Four Seasons Lanai: An Insider’s Review
When you’ve stayed at as many Four Seasons properties as I have—across Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond—you start to recognize the brand’s signature touch. But you also notice when one resort feels different, when it dares to set its own rhythm. Four Seasons Lanai is that kind of place.
Lanai isn’t Maui, and it’s certainly not Oahu. It’s quieter, more remote, and infused with a sense of privacy that you simply can’t replicate elsewhere in Hawaii. For some travelers, that remoteness is the ultimate luxury. For others, it can feel isolating. My role as a personal travel planner and Four Seasons Preferred Partner is to help you figure out if this is the island, and the resort, that matches your vision of paradise.
I’ll walk you through everything—from arrival and accommodations to dining, activities, and a bit of insider construction intel—so you know exactly what to expect when you book this extraordinary resort.
Arrival: A Journey That Feels Like an Exhale
Welcome to Four Seasons Lanai
Lanai doesn’t have a major airport. Most guests arrive through Honolulu or Maui and connect via a small plane or ferry. Four Seasons makes this seamless. They’ll coordinate your transfer from HNL to a private lounge, then you board a Lanai Air flight—small aircraft, but beautifully branded, and every seat is a window seat. In under 30 minutes, you’re descending onto an island that looks like a red-earth moonscape surrounded by sapphire water.
The resort’s SUV meets you on the tarmac and drives you 25 minutes across quiet roads to the property. When you step into the open-air lobby, it feels like a transition to another world: teak wood, lava stone, orchids, and the constant sound of ocean and breeze. A cool drink appears before you even check in.
Accommodations: Thoughtful Luxury, Hawaiian Soul
Every stay at Four Seasons Resort Lanai begins with the rooms, and here, the rooms are the story. Each of the 213 guest rooms and suites is a quiet study in refined island luxury—meticulously designed with natural Hawaiian-inspired furnishings, warm teak and zebra wood accents, and technology that makes life easy without intruding on the serenity.
You’ll notice the small touches first: the oversized bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, the plush down duvets that make you linger in bed a little longer, and the private lanais that turn a morning coffee into an event. The design isn’t ostentatious—it’s peaceful. Lanai is about quiet luxury, and the accommodations echo that perfectly.
In every room you’ll find:
Plush down duvets and thick terry bathrobes
Exclusive Aina bath amenities with kukui nut oil
Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer and illuminated makeup mirror
Nespresso station and private refreshment center
Multi-line phones and an in-room tablet to manage services
Wristband keys for seamless island access
75-inch LED TV with Apple TV 4K
Complimentary premium Wi-Fi
Guest room sizes range from 663 to 734 square feet, with either a king bed or two doubles. Technically, each room accommodates two adults or two adults and one child, but with cribs or rollaways available, families often combine connecting rooms. This is where insider help matters—my clients rely on me to secure those configurations that aren’t obvious on the booking engine.
Choosing Rooms and Suites
Prime Oceanfront Rooms: The crown jewel, with unobstructed views of the Pacific. Fall asleep to the sound of waves, wake to sunrise over the water. My top recommendation for couples celebrating something special.
Oceanfront Rooms: Steps from the shoreline with panoramic water views. Less splurge than Prime, but still incredibly romantic.
Ocean-View Rooms: Elevated views over the coastline, perfect for travelers who want scenery but also value privacy.
Partial Ocean-View Rooms: A blend of garden and ocean glimpses. More budget-friendly, but still feel connected to the landscape.
Garden-View Rooms: Immersed in tropical greenery, just steps from the beach and amenities. Quiet, serene, and often chosen by wellness travelers.
And then there are the suites. The Ali‘i Royal Suite is in a league of its own, with its own ambassador, private cabana, and even a Tesla or Jeep for exploring the island. For multi-generational families, villas and multi-bedroom layouts transform the stay into a private retreat with full Four Seasons support at your fingertips.
Ocean View Room
Restaurants & Dining: From Social Energy to Secluded Serenity
Four Seasons Lanai has three primary dining outlets on property, plus access to dining at Sensei Lanai in the uplands. Each has its own energy and flavor.
Nobu Lanai: This is the showstopper. The setting—perched above Hulopo‘e Bay—matches the precision of the food. Signature Nobu classics mix with dishes that showcase Hawaiian fish and produce. This isn’t just dinner; it’s an event. I’ve arranged countless milestone celebrations here for clients, and the service is consistently flawless.
Malibu Farm: Breezy, light, and organic. Think avocado pizza, zucchini lasagna, and cocktails with herbs clipped from the garden. The vibe is casual but chic—exactly what you want for a barefoot-in-the-sand lunch that still feels elevated.
