Part 2- We continued our stay on the island of Lanai and arrived at the Four Seasons Resort located on Manela Bay. This lodging overlooks a marine preserve boasting of spinner dolphins surrounded by red-lava cliffs and a white sand beach.  Because they knew it we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, they upgraded us to a room with a view of the bay. Flower petals lined the path to our door and they  surprised us with complimentary champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries. They also transferred our luggage from the Lodge at Koele to this resort seamlessly. When we walked out onto the lanai, we were so grateful to be able to hear the waves and see the views!

The next morning we decided to splurge on the breakfast buffet with outdoor seating, which was a feast for both the eyes and taste buds. To walk off some calories from the large breakfast, we explored the immaculate gardens on the resort grounds.   The Chinese gardens were filled with aromas from gardenia, jasmine, camphor and other beautiful plants and vines native to Hawaii. The gardens extended around the pool and down the path to the beach area. The lava rocks provided interesting tidal pools to wade in. There were trails that led to the red-lava cliffs, which bordered the beach on one side and offered spectacular views of the water crashing below. A large rock sitting just off the coast was named Sweetheart Rock. The legend tells of a young warrior that carried his lover who had drowned up to the top of the rock where he buried her. He leapt to his death on the sharp rocks below.

Four Seasons pampered us in many ways at the poolside. They offered ample water, lemonade or essence of pineapple in cooled dispensers. Upon our arrival the pool attendants set up our chairs and offered to clean our sunglasses. They also provided chilled washcloths, cooled cucumber slices for our eyes, fruit skewers, smoothies, sunscreen and an Evian spritz periodically.  Spending enough time at the pool, we hiked down to the beach to sit under the umbrellas. My husband tried out the complimentary snorkeling equipment but the rough undertow in the bay made for some pretty adventurous wipeouts! Apparently, the bay is calmer in the winter months and often whales can be seen migrating nearby. While at dinner that night, we watched the evening ceremony where a Hawaiian native blew a large conch to signal the lighting of the tiki torches. The resort did an amazing job of providing a true Hawaiian experience with the furnishings, menu options, landscape and cultural activities.

One of the nice things about staying on this island with two Four Seasons resorts was the ability to share a common shuttle service so you could enjoy daily activities at both locations. We rode the shuttle back up to the Lodge one night for dinner and enjoyed sitting outside under the stars by the fire. It was amazing how much cooler the night was at the higher altitude compared to the beachside resort.

On our last day, we took a tour of the beautiful golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. They drove us in a golf cart to tee#17, the location of where Bill Gates was married. He rented out the entire hotel and grounded all helicopters to ensure a private wedding on the golf course with spectacular beachscapes.  We enjoyed our last views of the bay before heading back to the airport. Due to an oversight by United with insufficient times between flights, we had to be rushed through the terminal to make our connection in Honolulu. They held the plane for us and we were the last people to walk on the plane as they shut the door behind us. “Aloha”, which means “the presence of breath”, is used by the islanders for hello or goodbye and to show love and affection. After buckling into my seat for the red-eye flight home, I glanced out the window and uttered Aloha to my time in Hawaii.