A Hawaiian wellness resort with a spectacular, celestial vantage.
Deep in the Pacific Ocean, almost 90 miles from Honolulu, a research-grade telescope points to the skies, capturing the surface of the moon with such arresting clarity it appears as a ball of foam. No, this isn’t Mauna Kea Observatory, but the Lanai Observatory at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, situated on the southern shores of Hawaii’s third smallest island.
“In Hawaii, we’re surrounded by these world-class astronomy facilities, but most people only get to admire them from the outside,” says observatory specialist Isabel Campbell. “Having this observatory, we’re able to make astronomy more accessible.”
The sparsely populated island is a desirable destination for night sky tourism given its low light pollution. Guests to the Four Seasons Resort Lanai and sister property Sensei Lanai–their ultra luxe wellness resort located in the island’s highlands–can join an observatory tour and learn about Ike Kupuna, ancestral knowledge, from an observatory guide.
“It’s a very educational experience that introduces guests not only to the western view of astronomy, but how Hawaiians or ancient Polynesians utilize astronomy and wayfinding,” Campbell says. “Ancient Polynesians utilized these natural elements, stars being one of them, to voyage the largest ocean on Earth.”
The coming months promise magnificent showings. Jupiter’s bands, moons, and Red Storm are among Campbell’s favorite sights. Summer brings an opportunity to observe deep space objects like globular clusters and galaxies, which take more training to parse but provide great payoff. Even without the telescope, meteor showers will put on a show, with the Lyrids raining down in April and the Delta Aquarids in July.
While the nocturnal sightseeing is exquisite, there’s no shortage of delights on the island by day either. The Four Seasons Resort Lanai is a beachfront property equipped for family stays, and Sensei Lanai is the island’s wellness crown jewel. The very bones of the adults-only resort are structured to promote quiet and mindfulness–even the stepping stones through the sculpture garden are placed at uneven intervals so guests slow down and observe the path they are walking. Guests can find a table along Nobu’s veranda and eat an acai bowl for breakfast while watching the koi.
Guests work with the property to create customized itineraries suited to their goals with offerings spanning fitness, nutrition, yoga, and mindfulness. While the resort can certainly accommodate a biohacking minded tech exec from Silicon Valley, I was keen on experiences to ground me in my body after a period of chronic illness had me feeling very disconnected from myself. I crossed the landscaped ponds for a yoga class and an art walk, wherein I learned about the corporeal sculptures of Fernando Botero–seven of his statues adorn the property–the pop sheen of Jeff Koons, and the elongated Talaia by Jaume Plensa, which overlooks the entire grounds. Never did my jetlag vanish as quickly as it did during the Lomi Lomi massage and ensuing private hale time.
Inspired by the previous night’s observatory tour, I wanted to spend time with the sky on my final night in Lanai. I slipped into a private onsen for a soak before climbing to higher ground–one of the gardeners had insisted that night was Talaia’s best time of day. Spotlights illuminated her face completely, casting shadows around her jaw until she all but vanished into the night sky of Lanai.
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