ONE Forty: The steakhouse-seafood hybrid that’s a staple at many Four Seasons resorts. At Lanai, it feels more intimate, with a focus on Hawaiian ingredients. Currently, the restaurant and porte-cochère are under renovation, with work scheduled through August 2025. In the meantime, dinners are served at Malibu Farm. To offset disruption, the resort offers daily activity credits (up to $360 per room per day), which can be used for horseback riding, adventure park activities, or spa treatments. This is exactly the kind of intel that matters—guests who don’t know this might feel surprised.
Beyond the resort: Guests can also dine at Sensei Lanai, the brand’s adults-only wellness resort upcountry, or head into Lanai City for a meal at Lanai City Bar & Grill, though options are limited.
Nobu Lanai
Pools, Beach & Activities: The Heartbeat of the Resort
Lanai offers both curated activity and quiet reprieve.
Pools: The adults-only pool is serene and design-forward, while the family pool near the beach is relaxed and social. Both feel beautifully integrated into the landscape.
Beach: Hulopo‘e Bay, a protected marine reserve, is steps away. Snorkeling here is excellent, with coral reefs, tropical fish, and sometimes spinner dolphins. I’ve arranged private snorkeling tours and sunset catamarans for clients, all seamless.
Golf: The Challenge at Manele, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is perched on cliffs that make for one of the most scenic rounds of golf in the world. It’s the course where Bill Gates got married.
Adventure: Jeep rentals let you explore the Garden of the Gods, Shipwreck Beach, and Lanai’s rugged interior. Horseback riding, clay shooting, and zip-lining at Lanai Adventure Park give you plenty to do beyond the resort.
Service: Where Subtlety Meets Precision
Four Seasons Lanai service is exactly what you’d expect, but with an island-specific warmth. Staff remember your name after the first greeting. A misplaced Jeep reservation once turned into a complimentary upgrade. Room service arrives with small touches—fresh flowers, handwritten notes—that remind you you’re more than just a guest number.
Construction Intel: Know Before You Go
It’s no secret that luxury resorts go through cycles of renovation, and Lanai is in the middle of one now. The porte-cochère and ONE Forty are under construction through summer 2025. Work hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, but the resort does a commendable job minimizing disruption. To make up for it, guests receive significant daily credits to use toward activities.
As a travel advisor, this is the kind of information I make sure my clients know upfront. It doesn’t diminish the experience—it just helps you plan around it.
Island Context: Why Lanai Feels Different
Lanai is often called Hawaii’s “last Hawaiian island.” With fewer than 3,500 residents, no traffic lights, and only a handful of restaurants outside the resorts, it feels worlds away from Maui or Oahu. The island’s rugged red-earth interior contrasts sharply with the turquoise water, and the lack of crowds is part of the magic.
This remoteness means you won’t find luxury shopping or a buzzing nightlife. What you will find is quiet, authenticity, and a kind of exclusivity that’s increasingly rare.
My Verdict: Who Four Seasons Lanai Is Best For
Four Seasons Lanai is for travelers who want to disappear into luxury. It’s not about being seen—it’s about not needing to be seen at all.
Couples: Honeymooners and milestone anniversaries thrive here. The Prime Oceanfront Rooms and Nobu dinners deliver romance effortlessly.
Families: With connecting rooms, villas, and the Kids For All Seasons program, it works beautifully for families who want a quieter Hawaiian escape.
Wellness Seekers: Combine a stay here with Sensei Lanai upcountry for a true dual-resort experience.
Adventurers: Jeep trails, horseback riding, golf, snorkeling—Lanai rewards curiosity.
Why Book with a Four Seasons Preferred Partner
Here’s where the insider advantage matters. As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, I secure perks for my clients that go beyond what you’ll find online:
Daily breakfast for two (which at Malibu Farm or Nobu is a serious perk)
Resort credit
Priority for upgrades at check-in
Personalized welcome amenities
My direct line to the resort team to VIP your stay
This isn’t just about free breakfast. It’s about showing up already recognized and cared for, with someone advocating for you behind the scenes.
Conclusion
Four Seasons Lanai isn’t for everyone—but that’s precisely the point. It’s remote, quiet, and unapologetically luxurious. If Maui is about glamour and Oahu is about energy, Lanai is about serenity. It’s the Hawaiian island for travelers who want to feel both spoiled and secluded.
When you book with me, you don’t just get a room—you get access, recognition, and the confidence that your stay will be seamless from arrival to departure. For some clients, Lanai becomes a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. For others, it becomes the only Hawaiian island they’ll return to again and again.
If you’re ready to experience Four Seasons Resort Lanai, let’s plan your stay. I’ll make sure every detail is handled—and that your story of Lanai is one worth telling.
