Trilogy "Discover Lanai" tour to Lanai, a private beach, and the reserve
Written: Feb 18 '09 (Updated Feb 18 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A great value for dolphin and whale watching, snorkeling, and visiting the island of Lanai
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: This cruise offers a lot of value and is a unique experience. Hard working and friendly staff.
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| dad-daughters's Full Review: Lanai |
My wife and I have been to Maui many times over the years, and we almost always stay in Kaanapali Beach. We usually come in January or February, as we have a love of seeing humpback whales during their winter birthing season after their long trip down from Alaska.
We had never visited Lanai, which is just across the channel. There are basically two ways to get there (besides very expensive plane tickets). One is the ferry, which costs $30 per person each way and has rows of seats on a small boat that can take maybe 50 people. The other way is to take the Trilogy Lanai cruise. The brochure states they are the only company in Hawaii allowed to enter the "reserve" (more about that later) or dock at the private bay. The Trilogy cruise includes whale watching on the way over and back. Normal whale watching cruises are 2 hours and cost about $65 each person, so having two opportunities to do this going to and from Lanai is theoretically worth at least $135 per person right there. Since whales are not totally predicable, the longer you are on the water, the better the chances of seeing something exciting.
The cruise leaves Lahaina (a town about 4 miles south of our beach area) at 6:30 am(they also have a sunset sail leaving at 10am). It makes for an early morning start but you get back early and the water is usually calmer. The boat itself is a dual hull catarmaran, which minimizes rocking and rolling. If you are subject to sea sickness, any boat can present a problem unless you take a sea sickness pill in advance (they provided pills), or try the remedy that our captain offered which is ginger capsules (500 mg, also provided). A bit of advice here, if you are prone to sea sickness, sit as little as possible and never stay inside the cabin area. The back of the boat can be less motion, but I like to stand on the deck, holding the rail or a cable, and face foward. This keeps your head much more stable and avoids side to side motion. No one on our trip seemed to be having any trouble. Kids enjoyed riding on the "Trampoline" netting in the front of the boat.
Leaving early is a very unique experience. The lights of Lahaina and the Maui coast are stunning just before dawn, and seeing the sun rise over Haleakala crator from the channel was amazing. Although one could get to Lanai in about 45 minutes, our captain took his time as we searched for whales and followed (from a legal distance) as mothers and babies spouted and splashed, and occasionally a male escort breached in an effort to impress the female. The water is very calm in the mornings, so this was a very pleasant way to get there. Once we approached Lanai, you get a great view of the lava cliffs and white sand beaches not visible from 8 miles away at our condo. On the way out, the crew serves you cinnamon rolls and fruit juice, coffee, and sliced fruit.
Lanai was originally the major pineapple producing island until pineapple production stopped some twenty some years ago. Castle and Cooke, which owns Dole, still controls 98% of the island. The 2,400 current residents live mostly at the top of the island inside the broad shallow crator area that is about two miles across. Lanai City is the only city on Lanai and is a leftover from the days when Dole created the town just for their operations and employees. There are no street lights, no fast food, and the whole island only has 25 miles of roads. Their school drop out rate is 0, but 4 out of 5 graduates of the 50 graduating seniors leave the island each year, so the number of native Lanaians is dwindling.
As we rounded the southern tip of the island, a pod of spinner dolphins approached and surrounded our boat. In terms of value, the so-called "dolphin" tours charge $60.00 per person, but don't always see them and the pontoon type dolphin sightseeing boats can be a jarring experience. This cruise is allowed into the marine reserve, so the chances of seeing dolphins is high, as the dolphins are very often in or near the reserve during the day. Having the good chance to see dolphins is another benefit and value to the cruise.
The Lanai dock has just in the last few years been completely upgraded, with nice clean modern well maintained bathrooms, paved roads to and from the beach and hotel (and Lanai City). The ferry also docks here. Once off the boat, we had the option, which is nice, to either take the van tour of Lanai City which is narrated, or just hang out on the beach adjacent to the dock area. Since we are there for 4 hours, and the van tour is only 1.5 hours, you can do both. We opted to take the van tour and were glad we did. Again, if you take the ferry over, the van tour is extra, so this is another value to this tour! The van takes you up the short road to the crater top, boasting excellent views all along the way. When we arrived at the dock, we were greeted with a shell necklace.
