Beyond the modest urban boundaries of Lana’i City, the island is essentially untamed, with the exception of an elegant little lodge located toward the center of the island. The perfect counterpoint to the Manele Bay Hotel, juxtaposing land and sea and jungle and beach, the inland Lodge at Koele, sister resort to Manele Bay, offers a perfect mountain-born contrast—a collective experience that will amaze even the seasoned traveler who feels they have seen the spectacular. The sublime serenity of Hawaii’s unspoiled, less-traveled road is a new way to see this glorious and mystical archipelago of the Pacific.

In the hills overlooking endless sheets of blue breaking waves sits the Lodge at Koele, the perfect counterpoint to vacation at Lana’i and the Manele Bay Hotel. Hawaiian grace and old-world elegance are on prominent display from the moment one steps on the property and acknowledges the large but subdued central edifice, a colonial-style estate that sits in a cove of foliage disrupted only by the gentle breeze of high-elevation trade winds. Still, the beach is easily accessible, but the topography of the area means that great views, and dramatic golf shot values, are part of the unique Koele experience.

Each of the 102 rooms in the main Lodge is, of course, part and parcel to the rustic and dramatic ambiance of the resort. The better half of a Lana’i partnership that has held its peerless form atop the Conde Nast rankings since their inception has garnered its travel and tourism status from the accommodations, where rare and elegant décor mixes seamlessly with modern convenience and stylistic nuance. Feather pillows crown four-poster beds. Fresh pineapple juice is served as a welcome cocktail. Each room offers a stunning view of the countryside, from hillside gardens and the reflecting pond to copses of Banyan trees adorning the front entrance and the orchid house foregrounded by the golf course. In every direction, the privacy of your lanai brings to you the serene authenticity of the island, and of the myriad of in-house amenities at the Lodge, it is the on-site film developing that perhaps best reflects the resort’s own understanding of its stunning property.

Of course, the photo opportunities run far deeper than the comfort of your private lanais. On horseback, canter far into the unspoiled guava forests and ironwood groves of the island, or set off on foot to explore miles of beaches, where your footprints after the tide may be the first. Golf at ‘The Experience’ is just that—a thrilling golf adventure through valley gorges and gently banked tropical highlands teeming with foliage and wildlife. Mountain biking and hiking trails allow guests to experience the same serene tropical playground by more familiar means, but potential at the Lodge at Koele must in no way be deemed synonymous with obligation. The option, and the luxury, to do absolutely nothing, is for once time well spent.

The atmospheric standard of excellence seen in every dimension of the Lodge at Koele carries over to one’s palate; with a collection of restaurants that industry forerunner Zagat has deemed the best in all of Hawaii. For a formal dinner, the stately opulence of the main dining room must be enjoyed at least once a visit, as the best seafood, game, and locally grown vegetables are fused to form uniquely rustic and authentically American dishes. Jackets here are required for men, but a more casual atmosphere persists in the Terrace Room, with views overlooking lovely English gardens. For a more private and intimate dining experience, guests may order from the menu directly to their rooms, and for a quick bite or libation, the Experience at Koele clubhouse, overlooking the first hole, or The Tea Room Bar are the obvious choices.

A thrilling and secluded inland mountain lodge. A coastal paradise. On the island of Lana’i, it is indeed the best of both worlds that await your arrival.