Experiences Under the Night Skies at Four Seasons Resort Lanai

Four Seasons Resort Lanai, home to the Lanai Observatory, launches a fortnight of celestial events and amenities starting May 18, 2024, International Spring Astronomy Day. The first Astronomy Day was celebrated in 1973 by the Astronomical Association of Northern California, and grew globally, to encourage people to participate in space-related activities. On Lanai, guests can enjoy activities including:

Hawanawana Spa

Stargazing Heart Meditation – Follow a 45-minute guided open-heart meditation while gazing up at the vast darkness dotted with sparkling stars.  Led by Wellness Supervisor Caroline Reese, cultivate mindfulness at the Lanai Gardens under the night sky.  Listen to the breaking waves of Hulopoe Bay, feel cool ocean breezes and breathe in fresh scents from tropical greens while a calm, nourishing energy flows from head to toe. Available Sunday, May 19 and May 26 at 7:00 pm for USD 100. Check the online calendar for additional classes on the schedule.  

Lanai Observatory

• Moon Nights - Look through a high-class 1-metre telescope to see the moon and learn how it was used in ancient Hawaii in this 30-minute experience led by the Resort’s Love Lanai Cultural Advisors. The mahina’s (moon) cycles guided planting and fishing patterns and Hina, the Hawaiian goddess, represents motherhood. Available May 18 and 19; three 30-minute sessions beginning at 8:00 pm for USD 30.  Reservations required; maximum six people per sessions.
• Observatory Day Tours – Tour the two-storey observatory and learn about the mechanics of the high powered telescope. The observatory will be open May 30 and 31 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Complimentary, no reservations required.
• Moon Models – Day tours with an artistic twist: visit the observatory and mold clay moons while also learning about the importance of this “natural satellite of the Earth” in Hawaiian culture. May 20-24, 4:00-5:00 pm. Complimentary, no reservations required.
  
• Pacific Voyaging Workshop - Discover how Native Hawaiians reclaimed their ancestral knowledge and use of the star compass to voyage the largest ocean in the world using cultural crafting. May 27 to 29, 3:30-4:30 pm.

The Resort’s onsite Observatory features a telescope housed in a domed structure that spans approximately 25 feet (7.6 metres) in diameter. Made by PlaneWave Instruments, the PW1000 has a direct drive altitude-azimuth (Alt-Az) mounting system, stands 135 inches (3.4 metres) high and weighs approximately 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms).

The Kilo Hoku Experience is an evening cultural program from Love Lanai, where cultural advisors share ike kupuna (ancestral knowledge) of the celestial sphere as well as guide guests on a tour of the night sky. The team shares how indigenous Hawaiians and people of the Pacific utilized the celestial bodies and elements of the natural environment to guide their way on the ocean. It is thought that voyages between Hawaii and the South Pacific occurred as early as 400 AD. A keenly developed ability to read the night sky helped early Polynesians find their way from island to island across the Pacific, and ultimately to Hawaii. Lanai is an ideal location to observe the stars, with low levels of atmospheric and light pollution to facilitate stargazing. 

Restaurants

Guests at the Oasis Pool will enjoy a complimentary celestial amenity to refresh themselves while lounging overlooking Hulopoe Bay.  Or grab a galactic cake pop at The Break, as the open-air restaurant offers a comfortable place to relax, dine throughout the day and enjoy a game overlooking Hulopoe Bay.  At ONE FORTY and NOBU LANAI, specialty cocktails will be on the menu to celebrate the stars.