Capturing the Moment

  Drone aerial shot of the Lana'i coastline, and our boat anchored in the distance. Here in Hawaii, Lana'i is a unique place. This island has been privately owned since the early 1900's. First used as a ranch, then as a giant pineapple plantation by Dole, now it is the home to two exclusive resorts and a small town of 3,000 or so residents that call Lana'i home. The only ferry in the islands visits here from Maui three times a day. And a small airport services flights from Oahu and Maui as well. A barge brings in supplies and groceries to the island once a week. The pace is slow here, and places to sleep under $1000 are very limited. So not many tourist ever make it here. But that is just the kind of place I want to expose my guests onboard the expedition cruise ship, Safari Explorer, to. The unique history of the island makes this place unlike any other spot we visit in the Hawaiian islands. There aren't many paved roads here, but old plantation dirt track roads cr...

  I only had a few minutes to fly the drone this morning, but I did get a shot of our ship with Sweetheart Rock in the background. Of all the tourists that travel to the Hawaiian Islands, very few of them ever make it to the 'Private Isle' of Lana'i. Once called 'The Pineapple Isle', due to Dole creating the world's largest pineapple plantation here, now it is owned almost entirely by the CEO of Oracle, Larry Ellison. There are around 3,000 residents of the island, mostly living in Lana'i City, and working in the two fancy Four Seasons resorts. Ellison has turned the island into a secluded resort hideaway for the rich and famous. If you want to stay over night here at one of the resorts you will end up paying a pretty penny. But the draw of an almost empty island, no stop lights, no crime, and no crowds, makes it a perfect place for my trips with UnCruise. I want to show the guests places like this. Due to the history of the island being privately owned for ...