The History Of Lanai
The sixth largest island in the Hawaiian chain, Lanai is home to 3,000 residents, one school, one hospital, zero traffic lights and countless unique and untouched landscapes.
Lanai’s early history is deeply woven into the island’s many storied sites. From the remains of Kaunolu village to Waiaopae fishpond, you’ll find evidence of ancient Hawaiian settlers who lived off the land, planting taro and catching fish along the shore as early as the 1500s.
In 1922, James Dole purchased Lanai and the tiny island became one of the largest pineapple plantations in the world. Immigrants came from the Philippines, Japan, China, Portugal, Korea and Puerto Rico to work in the fields and Lanai City was established as a small plantation settlement.
The island changed hands from Dole Food Company to Castle & Cooke, which began developing resort opportunities in the 1980s. Lanai’s pineapple history came to an end soon after with the last harvest held in 1992.
In 2012, Lanai was purchased by Larry Ellison, and Pulama Lanai was created to manage, preserve and protect our precious land and natural resources.