7 Best Sights in Windward Lanai, Lanai

Named for the whales that once washed ashore here, Halepalaoa, or the "House of Whale Ivory," is a nice place for whale-watching and sunbathing, but it's difficult to reach (a 4WD vehicle is definitely required). The beach was also the site of a wharf used by the Maunalei Sugar Company, which was established in 1898 and closed just three years later. Although brackish well water and financial difficulties were likely to blame for the endeavor's failure, some say the company was cursed because it built its cane railroad using sacred stones taken from nearby Kahea Heiau, once an important place of worship and now hidden amid kiawe (mesquite) overgrowth. To get to this beach, follow Highway 440 (Keomuku Highway) to its eastern terminus, turn right onto a dirt road, and continue south for 5½ miles. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude.

To build the mill, wharf, railways, and other infrastructure associated with the short-lived Maunalei Sugar Company, its owners employed mostly Japanese contract laborers (more than 600 of them at the peak of operation), who also planted and harvested the sugar cane. During the three years (1898–1901) of the mill’s existence, approximately 70 workers died of various causes. In 1932, the Lanai Hongwanji built a memorial to honor them. Look for signs on the coastal road in the Kahalepalaoa area.

This fairly accessible 8-mile stretch is a favorite local diving spot, though the offshore reef and rocks make it a poor place for swimming. The rusting World War II tanker abandoned in the waters here is an example of how the strong trade winds have propelled vessels onto the reef since at least 1824, when the first shipwreck was recorded. You can wander the sands hunting for shells or other washed-up treasures like glass-ball fishing floats. Indeed, owing to the convergence of Pacific currents, a lot of debris washes ashore here, so it's a great place to show Lanai some love with a bit of trash cleanup (bring a bag and gloves). Photographers take note: you can get great shots of Molokai, just across the Kalohi Channel. Beyond the beach, about 200 yards up a trail past the Shipwreck Beach sign, are the Kukui Point petroglyphs, marked by reddish-brown boulders. To get here, take Highway 440 to its eastern terminus, then turn left onto the dirt road and continue to the end. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; windsurfing.

There's a peaceful beauty to the former fishing village of Keomuku. In 1898, this small community was chosen as the site for the headquarters of the Maunalei Sugar Company, which lasted just three years, closing in 1901, when the well water became too salty for use and financial pressures took their toll. The area was subsequently abandoned. 

Today, the only sign of habitation is the 1903 church, Ka Lanakila O Ka Malamalama, which has been restored by volunteers. Visitors often leave some small token, a shell or lei, here as an offering. To get here, turn right onto the dirt road at the eastern terminus of Highway 440. The church will be on your right, about 5 miles south and amid coconut trees.

The site of an ancient fishpond, this remote white-sand beach offers majestic views of West Maui and Kahoolawe and is a great place for a picnic. The channel's current is far too strong for swimming. Although you'll see surfers in the waters here, this spot tests the mettle of even the sport's most experienced practitioners. To get here, take Highway 440 to its eastern terminus, turn right onto a dirt road, and continue south for 7 miles. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

Draws of this often-deserted beach include long, wide stretches of white sand, where sea turtles lay their eggs; unobstructed views of Molokai; and, at the northern end, a rocky lava cliff with some interesting tide pools. Strong currents and a sudden drop in the ocean floor make it very dangerous to swim here; at times, strong trade winds make it uncomfortable to sunbathe or walk here; and a dirt access road with pockets of deep sand makes it hard to get here in dry weather and impossible to do so when it rains. If you do manage to reach it in your 4WD vehicle, do not endanger the sea turtles by driving on the beach. Note, too, that thirsty wild bees sometimes gather around cars. To get rid of them, put out water some distance away and wait. The beach is 11 miles north of Lanai City; turn right onto the marked dirt road past Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods). Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

Once an important feature to Lanai's Native Hawaiian communities, this 9-acre fishpond fell into disrepair and its springs became polluted by Upcountry runoff when the native populations rapidly declined after Western contact in 1778. In 2015, a collaborative community effort to restore the fishpond began, and you can see the progress that has been made, as well as beautiful views when pulling off the road. Portable restrooms are available here.