This time of year the weather starts warming up and activities other than work start looking pretty tempting. The North states are starting to thaw out and golf starts picking up. Vacation also starts looking good too.  Especially to warm tropical destinations. Office Fever is about to give way to Island Fever.

A couple of years ago I had a break in the action and went to The Four Seasons on the island of Lana’I in Hawaii. I spent only a few days on the island, but it instantly became the gold standard for a relaxing vacation in my book. There is something inherently relaxing in everything on this island. Of course, the hotel is designed to create an extremely relaxing environment, but it also maximizes the feeling of isolation and exemplifies the natural beauty of the environment. Relaxation is in the DNA of the island.

The hotel is positioned overlooking Hulopoe Bay, home to hundreds of porpoises. The hotel provides snorkeling gear for a close encounter with the porpoises. Visibility in the water is amazing. It was like floating a hundred feet above the ground, and then schools of porpoise swim into view. My bucket list includes swimming with dolphins, and this experience was simply spectacular. I am willing to substitute porpoises for dolphins. The porpoises know the drill. They swim close enough to be seen, but just far enough to stay out of reach. Truly amazing critters.

Golf

Lanai boasts two incredible golf courses on one small island with amazing variety. These courses are close together, but worlds apart: The Challenge at Manele and The Experience at Koele.

The Challenge at Manele is at sea level and has a tropical feel. It is a 7,039 yard, par 72 Jack Nicklaus design. The course features 3 holes constructed on the cliffs of Hulopoe Bay, which use the Pacific Ocean as a dramatic water hazard. The Par 3, Number 12 signature hole plays from a cliff 150 feet above the crashing surf, requiring a demanding 200-yard tee shot across the ocean. The rumor is that Donald Trump was married on the 12^th hole overlooking the ocean from the cliffs.

Experience at Koele runs through old pineapple fields and deep valley gorges laced with kiawe trees and rare, regal koa. The 7,014-yard, par 72 championship course was designed by Greg Norman and Ted Robinson. This course is at a much higher elevation has pine trees and cooler weather, a great change from the Challenge at sea level. We had a sunny warm morning at the Four Seasons, then headed up into the morning clouds to the Experience. The change in weather was just as dramatic as the course.  Teeing off on the signature 17^th hole is incredible. The tee box is 250 feet above the fairway, and it looks like you are driving into Jurassic Park.

Recommendation

If you can fit this vacation in your budget, then do it! A week on Lanai is better than a year of therapy. The weather in Hawaii is very consistent, which is one of the reasons that it is such a popular destination. I went in June before school was out. They call it the “Off-Season”, but there is no real change in weather, just fewer people. We saw no more than 5 other groups out on the golf courses during our stay. Going during the off-season also gains a much higher staff to guest ratio, and the staff is VERY attentive and accommodating. This vacation is a man cave must!

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