August 9, 2022 by Beat of Hawaii 25 Comments

Sleepy Lanai Airport on the once “pineapple island” is 98% owned by Larry Ellison. The island,  pictured here as taken from Maui, has one runway that is now getting an extension that will allow more private jets to travel nonstop from the mainland. Lanai is considered the perfect hideaway tropical vacation spot for A-listers and anyone else who values extreme privacy. And as you will read below, the entire runway project is funded by Larry Ellison, one of the wealthiest people in the world.

We last reported on a case in point as Ellison’s friend and Top Gun star Tom Cruise crashed a Land Cruiser while off-roading on the enigmatic island. Most everything was intentionally kept out of the press. That’s how Lanai rolls with the rich and famous, where the rules are seemingly just different. See Tom Cruise: Starring Role in Secret Hawaii Island, Lanai.

While the island gets on average only 5k visitors a month while neighbor Maui gets up to 300k, that doesn’t really portray just how well the island is doing in terms of its desired visitors. Many of those arrive via privately owned jets and charters or on Ellison-owned Lanai Air. Visitors stay mostly at an exclusive Ellison property, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, where rates start at over $1,500 a night for a garden view room.

Once known for pineapples, with exquisite beaches, diving, and four-wheeling, the island has become a haven for the elite. Those who vacation or live there include owner Larry Ellison, Tom Cruise (a family friend), Rupert Murdoch, Maui’s Oprah, Sigourney Weaver, Will Smith, Bill Gates, Cindy Crawford, and Jessica Alba, just to name a few.

The truth is you slip away to Lanai not to get uncovered by the media but rather to avoid it. And it couldn’t get easier. For that reason, among others, you’ll see frequent arrivals of private jets at the airport. That’s precisely where the airport’s problems begin.

Also unlike Maui, Lanai isn’t where you’ll find the paparazzi. Especially since the media recluse from Oracle moved there permanently in 2020. He moved there replete with his own private jet.

We can’t say. It was planned, but after that, no one knows as there has been no reporting. When he arrives on Lanai, however, it is aboard the elegant Gulfstream IV jet he owns, similar to the ones pictured below. However, Cruise flies a more environmentally appropriate Honda Elite Jet for shorter distances.

A 500-foot extension of the former pineapple island’s runway is well underway. The project, in conjunction with the Hawaii DOT, is being done without public funds. Instead, it is paid for in full by Ellison’s company. That included the environmental impact study, engineering, and the construction of the 500-foot extension to the single concrete and asphalt runway, together with other improvements. The runway will be a comfortable 5,500 feet long when completed.

The upgrade is designed to help exclusive private jets and will mean fewer fuel stops and other issues. The airport has always had significant payload constraints due to the short runway. That resulted in limitations on both passengers and fuel.

Currently, a significant percentage of the gas-guzzling, environmentally damaging jets that fly from Lanai cannot reach the west coast. That’s true even when the plane is only half-full due to fuel restrictions that will be eliminated with the added runway length. For the same short runway reason, nearly half of arriving jets can’t land on Lanai during rainy conditions.

When either Bill Gates or Oprah decides to appear on Lanai, it is likely to be on a plane like this one below. Both of them own these $40M Bombardier BD-700 Global Express jets. But move over; when Rupert Murdoch shows up, it is in an $84M Gulfstream G650 private jet.

If you haven’t been to Lanai, and are curious, here’s a low-cost way to dip your toes in the water without spending $1,500 a night. The Lanai Ferry, pictured below, operates across the Auau Channel 4 times daily in each direction on the 1-hour route between Lahaina and Lanai. It’s a comfortable and fast alternative to flying, and a Hawaii vacation deal too at only $30 for adults. We’ve tried the Lanai Ferry multiple times and love it. There’s also a shuttle from the dock to Lanai City.

And if you travel during humpback whale season, you’re in for the thrill of a lifetime!

Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.

Filed Under: Hawaii Travel News

I consent to receive communications and agree to Beat of Hawaii's Privacy Policy.

Comment policy: * No profanity, rudeness, personal attacks, or bullying. * Hawaii focused only. General comments won't be published. * No links or UPPER CASE text. English please. * No duplicate posts or using multiple names. * Use a real first name. * A "please" or "thanks" is required for a reply. * Comments edited/published at our sole discretion. * Beat of Hawaii has no relationship with our commentors.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your comment * Comments limited to 750 characters.

Your name * Please, use first name and last initial only.

Sign me up for Hawaii Travel News! ( I consent to receive communications and agree to Beat of Hawaii's Privacy Policy)

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

* Denotes required fields. By commenting you agree to our Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

“…gas guzzling, environmentally damaging jets…”. Pure poppycock. Who says? Negates the tone of the story completely.

So? That runway was plenty long when I shot a touch and go there a number of years ago, but if the folks flying large (to me) jets need an extra 500 feet of runway and Larry is paying for it, so what? I may be biased as I’m a pilot, but so are you. I admit mine, you should admit yours.

That one man owns this island is a travesty. The county of Maui should be ashamed this was allowed to happen. Ellison – you expect it from him. What is sickening is to look out from Maui and see a sacred place that the people of lanai can’t really call home anymore.

Visited the island of Lani many times. We traveled there with the Trilloghy Excursion. It was fantastic. Stayed on beach . Had a fantastic time. Mr Ellison you would love taking the Trilloghy. and laying on the robes on the boat with the dolphins swimming under you. Enjoy your property. Wish to return someday. 10 hour trip from NJ too long right now

I like the hydroponic plants that Larry is growing.

