The ride from Lahaina to Mānele Harbor costs $30, is an hour long and offers spectacular views of Lāna‘i’s rugged southern coastline. In winter it’s common to spot Humpback whales while seated on the outdoor deck, and pods of Hawaiian Spinner dolphins can often be spotted year round.
Renting a Jeep to Explore the Island
If you’re planning to spend a day on Lāna‘i, the first ferry departs Lahaina at 6:45 a.m. and arrives at Manele Harbor on Lāna‘i around 8 a.m. From here you can walk to Hulopo‘e Beach to spend the day snorkeling and sunbathing. Or if you plan to explore the rest of the island with a Jeep from Lānaʻi Cheap Jeeps, you can catch the shuttle to Lāna‘i City. To save on shuttle costs, however, there are some smaller operators with 4WD vehicles that will drop the Jeep at the harbor, so it’s already there when the ferry docks and you can start your adventure from there.
Last Ferry Back to Maui
The last ferry back to Maui is at 5:30 p.m., which allows for 10 hours of exploring the island if you arrive on the earliest ferry. If you’ve rented a Jeep, the shuttle departs for Manele Harbor at around 6pm, so you should return the Jeep and be ready to go by just after 5:30pm.
Spending the Day at Hulopoʻe
If you plan to just spend the day at Hulopo‘e and don’t plan to rent a Jeep, the next departure from Lahaina to Lāna‘i is 9:45 a.m. This way you don’t have to wake up so early and can still be at rolling out your towel at Hulopo‘e by 11:30 a.m.
Golfing on Lānaʻi at the Four Seasons Resort’s Manele Golf Course
For anyone hoping to golf on Lāna‘i, you can catch the morning ferry from Lahaina to play at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai’s Jack Nicklaus-designed Manele Golf Course. If you happen to be staying at the resort, you can ride the ferry from Maui to Lāna‘i where a resort shuttle will meet you at the harbor for a small additional fee.
Staying on Lānaʻi and Traveling to Maui
If, on the other hand, you’re staying on Lāna‘i but plan to spend the day on Maui, the first ferry departs Lāna‘i at 8:15 a.m. For the return journey back to Lāna‘i, the final ferry of the day from Lahaina is 4:00 p.m., which gives you right around eight and a half hours for exploring or shopping on Maui.
