Far from being a casual visitor to Lanai, Tom Cruise is closely connected to “The Company” as it is called locally.
Leave a Comment
46 thoughts on “Tom Cruise: Starring Role in Secret Hawaii Island, Lanai”
Far from being a casual visitor to Lanai, Tom Cruise is closely connected to “The Company” as it is called locally.
It saddens me that beautiful Lan’i is forcing out long time residents to make it a playground for the elite. First the US steals it from the kingdom of Hawai’i and sells it to a corporation, and it is sold again. The few remaining residents are virtual slaves.
Hi Katrina K, I hope that the future bodes well for you. I’m sorry to say that your interpretations of Historical Events is Inaccurate, No One stole Hawaii from the Hawaiians. If Ellison buys property which includes Houses that typically entails the then previous owners to move. Where they go isn’t at issue. Maligning people by repeating the absurd tall tales of other’s with a purpose and despite the apparent truth isn’t the best way to go through life. Lanai is doing well under Ellison, no mass migration of inhabitants or forced labor. It’s another Beautiful Hawaiian Island.
China or Russia could have bought it. Sounds like a lot of jealous people. I would love to live on the island with my family. I’ve had the luxury of vacationing on the Hawaiian Islands for a few months.
I don’t plan to ever go back.
Maybe a European home. I’m on the East Coast.
Be Happy Everyone and control the space you stand in.
My wife and I spent a day in Lanai. I rented a car and while driving around town I noticed that everyone that I pass was waving saying hi. So I started waving at everyone and I felt the Aloha spirit. We tried the coffee shop at the four seasons hotel and it was delicious. The four seasons hotel is so beautiful that I wish to stay there one day. I will never forget this island. It’s very special place. Aloha
Great article guys! We have been to Lana’i three times…a few day trips on the boat from Maui…one was a highly recommended tour with Trilogy Ocean Adventures plus we stayed at the Hotel Lana’i back in 2004 for 4 nights as part of a larger island hop trip to Hawaii. It is a great island that manages to keep most of its charm but clearly an out of the way place that very few will ever get to experience.
Who is “Jeff” mentioned in this article?
I stayed at the Lodge at Koele in early December 2001. I will never forget one of the beautiful Christmas trees decorated in red, white, and blue.
My good friend Kimo Gardner played piano in the lobby at the Lodge. He is the brother of the very famous Hawaiian music artist, Loyal Gardner.
Kimo and his wife Patsy invited me for a visit to their home and gifted me with a 10lb venison roast that I brought home with me to Kauai.
Wild deer and turkeys were wandering the fairways of the golf course by the Lodge. I also ordered venison at the restaurant at the Lodge.
I visited Hotel Lanai and loved walking around in Lanai City. I didn’t need a car to get around then. Free shuttle service was avail
That was 11 years before Ellison bought Lanai. We are now 10 years post Ellison.
Unfortunately, there is nothing about the place that even resembles the Lodge anymore. It’s been entirely whitewashed and all traces of local heritage removed.
Awww; I ❤ Loyal Gardner!!!…
Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth. No place like it. One word Beautiful ❤️.
Resident here. *Lānaʻi. Our airport is too small for “many jets” and I have never seen many yachts in our waters. Lānaʻi is not a privately owned island! Lānaʻi belongs to the state of Hawaii. Ellison simply owns property here; as do I and many others. He can claim anything he wants but don’t you have to physically be here for at least 6 months out of the year to legally be a resident? “The Company” is a local throwback to Lanai Company who managed the island for *Murdock. It’s *Mānele but you have Hulopo’e Bay pictured in the lead photo. We haven’t had pineapple since the early 90’s. Road conditions are fine if you are properly equipped and recognize your limits.
If he leased the land from the state which is a lease hold like any other real estate on Hawai’i then he wouldn’t own the land itself. But if it was a fee simple, he would own 98% of the land. I hope he’s just leasing it from the State of Hawai’i.
He bought the land, cash pocket money. No leases involved.
Like I said, he is no different than any other land owner here. I own mine and he owns his; his just happens to be a larger lot.
I traveled to Lanai in June 2020, right after Hawaii opened up inter-island travel again. The resorts were not open so I stayed in a B&B. Coming from Oahu, you could almost forget the world was in the middle of a pandemic. The people were wonderful and so appreciative of and helpful to guests. I was surprised at the number of shops that were open…I was afraid many would still be closed. Of course, much of what I wanted to see on Lanai was outdoors and isolated (Polihua Beach, Keahiakawelo and Kaunolu village to name a few). I need to go back because the cat sanctuary was closed and I didn’t get to do all the hikes I wanted to do.
I’d love to know where Tom Cruise totaled the Land Cruiser. I’ve driven about 60% of the dirt roads on the island, and while some of them do need 4 wheel drive, none of them are what I”d call particularly technical.
All in all, I hope that Lana’i can keep its “old Hawaii” charm, and the residents aren’t forced out by excessively wealthy people.
We’ve been to Lana’i several times. Once stayed at the Hotel Lana’i years ago, before the remodel and the attendant price increases. Never stayed at either of the two resorts; far too rich for our blood.
I’m not yet convinced that Ellison and his building is good for the island. There have been some improvements for sure, such as restoring the pool and basketball courts for the community, refurbishing one of the grocery stores, refurbing the theater. But there is an enormous house being built a ways from the Manele Bay, and a number of quite high end homes back behind the old Koele golf course. As of last year, there were plans and models of some “affordable” housing going in.
I believe all the high end units are his personal properties, including the large one currently under construction above The Views. If I understand correctly, the affordable housing is still moving forward. I have some vague recollection of a notice that housing applications were being accepted already. They’ve broken ground for something, anyway.
Is Ellison a Sea Org, too?