Perched above the beach at Hulopoe Bay—a protected marine preserve that ranks as one of Hawaii's foremost 
snorkeling destinations
—this elegant hotel stands out not only for the beauty of its setting but also its marvelous seclusion. The bustle and traffic of Maui, just across the former whaling anchorage of Lahaina Roads, is completely absent here, largely because there are few cars and only a couple dozen miles of paved roads. A mere 3,000 people live on the island, most in Lanai City at the heart of the island. That means that apart from a few daytrippers over from Maui, the guests of Manele Bay, its sister property the Lodge at Koele up in the mountains, and an 11-room hotel in Lanai City have the island pretty much to themselves.
The hotel feels smaller than its 236 rooms yet has a full suite of resort amenities, including two golf courses—one at Manele Bay, the second at the Lodge at Koele—three Plexicushion tennis courts, a spa, fitness center, a scenic swimming pool, and several restaurants. A free shuttle connects the two properties, providing additional dining opportunities, access to the equestrian center at the Lodge, and opportunities to hike the fabled Munro Trail through the forested hills and valleys of the Koele uplands.
Staying at Manele means awakening to views of the bay and if you're lucky a pod of 50 or more dolphins that frequent its waters. The gravel path from the resort to the beach passes the ruins of an ancient Hawaiian settlement before ending at a broad sandy crescent set between lava-rock promontories and bordered by acacia-like kiawe trees. It has a wilder, less manicured look than most resort beaches, which for me adds to its appeal. The Four Seasons has its own lounges, umbrellas, and watersports center at the end of the path; but this is a public beach, with picnic tables for the locals and daytrippers who venture down. The snorkeling is superb and so is the tidepooling, the latter made easy by a stairway leading from the lava bluff to the tidepools on the easternside of the bay.
Peter Burwash International's Rob LeBuhn directs the operation on three terraced Plexicushion courts. These have been cut into the hillside behind the hotel where they have ocean views. A native of New Jersey, LeBuhn trained at the Hopman Tennis Academy and went on to play for Lafayette College in Pennsylvania before pursuing a career in business. He later returned to tennis and brings 10 years of experience to his Four Seasons posting, including stints as a high school coach and junior academy director. He takes over a program that included private lessons, Cardio tennis and complimentary tennis mixer, among other activities, and once he announces his own format, I'll report about that there. He will continue the Four Seasons service of sending guests to court with towels and bottles of water. There is also junior tennis one day a week as part of the Four Seasons "Kids For All Seasons" program. Court fees are $20/person/day. A full-service pro shop provides anything you may need in the way of clothing, equipment, accessories, or restringing services.
Pro Shop: 808-565-2098
Rates on request.
Seasons. Year-round.
General Tourist Information. Visit the 
Maui Visitors Bureau website or contact them at 1727 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku, HI 96793. Phone: 808-244-3530 or Fax: 808-244-1337. Or for information about Hawaii as a whole, visit the Hawaii Visitors Bureau website or contact them at 2270 Kalakaua Ave. #801, Honolulu, HI 96815. Phone: 808-923-1811 or Fax: 808-924-0290.