Huawai
Bay
This
small but beautiful bay is located below the Challenge
at Manele golf course. Few tourist ever see this
lovely area as it is mostly frequented by local
fisherman and is very difficult to access via the
Po'opo'o Fisherman Trail. The tiny salt-and-pepper
sand beach is isolated and surrounded by small seacliffs.
The water offshore is deep, crystal blue and hosts
excellent snorkeling and diving when the sea is
calm. Take
Highway 440 south out of Lanai City. About 5 miles
out of town the highway makes a left turn, continue
straight on Kaupili Road and take the first left
on New Manele Road. Follow this road down to the
ocean. The road runs through the golf course. The
paved trail to the bay is on the right just before
the golf course begins.
Hulopo'e
Beach
This protected beach is the safest place on the
island to swim. It's beautiful white sand beach
and underwater coral formations makes it the central
recrational area on Lanai. The Manele Bay Hotel
sits on the bluff overlooking this perfect site.
The beach is located in a protected Marine Life
Conservation Area so there are numerous and colorful
fish as well as unique coral formations found here.
To the left of the beach is Pu'u Pehe Rock, also
known as Sweetheart Rock. Take Highway 440 south
from Lanai City approximately 13 miles. Follow the
signs to the Hulopo'e Beach Park.
Polihua Beach Located
approximately 11 miles north of Lanai City. Accessible
by 4-WD vehicles only from the Polihua Trail at
the end of Polihua Road.
One of the most famous green sea turtle nesting
beaches in Hawaii and a good place to watch whales
(in season). Over 1-1/2 miles of white sand. Windswept
- susceptible to sand storms and dangerous currents.
Water conditions can be extremely hazardous - not
safe for swimming. Surfing when water conditions
are right for expert surfers only.
PUU PEHE (Sweetheart Rock) (South
Coast)
Reached by following the shoreline
from the left side of Hulopoe Beach.
A large cove lined with a white sand beach. A sea
stack known as Sweetheart Rock lies offshore. According
to legend, Puu Pehe, a young girl, drowned in a
sea cave. Her lover, with help from the Gods, carried
her body to the summit and buried her beneath the
ruins of what is believed to be an ancient bird
shrine. The cove's very clear waters contain an
abundance of marine life affording excellent swimming
and snorkeling.
Sharks Bay South
Lanai
Sharks Bay is a small area located to the left of
Hulopo'e Beach. It is divided from the beach by
a red lava rock tongue of land that protrudes out
into the ocean. This length of lava is a perfect
place to hike to obtain great views of the coastline,
both east and west, and of Pu'u Pehe Rock. The Cove
is sandy, protected, and secluded from the main
beach area - perfect area for a picnic or just sunbathing.
Swimming here is not recommended due to strong currents
and numerous rocks.Shark's Bay is separated by a
small rock outcropping from Shark's Cove, a much
smaller crescent of sand. Shark's Bay is much easier
to reach and just a beautiful. Take Highway 440
south from Lanai City approximately 13 miles. Follow
the signs to the Hulopo'e Beach Park. Take the trail
to the left of the beach to the Shark's Bay and
Shark's Cove.
Shipwreck Beach One
of the most interesting hikes on Lanai is the trek
down Shipwreck Beach. The beach stretches over miles
of northeast coast of Lanai fronting the Kalohi
Channel that separates Lanai from Molokai. This
channel is known for its strong currents and numerous
reefs. Many a ship has run aground along this channel
- thus the name, Shipwreck Beach. One such "wreck"
is the World War II Liberty Ship whose hulk clings
to reef close to shore. This particular vessel was
not the result of an accident. After the war several
surplus crafts were provided residence on the Lanai
reef as an economical means of disposal. This particular
vessel withstands the ocean currents and waves and
has stood for over 50 years on the reef. The reason
it has not eroded away over all these years is that
the boat is made from concrete. According to Honolulu's
Maritime Center this ship was one of 22 ferrous-concrete
oilers built between 1942 and 1944. None of these
ships were ever given a name, just a number/letter
designation which has been lost over the years.
Shipwreck Beach's first recorded shipwreck was in
1824 when the British vessel Alderman Wood foundered
on a reef. Two years later an American ship, London,
carring a cargo of gold and silver bollion sunk
along this coast. It is uncertain how much of the
gold and silver was ever recovered. The beach is
a series of sand, lava rock, and boulders. It is
a great place for beach combing, especially the
eight mile section that fronts Molokai. Due to the
trade winds, this area is continuously windswept
and hammered by currents of the Kalohi and Auau
Channels. Even though the beach is guarded by a
wide reef, swimming in this area is extremely unsafe.
Blasting trades come through the Pailolo Channel
that separates Maui and Molokai creating a venturi-like
funnel, churning up the sea and creating incredibly
strong currents in the area. These churning waters
propel considerable flotsam onto the beach. A entire
fishing village, Federation Camp, was built from
the debris washed ashore here. From Lanai City,
take Highway 44 northeast to the end of the road
(approximately 7 miles). Turn left on the dirt road
and continue for 1.6 miles to the parking area near
the lighthouse ruins. Shipwreck Beach lies in front
of the ruins and stretches for several miles to
the north and east.
