The Check-In: Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort

Tranquil vibes and private spa hales on the Hawaiian island of Lānaʻi.

The journey to Sensei Lānaʻi starts long before you set foot on the sprawling 24 acre property and that’s part of the magic. You’ll begin on the island of Oʻahu, departing from a private hangar owned by Lānaʻi Air. Check-in is a breeze (no TSA here) and you’ll be welcomed into the small lounge where you’ll be given snacks before you’re whisked off in a golf cart straight to the runway where you’ll board a semi-private small airplane for the half-hour flight to Lānaʻi. We were actually the only passengers on our particular flight, so it was kind of like flying private (I can only assume as I’ve never had the pleasure).

When you arrive on Lānaʻi, you’re again whisked away in one of the resort’s Teslas (boo, Elon) where you’ll be greeted, White Lotus-style, by a team of smiling Four Seasons employees. I don’t know about you, but these greetings always make me feel super awkard and a little sad for the employees who have to feign excitement. And then, of course, you’re given a kukui nut lei as is customary in Hawaiian culture before entering the lobby for a seated check-in, cold towel and welcome drink.

Give it to me in a logline.

Tranquil adults-only luxury wellness resort on the island of Lānaʻi.

How did we get here?

My husband and I took a quick 2-night trip to Lānaʻi back in May of 2022. I say quick because we live on Kauaʻi so it was an easy couple of (very short) flights to get there.

Let’s talk design, shall we?

Sensei’s design is very clean and modern with a hint of both Hawaiian and Japanese culture woven throughout. Lots of crisp whites reminiscent of a Restoration Hardware. It fits the tranquil vibe, but it’s not the most exciting, which I suppose is the point. Instead nature takes center stage here. The grounds are stunning — super lush greenery as far as the eye can see, punctuated by a serene lake with furniture purposely placed to promote moments of deep reflection or contemplation. Oh, and you’ll also find the occasional modern art sculpture dotted throughout.

Rooms & Suites

Done in a calming neutral palette, the rooms and suites at Sensei are elegent and understated. We had a Kōʻele Room, which is their base room and it was spacious at 450 sq feet and included a small private balcony. Our view wasn’t particularly impressive, so I’d say if you’re looking for more inspiring views of the grounds, opt for Kōʻele Deluxe or above. The bathroom had a Toto Washlet, with motion-activated lid-opening, sanitization between uses, etc. My husband even took a video because he was so impressed, but I’ll spare you.

Amenities

Now this is why you come to Sensei. The amenities are aplenty and they all revolve around wellbeing. You can make it as restful or as restorative of a stay as you want, with everything from nutrition consultations and body composition analysis to intention setting and sound baths.

If that’s not what you’re there for, there’s the traditional resort experiences as well. Relax poolside amidst beautiful landscaping and a view of the surrounding hills. There are a selection of group fitness classes that are complimentary, and a variety of (also complimentary) classes (we opted for forest bathing).

And then there’s the spa, which is on another level. When you book a treatment (which cost a pretty penny), it takes place in your own private spa hale (aka house). You’ll get a half-hour bookending your treatment to enjoy the space, which includes your own private restroom/changing area, indoor steam shower, infrared sauna and Ofuro soaking tub inside and onsen pools and another shower outdoors. My biggest regret was that I didn’t book myself extra time to enjoy the hale. Without doing so, you’ll have access to everything except the indoor Ofuro soaking tub, but trust me, 30 minutes flies by.

Another really incredible amenity is the outdoor onsen garden. There are 10 individual onsen soaking tubs nestled in lush greenery and tropical landscaping (i.e. “waterfalls”) to enjoy anytime, day or night. I bet stargazing would be epic out there.

Oh, and there’s a ranch right across the street so you can go visit the horses/ponies for an instant dopamine boost.

How about the food?

Excellent, but… The one and only restaurant on property is Sensei by Nobu, which is top notch. But even so, it’s the only restaurant. If you’re just staying a couple of nights like we did, it’s probably no big deal, but if you’re staying longer I imagine one would get bored — even of Nobu. The good thing is that they have a free shuttle that takes you to their other Four Seasons property, which is beachfront and has multiple restaurants. We opted to do this one of the nights and it was great because I got to scope out the property. It was “fine,” but it’s not a great beach and truly for the hefty price tag, Sensei (comparatively) is a steal and much more unique in my humble opinion. Oh, and something to note is that some of the produce used at the restaurant is grown at Sensei Farms, which is really cool.

Standouts

• The private spa hales. Hands-down my favorite spa experience ever.

• The tranquil atmosphere.

• The breadth of wellness offerings.

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As always, thank you so much for reading my fellow hotel enthusiasts! Let me know what I should cover next in the comments below. Always open to suggestions!!