Take This Amazing 2-Day Getaway In Hawaii If You Need A Break From Real Life

The Hawaiian Islands are an absolute paradise… for anyone who is on vacation. But for those of us that live here, the tiny frustrations that come along with island life can often be too much to handle. Vacations elsewhere are expensive, but island hopping can be a relatively cheap and easy way to get away from the stress of everyday life. And if you’re already feeling the January slump, this perfect two-day getaway to the smallest of Hawaii’s six main islands – Lanai – is sure to provide all the rest + relaxation you need.

You see, the island is home to only one school that serves the entire island, and you won’t find a single traffic light here. Also known as the Pineapple Island, for its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation, the island measures in at only 141 square miles. The island is home to 3,100 residents, and approximately 98 percent of the land is owned by Larry Ellison, founder and chairman of Oracle.

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While you could stay at one of two Four Seasons Resorts on the island - Manele Bay and the Lodge at Koele - we suggest opting for a one-night stay at the ever-charming Hotel Lanai, a renovated 1923 plantation home that was originally built for traveling Dole Pineapple executives.

Jessie Hodge/Flickr

Puu Pehe, often referred to as Sweetheart Rock, is not only a magnificent natural landmark but a geological formation steeped in Hawaiian legend. The story goes that there were two lovers, a Hawaiian maiden named Pehe from Lahaina and a warrior from Lanai named Makakehua. He was extremely taken with her beauty, and he hid her in a sea cave at the base of Manele’s cliffs. One day, while gathering supplies, he noticed a storm coming and started back to Pehe, who had drowned by the massive waves. Makakehua was devastated and wailed out to his ancestors to help him climb the steep rock island where he eventually buried her and jumped into the pounding surf below.

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If you’re looking for a thrilling underwater adventure, go diving at the Cathedrals, Lanai’s most popular diving spot. Experienced scuba divers will fall in love with the Cathedrals, underwater pinnacle formations formed by underwater lava tubes and illuminated by shimmering rays of light.

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Hulopoe Bay, a protected marine reserve, is a picturesque crescent-shaped bay ideal for snorkeling as well as a popular area for seeing spinner dolphins and even humpback whales.

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Located just north of Lanai City, past the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele, this 12.8-mile, one lane dirt road offers panoramic views of the island. At the trail's scenic lookout, and on a clear day, you can see the neighboring islands of Maui, Mookai, Kaho’olawe, Oahu, and the Big Island. The road will also take you to the top of Lanaihale, the island’s highest peak, measuring in at 3,370 feet.

Little D./Yelp

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Sitting at 1,600 feet above sea level, Lanai City is the island’s only town, with a population of just 3,200. The city is home to a tidy grid of pastel-colored, tin-roofed cottages that date to when the town was first settled in the 1920s.

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With a casual, old-school vibe and simple American and Pan-Asian fare, Blue Ginger Cafe is a must visit while in Lanai City.

Nicholas Illusion/Flickr

Also known as Keahiakawelo, this otherworldly rock garden at the end of Polihua Road is located 45 minutes from Lanai City. According to lore, this barren landscape is the result of a contest between two priests from Lanai and Molokai. Each was supposed to keep a fire burning on their island longer than the other, and the winner’s island would be rewarded with great abundance. Apparently, Kawelo, the Lanai priest, used every bit of vegetation found in Keahiakawelo.

Nicholas Illusion/Flickr

If you head about a half hour north of Lanai City – in a vehicle with four-wheel drive – you will find Shipwreck Beach, a windy eight-mile stretch of sand that has been the site of various shipwrecks. As a matter of fact, the hull of a 1940s ghostly oil tanker is still beached on the reef, giving the beach a sense of surreal beauty.

Round trip tickets leaving early on a Saturday morning and returning late Sunday night will run you approximately $150 from Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines – or you could always take the ferry from Maui to Lanai. How’s that for a cheap, adventure-packed two-day getaway?