It’s Ellison’s Island, His Money paying for the upgraded runway and all for his friends convenience. Being an “A” Lister surely helps to be invited to Ellison’s Island and His inner sanctum, I wonder if He suffers Fools and the Boring well. Possibly they don’t get another invite. With the environmentally conscious involved allowing the extra fuel and passenger weight needed only makes sense. The benefits of the Wealthy and an exclusive playground we, the ordinary, aren’t welcome to play on.

I hope they have Tower control now. Last time I visited Lanai in 2000’s, Lanai had no tower control and I would not fancy that with more jet traffic with pilots unfamiliar with Lanai Airport. (Waeather was lousy and on return to Kauai I had to get ferry to Maui and cab it to OGG (with other pax)

It’s not busy enough to justify a tower. Lack of familiarity with an airport does not justify one, either. And I’ll bet that the pilots flying into that airport aren’t bothered by a lack of a tower.

I personally think he is going well for the island.if Maui County or Hawaii government disagrees, why did the government overlook buying the island back.? Why did the roalty FU at the time with Mr. Dole…shame on Hawaii government.

Unfortunately, I think this is Hawaii’s future. During Covid, a lot of the local island commenters on this site were desirous of a more “elite” tourist to visit the islands. The working class types are getting priced out of Hawaii. Our upcoming Maui accommodations which were $185 a night in 2019 are now $300 plus parking, VRBO service costs, and cleaning fees. This is for a studio with no real beach to speak of. Hawaii is becoming a playground for the wealthy.

The reason Mr. Ellison was able to buy the entire island is because the entire island was sold by the Hawaiians to Walter Gibson in the late 1800’s. He sold the whole island to James Dole in 1912, Dole sold it to Castle and Cooke and Robert Murdock bought Castle and Cooke in 1985. Ellison bought it from Murdock and it is a good thing he did. And a better thing that throughout those 4 owners none of them ever really developed the island. There are still only about 1000 homes. Murdoct could have sold to a foreign group, a group that just wanted to maximize the development opportunities and maximize a return. Mr Ellison is investing hundreds of millions and keeping the island the most pristine and authentic island in the chain.

Thanks for the information Richard. Hopefully the Hawaiians got more than a few beads and trinkets.

True story: Before his latest 160 million super yacht, “Musashi”, Larry had a similar fascination with Japanese and “Zen” names. His earlier yacht was named “Isanami”. That was until his Public Affairs VP held a mirror in front of the boat’s stern.

Drum roll please: Isanami spelled backwards: Imanazi.

While that observation may be true, the irony dripped across San Francisco Bay until he had the boat name changed and boat re-christened.

I always wonder what percentage of the worlds resources the 1% uses compared to the rest of us. How nice to be able to support all of their charitable causes while raping the planet for their own personal enjoyment, meanwhile the rest of us can schlep to Hawaii on packed planes. How ironic a rich white person owns 98% of the island, how does this happen, didn’t the Hawaiian people own the island? Just asking. Can’t wait to take the ferry over there next time we visit Maui. Mahalo

That rich “white” person couldn’t have bought it if someone didn’t sell, so who’s really st fault here?

I agree 100%, that’s my question, how did an entire island come up for sale? Did the pineapple company own the entire island and how did they manage to own it? More curious than anything as to it’s history.

My first thought when reading this article is where was the government (what were they doing) as this island was being increasingly owned by one man? A thoughtful, proactive government would have purchased lands and held them for use in the public good (see Roosevelt, T. and the National Park System)….

Hawaii’s government is neither of those things. Corrupt would be a better description.

What is there for visitors to do in Lanai City? It’s halfway(ish) up the hill from the water, between the two resorts, so a visitor is not by the water. Just curious. We have great memories of two 5-night stays at the Manele Bay Four Seasons, but I’d say we’re priced out now.

back in the day we stayed in a friends house for 2 weeks in Lanai City. it was heaven. this was before Ellison. swim everyday taking the free shuttle bus down (now $20?) and back up. lunch at the hotel on the wate (reasonable prices). Walks around the sweet town. kind lovely people everyone knows everyone. small restaurants, great shops. All changed now.

It’s was not sold by hawaiians. Hawaiians don’t own land. They are all care takers of the land. The state of hawaii sold lanai to those. Big difference. The officials at that time were haoles.

So happy that the A list enviro hypocrites are getting an extended runway.

Aloha BOH! We look to you for pertinent facts about travel and the Hawaii experience. Please make an an at least feeble attempt to hide your populist bias. Although some of what you say may be true, a simple 5th grade understanding of capitalism will lead to the fact that this will open up opportunities to visit (and leave for locals seeking medical care etc.) the island paradise. Trust me, I am far from rich and famous, but can clearly see the bias in your editorial about the reasons for the runaway expansion. Please! stay with the facts and resist the temptation to bag on those who are successful and bring so much opportunity to the islands with their wealth! our wonderful state doesn’t need more protectionist sentiment and jealousy!

Sorry Dan. Your buying into the “capitalist” trope will never change the fact that Capitalism carries with it one, single, undeniable imperative — secure and increase profits. The result of that economic dictum is that the 1% control 82 percent of the wealth. And the top 1 percent will always control most of the wealth until the other 99 percent figure out how to control the excesses of Capitalism. A few countries in the world have actually figured out how to be successful capitalists while providing for the health, safety and welfare of its population. In the U.S. the Church of Capitalism is as ingrained as your belief in it.

I would really like to see what examples you can cite in support of this statement:

“A few countries in the world have actually figured out how to be successful capitalists while providing for the health, safety and welfare of its population.”

I consent to receive communications and agree to Beat of Hawaii's Privacy Policy.

Copyright © 2022 · Beat Of Hawaii. All Rights Reserved.