula Hut – I just love this little shop. From clothing and jewelry to home decor and local souvenirs, this eclectic shop is a gem. 

Back to the airport

By the time we were done wandering the shops, it was time to head back to the airport for our flight home. It was a great day, and we didn’t feel rushed at all.

Landing at 9:30am and returning to the airport at 6:00pm gave us plenty of time to see everything on our wish list for the day.

Where to Stay on Lanai

If you fall in love with Lanai as we have, you might want to come back and stay for a while. And you’re in luck! There are a few great hotel options on the island.

Four Seasons Resorts now has two luxury resorts on Lanai, the legendary Four Seasons Resort Lanai overlooking Hulopoʻe Bay and the new Four Seasons Sensei Lanai Resort. 

For a more budget-friendly option, try the charming Hotel Lanai. Located just off the main square in Lanai City, this plantation-inspired retreat was originally built as lodging for Dole executives.

Today, the hotel has 10 quaint guest rooms within an easy walk of the island’s best cafes, shops, and restaurants.

A PURRfect Day Trip from Oahu to Lanai

Lanai is a terrific island to visit; it’s night and day from the busy island of Oahu.

I would highly recommend a do-it-yourself day trip like ours if you’re visiting Oahu and looking for something unique to do.

It’s hard to explain what makes this island so special. But the friendly locals (like the lady we met on the flight over) made us feel so welcome. 

Here’s another example…

As we were leaving Blue Ginger, a guy in a truck came up alongside us to say hello and welcome us to the island. He enthusiastically shared a few of his favorite places to eat and visit, thanked us for coming, and then waved goodbye out the window before heading off on his way.

Needless to say, this is not the kind of thing we’re used to living in Honolulu!

He’s the perfect example of the friendly, welcoming vibe you can expect when you visit Lanai.

And I can’t wait to go back again soon.  

Looking for more fun things to do on Oahu? Start here:

The Ultimate Oahu Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to See, Do & Eat🍍🌺🏖️

The 3 Best Tours at Kualoa Ranch (from an Oahu local who’s done them all!)

Oahu’s Sweet 16: From Waikiki to the North Shore, Don’t Miss These Hawaiian Treats 🍧🍦🍩

15 Can’t-Miss Stops on a Day Trip to the Iconic North Shore of Oahu🤙🏄‍♂️