Lanai - Hawaii with Kids - page 338

7 For the Active Family
IN THE WATER
Lanai has Hawaii's best water clarity because it lacks major development,
because it has low rainfall and runoff, and because its coast is washed clean daily
by the sea current known as “The Way to Tahiti.” But the strong sea currents
pose a threat to swimmers, and there are few good surf breaks. Most of the
aquatic adventures—swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving—are centered on the
somewhat protected south shore, around Hulopoe Bay.
The only outfitter for watersports is Trilogy Lanai Ocean Sports

( & 888/

MAUI-800 or 808/565-9303; www.visitlanai.com).
OCEAN KAYAKING Discover the thrill of kayaking with Trilogy's guided
trips into Lanai's complex eco-systems and unique flora and fauna. (See contact
information above.) Children ages 5 and over will really enjoy this, but Trilogy
will take wee ones as young as 3. Included in each trip are lunch, sodas and
snacks, single and double kayaks, and snorkeling gear. Cost is $125 (half-price
for children 3-15), $75 for non-paddlers who join the tour and enjoy a guided
hike along the coast. Allow a half-day for this adventure.
SAILING & SNORKELING Trilogy, which has built a well-deserved repu-
tation as the leader in sailing/snorkeling cruises in Hawaii, has a morning
snorkel sailing trip along Lanai's protected coastline, which includes sailing past
hundreds of spinner dolphins into some of the best snorkeling sites in the world.
The entire family will enjoy this. (Infants and children under 3 are free.) The
$110 price (half-price for children 3-15) includes breakfast, lunch, sodas,
snacks, snorkel gear, and instruction. In the evening, Trilogy offers a sunset sail
for $59 per person (half-price for children 3-15).
Hulopoe is Lanai's best snorkeling spot. Fish are abundant and friendly in the
marine-life conservation area. Try the lava-rock points at either end of the beach
and around the lava pools. Newcomers can get lessons from Trilogy's beach snor-
keling class at 10am Monday through Friday; after the lessons, there's a 30-
minute guided reef tour. All equipment and floatation devices are included for
$30, half-price for children under 15 years old. Kids under age 5 may be a bit
intimidated.
WHALE-WATCHING Year-round, Trilogy offers 1 1 ⁄ 2 -hour adventures on a
32-foot, 26-passenger, rigid-hulled inflatable boat. From late December to
April, they are on the lookout for whales, but the remainder of the year, schools
of spinner dolphins are featured on this Blue Water Marine Mammal Watch.
The cost is $75 (half-price for children 3-15).
ON LAND
BICYCLING The Lodge at Koele ( & 808/565-7300 ) has mountain bikes
to rent for $8 an hour, $35 for 4 hours, and $40 to $55 for 8 hours. For general
information about bike trails, go to www.bikehawaii.com.
CAMPING There is only one “legal” place to camp on Lanai: Hulopoe Beach
Park, which is owned by Castle and Cooke Resorts. To camp in this exquisite
beach park, with its crescent-shaped, white-sand beach bordered by kiawe trees,
contact Wendell Sarme, Park Manager, Castle and Cooke Resorts, P.O. Box
630310, Lanai City, HI 96763 ( & 808/565-2970 ). There's a $5 registration
fee, plus a charge of $5 per person per night. Facilities include restrooms, run-
ning water, showers, barbecue areas, and picnic tables.