Lanai

Lanai ( German: Lanai, Lanai in the Geographic Names Information System) is one of eight volcanic Hawaiian main islands. In the Hawaiian language, the name probably means " day (s) conquest ". The island is 29 km long and up to 21 km wide. The surface area is 364 km ². Highest elevation is 1030 m high Lānaihale in the southeast of the island.

The island consists of a high plateau. One-fifth of the island is cultivated with pineapple. Long Lanai was the largest pineapple plantation in the world. Agricultural unused land is natural.

Administratively belongs to Lanai Maui County.

History

It was not until around 1400 this island was settled by the Hawaiians. Later, white missionaries, Chinese and Mormons, who introduced the cultivation of sugar cane came about 1802. In 1922, " Pineapple King " James Dole bought as president of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later Dole Food Company) the island for $ 1.1 million. Today there cattle and farm economy is driven almost exclusively. The little- developed island is populated by only about 3200 residents. In June 2012, Larry Ellison bought 98 % of the island from the company Castle & Cooke.

Traditionally, Lanai was divided into 13 ahupuaa that ( moku o loko ) were combined into two districts: kona ( Lee) and koolau (windward ). The ahupuaa are reproduced below, with clockwise order, and the original square footage in acres, starting in the northwest of the island:

Kamoku is ahupuaa with the vast majority population, as the majority of Lanai City is located in it. Parts of Lanai City also extend to Kaa and Paomai. The remaining ahupuaa are largely uninhabited today. According to the 2000 census, Lanai City united 99 percent of the inhabitants of the island itself ( 3164 of 3193 ). As a census-designated place Lanai City is only defined for statistical purposes only and not by administrative boundaries.

Tourism

For destination, the pineapple island has not been developed properly, but probably it is a popular day trip from Maui.

Mostly golfers and hikers ( Munro Trail, 12.7 km long) inhabit during the main holiday periods the island. In the hinterland expect an ancient Hawaiian ruins. Another attraction is the Garden of the Gods ( " Garden of the Gods " ), a maze of red lava rock and many strangely shaped rocks in the west of the island.

The small main town of Lanai City is about 500 meters above the sea, in the middle of the island, refreshing, cool highlands at the foot of a mountain range. As wind protection in and around the town Norfolk pines (Araucaria heterophylla ) planted since 1920. The 7th Street and 8th Street, the main street with a few shops; during a tour worth taking a look in the home gardens. The island is ideal for golfers, nature lovers as well as to relax and bathe. Lanai is a small tip for individuals.

The most beautiful beach is protected Hulupoe Beach on the south coast of Lanai. The solitary, mostly very windy Polihua Beach on the northwest coast allows an uninterrupted view of the island of Molokai and is accessible only on foot or by four-wheel vehicle.