Experience the romance and laid-back atomosphere of this resort.
By: Maggie Davis
The small, sleepy island of Lanai in Hawaii feels a world away from its better known (and more populated) sister, Maui. And the misty upcountry hotel, The Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele, has a distinctive air of intimacy and romance—not to mention cool breezes. Perhaps that’s why The Unit star, Scott Foley, and actress Marika Dominczyk chose it as the venue for both their wedding and honeymoon last year.
Located 1,600 feet above sea level, the lodge is surrounded by gardens and stands of pine, bamboo, palm and fragrant fruit trees. The resort’s 102 guest rooms are decorated in muted earth tones and have fantastic views of the tranquil natural surroundings. Each features a spacious lanai with oversize rustic wooden chairs. Among the hotel’s offerings are four eateries, a full-service spa and an award-winning golf course.
Take a spin around the 18-hole, 72-par course and enjoy breathtaking views of the pine forest, lakes and mountains. Across the road sit the lodge’s stables. Saddle up and head to the Garden of the Gods, an expanse of windswept red-rock formations that seem quite otherworldly.
Later, ease your sore muscles with a visit to a Banyan Spa Suite for a couple’s massage. Try the Lomilomi, a technique that has evolved in Hawaii over hundreds of years. Then have a leisurely dinner in the main restaurant, an attractive eatery with dark wood trim and a wood-burning fireplace. Try locally sourced dishes like honey-roasted duck breast with Maui lavender and macadamia-crusted Lanai venison. Afterward, snuggle together on your lanai and wish upon the stars in the deep night sky (One Keomoku Highway, Lanai City, Hawaii; rates start at $345 a night; fourseasons.com).
Photography: Courtesy of The Four Season's Resort Lani
