Lanai, Hawaii 🏝️🌺

Bidding Farewell to Hilo Bay

A Heartfelt Goodbye

On April 4th, after a month and a half anchored in Hilo Bay, we raised the hook and charted our course west toward Maui, leaving behind the comforting shelter of the breakwater but taking with us treasured memories.

We said goodbye to our friends Mauricio and Paola, who were also preparing to set off just a few days after us for Marquesas in French Polynesia. We are wishing them a safe and beautiful journey.

Hilo will forever be a cherished chapter in our story, and while we will miss its stunning beauty, we are eager to continue our adventure across the Pacific.

Excellent Sailing Limited Anchoring

Detour to Lanai

We kicked off our adventure from Hilo at 9:48 am on April 4th, dreaming of Maui…. But anchored off Lanai a day, three hours, and fifty-five minutes later. Our trip was filled with lots of wind, calm seas and stunning views along the northern coastlines of the Big Island and Maui. After sailing overnight towards Maui, we ran into some pretty strong winds that made it unsafe and uncomfortable to anchor at our planned spot, so we decided to keep going the few extra hours to Lanai. This daytime detour gave us the chance to take in even more beautiful sights of the Hawaiian Islands. We were lucky to have dolphins swimming alongside us, and Alex caught a Wahoo that we grilled up for dinner. Sharing this experience with Logan and Cash made it even more special.

Snorkeling heaven

The ‘Needles’

Most of the west coast of Lanai features volcanic sea cliffs that range in height from about 100ft to almost 1000ft in height, and are apparently formed by the incessant wave action wearing away the land. Our anchorage, The Needles, is a rock spine that is all that remains of what once was a headland jutting out into the sea. What’s left is a series of rock towers surrounded by reef.

Snorkeling at the Needles off Lanai was such an awesome experience, diving into a colorful underwater world with cool coral and amazing sea life, but we definitely had to keep an eye on those currents. This spot felt like paradise paddling, swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear turquoise waters. After spending one night, we kicked off the following day with some early morning snorkeling before heading over to the island of Molokai.

A little bit about…

Lanai Hawaii

Lanai, often called the Pineapple Isle, is the sixth-largest Hawaiian island and the smallest one where people actually live. It’s known for its chill vibes and the fact that you won’t find any traffic lights here. Once home to the biggest pineapple plantation in the world, which produced seventy-five percent of all the pineapples out there, Lanai is now mostly owned by Larry Ellison, who holds ninety-eight percent of the island, while the state of Hawaii and some private homeowners have the rest. This laid-back spot is loved for its tiny population, slow pace, and fun activities like backcountry hiking, four-wheel driving, and wandering around the historic town of Lanai City.