LANA‘I - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 534

BIKING
Companies have rented out bikes to island visitors in the past, but currently the only way
to procure a bike is to either know someone locally or bring one over on the ferry from
Maui. Seeing as there are only 30 miles of paved road on the entire island (compared to
over 400 which are unpaved), Lana'i is an island more suited to mountain biking than road
cycling. Although there isn't any single-track, the hunting roads and old pineapple roads
crisscrossing the island are a mountain biker's dream terrain. Intermediate riders can ped-
al the seven miles of dirt road leading out to the Garden of the Gods, or more advanced
riders can make the 3,300-foot descent from the summit of Lana'ihale down the Munro
Trail, hook up with the Awehi Trail, and end at a deserted white sand beach. Logistics are
always an issue with Lana'i mountain biking, however, and unless you're into a leg-burn-
ing ascent after your downhill ride, a one-way transport will need to be arranged. If riding
on the Awehi Trail, Naha Trail, or anywhere on the island's “back side,” tire-puncturing
kiawe thorns can be a pesky issue, so pack a pump and an extra tube.
Outdoor Adventure
FISHING
Fishing is the most popular pastime for Lana'i locals. While spearfishing is common
among island locals, many people still choose to fish either by net or by rod and reel. Fa-
vorite places for shorecasting include Kaunolu, Ka'ena Point, Shipwreck Beach, and off
the beach at Naha, and even though Hulopo'e Beach is a marine life conservation district,
casting from shore is still allowed. When the halalu (juvenile bigeye scad) are running,
it isn't uncommon to see up to 40 fishers plucking the small fish out of the harbor basin
down in Manele as they chum the water with palu, a concoction of bread, flour, sardines,
and squid belly. While it's possible to get good-size kawakawa or papio when fishing from
shore, to land a mahimahi, ono, or marlin, you're going to have to get out on a boat and
troll the deeper waters.
For sportfishing charters, the 36-foot Fish N Chips has been taking Lana'i anglers out
for years to troll around the buoys and ledges along the southwestern coastline. The cap-
tain and crew are longtime residents of the island who are intimately acquainted with the
environmental nuances of Lana'i's waters, and this is going to be your best chance for reel-
ing in a huge ahi (yellowfin tuna) or a trophy marlin.