I will do a report here of our travels, but copied and pasted this one I sent to fellow travelers at tripadvisor.




Aloha, and how blessed are we to have returned to the Lodge for 4 wonderful nights.
It was like coming home - well almost!
The service at the Lodge is as wonderful as it was before the 4S. I will be writing to 4S corporate to express this and other thoughts. We like the rooms before the renovations. Replacing the old furniture was blanned cookie cutter furniture. The TV had poor picture quality and should have been mounted to the wall, rather that sit on a boring dresser, seeing as they rewired the place. The Dining Room was Fantastic!!! The blue water at the executive putting course was disturbing!
All and all, everything we loved about the Lodge before 4S Corporate arrived is still in tact. We get local and talked story with many islanders. For the first time in my life 4S leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Many people who had worked themselves up from the life of the Dole Pineapple to resort life were either let go or quit due to what is commonly referred to as 4S Nazi Boot Camp. One particularly disturbing comment was that some islanders of the Philipine nationallity were asked to loose the accent? It saddens me because before the 4S arrived, this has always been an island of perfect service and true aloha.
Well regardless of corporate influence, this is still the most amazing destination. The people are so wonderful, sincerely friendly and sincerely smiling as you pass. Anyone who can afford this destination is truly blessed to do so.
One kudos to 4S is the pool service at Manele. This is one of their trademarks and the service is SOOO much better there now.
One more vote for renting your jeep with adventureslanai.com Great people, huge tires for offroading and great jeeps. Mo bettah than folks at Dollar. Never even considered price comparison, as these are the folks to go to for good service, aloha and transportation!
We love this island and the people who reside there.
Go if you can. Eat at the Dining room if you can. Eat in Lanai city at Canoes for Bfast and talk story to whomever you meet. For those artlovers, Jordanne is up and coming. Arrived from NYC and never left! Her art is inspired by the transitions of the island she loves.
Good times
G

Thanks sistah for the info. It is disturbing to hear about some of the changes there since becoming a 4S. Progress?

-Bill

Bottom line is this is still a most amazing island with amazingly gracious and friendly people who share true and pure aloha to all who recognize it!

Good times indeed~!

topping for JAS

Thanks for the review, just saw it. I thought each 4S was independently owned but I may be wrong? That's disturbing about the accent thing as to me even Hawaiians have accents, just was the northern us, southern, western, etc. mainland state residents all have their own dialect.