Lanai City is not much to look at, with old homes from the middle of the century, but there is also one of the two exclusive hotels run by the Four Seasons company (the other newer much larger hotel is right on the cliff above the beach near the dock). Both have golf courses. The tour guide was a multi-generation native of the island, who had worked the pineapple groves as a girl. Excellent tour and very informative.
After returning to the beach area, we were dropped off to our 2.5 hours at leasure on our own private section of Hulopo'e beach (supposed to be in 10 best in U.S.), including free snorkel equipment, juice and water, chips and salsa, and a supplied lifeguard by Trilogy on a surfboard patrolling the water for the benefit of just our group. The snorkelling was good, with lots of fish to see and some coral reefs. Aside from our group, the beach was virtually empty. But the big draw was that our little bay had a pod of dolphins swimming in it about 200 yards away. Now the marine mammal laws say you are not supposed to approach them, or face a $30,000 fine, but several people (not from our group!) snorkeled right into the pod, and the dolphins seemed not to care. I didn't have the guts, as I assumed even if everyone else did it that I would be the one led away in handcuffs, but I saw no environmentalist narcs, so I probably would have been ok... but who knows. Even without approaching them, I could hear their squeeks under the water since they were so nearby. From the beach, you can easily see them as they often jump and spin out of the water.
My wife and I decided to take part of our time and walk to the nearby VERY exclusive Four Seasons hotel. It is quite elegant, with grand high ceilings, oriental art, beautiful architecture, koy ponds, gardens, friendly staff, and, of course, stunning views of the ocean over a pool to die for. We had a drink at the pool bar which was a memorable experience. We were told the fish tacos are better than any in the world (and this coming from people who can afford anything they want). This hotel and the "lodge" on top of the island, cater to the rich and famous, with regular visits by movie stars and business tycoons.
A short walk back to the beach and the vans took us back to the dock area where we sat under a newly constructed covered lunch area that could hold far more than the 30 in our group overlooking the ocean, with lovely views of the cliffs of Lanai. The crew cooked (and served) barbeque chicken, peas and chinese noodles, with fruit juice or tea. The food was excellent.
Following lunch, we boarded the boat and started out return trip. We were fortunate in that there was no wind, so the seas were pretty calm, but that unfortunately meant we could not use the sail, as the return trip is usually a sail experience, rather than using the diesel engines. We again ran into a pod of dolphins, and had a wonderful time as they followed us in circles for about 15 minutes before losing interest and heading toward their next destination. We saw many whales, and the captain dutifully headed toward spouts and tail splashers. During the return trip the crew offered water to those on the deck and a nice surprise: chocolate sundaes served in a dixie cup!
The entire trip was professionally run, well-timed, and well organized. The snorkel gear was top notch, not like the worn out masks and fins some tours push on you. The boat was clean and modern, and well maintained. You get back to Lahaina at 3:30 pm, in time to have dinner or see the town, but we were tired and just went back to the condo.
You are in the sun most of the day, so be sure to use sunscreen and drink water often! One more piece of advice, take their offer of $10.00 all day parking. I put my car in the local public parking lot, which was 3 hour limit. I thought they either (A) would not have parking enforcement because Lahaina is a small town, or (B), if they did,the ticket couldn't be much more than $20.00, so I gambled. Well, upon our return I did find a ticket, and it was $60.00...So a word to the wise! The cost of the cruise is $189.00 each, but given the values I mentioned (2X whale watch, dolphins, private beach area, snorkeling in the reserve, lunch, van tour of Lanai City), I think it is a great deal. Children 3-15 are half price.
Aloha!
Dan
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb
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Epinions.com ID:
dad-daughters
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Member: Dan
Location: Southern California USA
Reviews written: 79
Trusted by: 29 members
About Me:
Finally, my reviews outnumber my age...
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