Lanai - Hawaii with Kids - page 333

A great resource for vacation rentals is Julie Archambeau at Lanai Homes and
Rentals ( & 808/565-9200 ).
VERY EXPENSIVE
The Lodge at Koele This elegant 102-room lodge resembles a grand
English country estate. It's located in the cool mist of the mountains in a 21-acre
grove of Norfolk Island pines at 1,700 feet above sea level, 8 miles inland from
any beach. Most people look at it as a romantic retreat, but The Lodge does
accommodate children. The main problem is that only three people are allowed
to occupy a room, so if you're two adults with more than one keiki in tow, you
have to get two rooms (which can be expensive). The good news is that there is
no additional charge for children 17 and under, and that there are plenty of
activities for them in the resort's Piliahola Program. (Kids 5 and up can enjoy a
range of activities from croquet to exploring tide pools.) You and the kids might
be happier on the beach at the sister resort, Manele Bay Hotel, listed below.
P.O. Box 630310, Lanai City, HI 96793. & 800/321-4666 or 808/565-7300. Fax [phone]. www.lanai-
resorts.com. 102 units. $400-$575 double; from $725 suite. Extra person $75. Children under 17 stay free in
parent's room. Cribs and rollaway beds free. Numerous packages available. AE, DC, MC, V. Airport shuttle $25
round-trip. Amenities: 2 restaurants; bar (w/quiet live music, hula, and occasional talks by celebrities); out-
door pool; golf at the Experience at Koele, an 18-hole championship Greg Norman/Ted Robinson-designed
course, and executive putting green; tennis courts; fitness room; Jacuzzi; watersports equipment rentals at sis-
ter hotel Manele Bay Hotel; bike rental; children's program; game room; concierge; activities desk; car rental
desk; business center; shopping arcade; room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning.
Inroom: A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
Manele Bay Hotel Although only three people are allowed per room
(including children), this luxury hotel has one big advantage over its sister hotel,
The Lodge at Koele (see above): It's located on a sun-washed southern bluff
overlooking fabulous Hulopoe Beach, one of Hawaii's best stretches of golden
sand just a short 2-minute walk away. This resort is much less formal than The
Lodge up the hill. Its attracts more families, and because it's warmer here, peo-
ple wander through the lobby in shorts and T-shirts. They offer the same chil-
dren's program that The Lodge does, with most of the activities focused more on
the beach and ocean.
P.O. Box 630310, Lanai City, HI 96793. & 800/321-4666 or 808/565-7700. Fax [phone]. www.lanai-
resorts.com. 250 units. $400-$800 double; $1,200-$3,500 suite. Additional person $75. Children under 17
stay free in parent's room. Cribs and rollaway beds free. Numerous packages available. AE, DC, MC, V. Airport
shuttle $25 round-trip. Amenities: 3 restaurants; bar w/breathtaking views; large outdoor pool; golf at the
Jack Nicklaus-designed Challenge at Manele; tennis courts; fitness room; small spa; Jacuzzi; watersports
equipment rental; children's program; game room; concierge; activities desk; business center; shopping
arcade; salon; room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room:A/C, TV, dataport,
minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
MODERATE
Hotel Lanai This hotel lacks the facilities of the two resorts described
above, but it's perfect for families who can't afford to spend $400 (and up) per
night. This clapboard plantation-era relic has retained its quaint character and
lives on as a country inn. The guest rooms are extremely small (some rooms can
handle another person, some are too small), but they are clean and newly deco-
rated with Hawaiian quilts, wood furniture, and ceiling fans (but no air-condi-
tioning or televisions). The most popular are the lanai units, which feature a
lanai shared with the room next door. I recommend the small, one-bedroom
cottage with a TV and bathtub, perfect for a small family.