Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A specific island in Hawaii: Lanai Island is one of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is known historically and economically as a major pineapple-growing area.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The billionaire purchased nearly the entirety of Lanai Island.
  • Tourists can take a ferry to Lanai Island from Maui.
  • For much of the 20th century, Lanai Island was a pineapple plantation.

Advanced Usage

• "The Pineapple Isle": This is a common nickname for Lanai Island, referencing its agricultural history.
  • We spent our vacation hiking on the Pineapple Isle, Lanai Island.

Variants and Related Words

• Lanai: This is the shortened, more common name for the island. In everyday conversation, "Lanai" is typically used instead of the full "Lanai Island."
  • Have you ever been to Lanai?
• Lānaʻi: The Hawaiian spelling of the island's name, which includes the ʻokina (glottal stop).

Synonyms

• The Pineapple Isle: A descriptive synonym highlighting its primary historical industry.
• Lānaʻi: The Hawaiian language equivalent.

Notes on Meaning

• Geographical Entity: It refers specifically to the island itself, not to a type of porch or veranda (which is spelled the same but is a different word, 'lanai').
• Historical Context: Its identity is closely tied to the Dole Pineapple Company, which once operated large plantations there.

Noun

1. an island of central Hawaii; a pineapple-growing area