The irritating thing about most privately owned islands is that they are beautiful and exclusive鈥攁s in听not听open to the public.听But that鈥檚 not the case with the Hawaiian island of Lanai, just 45 minutes by ferry from Maui鈥檚 west coast. It may be听owned by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison (he bought it last year from billionaire ), but he wants you to visit鈥攁nd feel good about your stay. So Ellison is about to transform Lanai into what 听鈥渢he first economically viable, 100 percent green community.鈥澨鼸llison isn鈥檛 talking to the press about specifics, but the听听reports that he plans to add听up to nine smaller hotels, in addition to an airport, tennis听facilities, and improved infastructure for the local community.

But first, the island's only two resorts鈥擣our Seasons Manele Bay and the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele鈥攏eed to be brought up to the听owner's听green standards. So both will both be closed for renovations from June to December 2015. (Yup, both Four Seasons were sold to Ellison as part of the deal)

Come May,听Lanai will temporarily become a day-trip-only destination. But if you can plan a vacation now, you should.听Lanai is the perfect two-night add-on for an already planned trip to Maui, and if you stay at the 听you鈥檒l have the added luxury of amenities for 300 guests (including new high-tech rooms and the first Nobu restaurant in the state) practically to yourselves.听But come June, just the quaint 11-room听, built in 1928, will be open for overnight guests鈥攖here are still rooms, but they鈥檙e going fast.听

Miss the May window? That鈥檚 fine. You can easily experience a single-day tasting menu of what Lanai has to offer with round-trip ferry packages from Maui听on听.

Armed with a map and a jeep rental, you can 4WD to the Sedona-meets-Stonehenge rock formations at Keahiakawelo, find uncrowded听but听consistent waves at Lopa on the northeast shore, or make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of cliff听diving at Kaunolu on the south shore.听Opt for the听听package and get whisked away from the ferry dock for a guided downhill thrill ride to Shipwreck Beach, plus a pedal听around Lanai City,听which is really just a town square with delights like and Anuenue Juice Bar.

Travelers听on a budget can keep things simple with a package for the round-trip ferry and shuttle to Lanai City only听and stop in at the听听to get a Koloiki Trail guide.听We suggest taking the Koloiki to Munro Trail (about 12 miles听out and back) to hike through groves of guava and kukui nut trees.听The route leads you to the rarely seen听Naio and Maunalei Gulches. Check for 19th-century fortifications from when Big Islanders attacked and took over tiny Lanai.

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