Hulopoe Beach and Tidepools

Resort Area : Manele Bay

The Manele Bay Hotel is located on a bluff overlooking beautiful Hulopo'e Bay and its beach and tidepools, which are protected as part of the Hulopo'o-Manele Marine Life Conservation Area.

Unique coral formations buffer the gorgeous white sand beach for very safe swimming, snorkeling, and diving conditions (but remember there are no lifeguards around). Lava rock formations create multiple tide pools along the south shore of the bay, full of colorful and sometimes bizarre-looking sealife.

Enjoy exploring these mini valleys but do so carefully (with good shoes for slippery rocks, at low tide, and always facing the waves) and make sure not to take anything home from the nature preserve.

Occasionally you can catch spinner dolphins playing in this bay, or see Humpback whales on their way down from Alaska in the winter.

There are restrooms, showers, picnic tables, grills, and a phone and camping is allowed with a permit.

Drive south from Lanai city on Hwy. 440 about 13 miles and follow the signs to Hulopo'e Beach Park.

Shipwreck Beach

Resort Area : N. East Shore

Shipwreck Beach is aptly named for the many ships that have run aground on the coral reef in the Kalohi channel that separates the islands of Lanai and Molokai. The 8-mile long beach of sand, lava rock, and boulders sits on Lanai's northeastern shore with Molokai in the distance and the huge concrete World War II ship, Liberty, still stuck on the reef relatively close to the sand. The rusty vessel has withstood over 50 years of strong currents and waves that continue to carry bits of it ashore.

The beach's wide reef somewhat protects the coast but consistently strong tradewinds and currents make the churning waters unsafe for swimming and there are no lifeguards around.

Beachcombers love what they can find along the beach, and whale watchers enjoy occasional sightings in the winter when Pacific humpbacks come by from Alaska.

The Kaiolohia-Kahue hiking trail starts (or ends, depending on how you look at it) at this beach but there are no facilities nearby.

This beach is only accessible by a 4-wheel drive vehicle so be sure to check on road conditions before starting out. Go northeast on Hwy. 44 until it ends (about 7 miles from Lanai City), turn left on the dirt road to a parking area about a mile and a half down, near the lighthouse ruins.