Puu Pehe Cove

Drive from Lanai City to Hulopoe Beach, park free in the Hulopoe Beach parking lot, then walk and scramble east along the lava for roughly 45 minutes to reach the cove. Alternatively, take the Expeditions Lānaʻi Passenger Ferry (50-minute crossing) and make your way on foot from the harbor. There is no entry fee, but the lava scramble is the only way in — no trail, no steps, no shortcut. The cove is not accessible by wheelchair.

The main draw is snorkeling around the base of Puʻupehe sea stack, where the crystal-clear water and protected marine environment make for exceptional underwater viewing. The stack itself — viewable directly from the cove below — is one of Hawaii's most iconic geological and cultural landmarks, carrying a well-known Hawaiian legend. Hulopoe Beach, just 0.3 km back along the coast, is Lanai's main public beach and a good warm-up before the scramble. Manele Small Boat Harbor, about 1 km away, is worth a look if you're curious about the island's working waterfront.

After the scramble back, VIEWS at Manele Golf (1.4 km) is the top-rated option nearby and a solid spot to decompress with a meal. Nobu Lanaʻi and Malibu Farm Restaurant & Bar are both around 0.8 km away and cover the spectrum from upscale Japanese to relaxed farm-to-table. The Break, also 0.8 km out, rounds out the options if you want something more casual — bring snacks for the cove itself, as there's nothing on-site.

The Four Seasons Resort Lanai, just 0.8 km from the cove, is the island's flagship property and the most convenient base for exploring this stretch of coastline. Staying here puts you within easy walking distance of the harbor, the restaurants, and the start of the Hulopoe Beach trail that leads to the cove.

The best shot on Lanai is from the cove looking straight up at Puʻupehe sea stack — shoot in the early morning when the light hits the basalt face and the crystal-clear water glows beneath it. For a wider composition, the viewpoint above the stack (0.05 km) gives you the cove, the rock, and the open Pacific in a single frame.

This cove sits inside the Marine Life Conservation District: no fishing and no removing marine life of any kind — leave everything exactly as you find it. The lava scramble becomes dangerously slippery when wet, so check conditions before you set off and wear closed-toe shoes with grip. Winter surge can be strong enough to cut off your return path, so avoid visiting in December, January, and February entirely. There is no lifeguard on site — swimming is dangerous and should not be attempted.