Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
young man named James Dole, who had already established a thriving pineapple operation on Oahu, purchased the island for his Hawaiian Oahu, purchased the island for his Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later renamed Dole Food Pineapple Company (later renamed Dole Food Company) in 1922. Company) in 1922. Dole planted more than 20,000 acres of Lanai Dole planted more than 20,000 acres of Lanai in pineapple, and his operation was the mainstay in pineapple, and his operation was the mainstay of the island's economy for many years. By the of the island's economy for many years. By the 1980s, competition from other pineapple-pro- 1980s, competition from other pineapple-pro- ducing regions caused Lanai's plantations to ducing regions caused Lanai's plantations to become less and less financially feasible. become less and less financially feasible. become less and less financially feasible. Businessman David Murdoch acquired the island Businessman David Murdoch acquired the island in 1985 and transformed the economy from in 1985 and transformed the economy from agriculture to hospitality, building the two hotels agriculture to hospitality, building the two hotels that today are managed by Four Seasons. that today are managed by Four Seasons. Fast forward to 2012, when the island was pur- Fast forward to 2012, when the island was pur- Fast forward to 2012, when the island was pur- chased from Murdoch by the billionaire founder chased from Murdoch by the billionaire founder of tech giant Oracle, Larry Ellison, for a reported of tech giant Oracle, Larry Ellison, for a reported $300 million. The acquisition included 90,000 $300 million. The acquisition included 90,000 acres of land (98 percent of the island), the two acres of land (98 percent of the island), the two Four Seasons resorts, and two golf courses. Four Seasons resorts, and two golf courses. One of the courses, known as Koele Golf One of the courses, known as Koele Golf Course, was closed and the land is now being Course, was closed and the land is now being repurposed (with an art/sculpture walking park repurposed (with an art/sculpture walking park planned for the lower holes, while the holes planned for the lower holes, while the holes higher on the mountain will be used for a zip- higher on the mountain will be used for a zip- coaster and a rope course). The second hotel, coaster and a rope course). The second hotel, The Four Seasons Lodge, is being transformed The Four Seasons Lodge, is being transformed into an ultra-high-end spa and wellness retreat into an ultra-high-end spa and wellness retreat that is scheduled to reopen in December. that is scheduled to reopen in December. To date, Ellison has spent a reported $450 To date, Ellison has spent a reported $450 million in improvements, not just to the hotels, million in improvements, not just to the hotels, (Bloomberg reported that he rebuilt the Four (Bloomberg reported that he rebuilt the Four Seasons lobby four times to get it to frame the Seasons lobby four times to get it to frame the ocean view perfectly), but in ways that have ben- ocean view perfectly), but in ways that have ben- ocean view perfectly), but in ways that have ben- efitted the island's 3,000 residents as well. A new efitted the island's 3,000 residents as well. A new efitted the island's 3,000 residents as well. A new community swimming pool is one example, and community swimming pool is one example, and a new community movie theater is another. a new community movie theater is another. Schools and roads have also been improved. Schools and roads have also been improved. Today's Lanai is a study in contrasts. On the Today's Lanai is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, it's a pleasing step back in time to one hand, it's a pleasing step back in time to plantation-era Hawaii, a place that really hasn't plantation-era Hawaii, a place that really hasn't changed much over the past 100 years. There changed much over the past 100 years. There are still no stoplights on the island—indeed, only are still no stoplights on the island—indeed, only a few roads—and the fast-paced modern is a few roads—and the fast-paced modern is nowhere in evidence. You can take off your nowhere in evidence. You can take off your wristwatch and delight in the small-town charm wristwatch and delight in the small-town charm and slower pace. and slower pace. On the other hand, private charter flights On the other hand, private charter flights On the other hand, private charter flights Oceanfront suites at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai include bedthrows Resort Lanai include bedthrows inspired by barkcloth, Hawaiian art- inspired by barkcloth, Hawaiian art- work and woodcut designs. Floors are work and woodcut designs. Floors are made of Honduran mahogany and made of Honduran mahogany and wallpaper is handmade in Nepal. wallpaper is handmade in Nepal. 182 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 82 182 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8