Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Customer ratings & reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

171 reviews

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  Peace and Calm in the Mountains

  I love this hotel and will be saving up to go back. The grounds are wonderful including the onsen and pools. The Hale spa room is a must (at least 60 min). The food at Nobu has something for everyone. You don't need to spend much to have a good time here. This is a chill out place to unwind from hectic life and enjoy nature. Also, no children is a plus for us DINKS :) The staff is really what makes this hotel. Everyone is so nice and they really go out of your way to make you feel special and seen. Thank you!

  Jan 24, 2025
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  My happy place

  I had the most incredible and spiritual experience at Sensei for my babymoon in Sept 2022. The grounds were tranquil and luxurious, the staff was friendly and welcoming, the culinary experience was unique and delicious and the activities were restorative and idyllic. To this day, when I think of my happy place, I think of Sensei. Some of my favorite activities were "Freeing Yourself from Stories" which took a more psychological approach, forest bathing/meditation which helped with gratitude and presence, and daily stretch which kicked off the day with gentle restorative movement. My favorite of all though was the spa services. The hale's were amazing with their private sauna, steam room, pools, locker room, etc and the services were incredible, particularly aquatic bodywork. The aquatic bodywork treatment with Liran was fantastic and really helped me achieve some of my goals with this wellness getaway which had a focus on getting reconnected with myself, my baby and my husband. Unaware of the full scope of the treatment, I had originally booked only one aquatic bodywork session but ended up squeezing in a second last minute because the first was that impactful and I really wanted to try an underwater session! I was excited but nervous about going underwater since I believed I couldn’t hold my breath for very long underwater. Liran was able to sync his breath with mine which provided such a safe environment. Not only was he very in tune with my breathing needs, he also seemed very aware of any bodily cues of discomfort and adjusted accordingly. Being asked to release all my muscles and become like “seaweed in the ocean” really required a practice of relinquishing control which was necessary to experience the freedom provided by this practice. It was also a great exercise in noticing when I was uncomfortable and what caused me to feel so uneasy. I realized many times when I thought I needed air, I really just was seeking control. This treatment helped me see what comes up when I try to take the control back and practice releasing it whenever I feel ready to feel the positive effects of the release again. Through the treatment I learned to lean into the discomfort and not judge myself when I went back into control seat mode. Part of the way through the treatment, I began to amaze myself by exhaling first instead of grasping for air when I resurfaced and that helped me notice what I thought I needed was less about oxygen and more about control. Also, knowing that I could always pull myself up if needed, helped me trust the process and literally test the waters beyond a self-identified limitation. Overall, the aquatic bodywork felt so embryonic. Being in the water which is the same temperature as one’s body and cradled in the arms of the aquatic therapist with no control over my muscles, I felt very connected with my baby. In this treatment, I was at the mercy of Liran’s care just like my baby will be at the mercy of my care. I was able to practice compassion and get better in tune with the natural discomfort my baby must feel with zero control over their bodies and basic needs. One of my fears about this next step of motherhood was that it would be hard for me to create a safe haven for my child due my own childhood experiences but the fact that I was able to create this safe space with Liran after only meeting him once before helped solidify my faith in becoming a safe haven for my new baby. Between all of this and the incredible vibrations of the Tibetan bowls through the water, it was truly such a magical experience and one that was truly monumental in preparation for my baby’s arrival. This bodywork treatment was one of a kind and I would highly recommend it to anyone who’s open to an incredible metaphysical experience.

  Jan 15, 2025
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  Expectations Exceeded!

  I would give this hotel 10 stars if I could. It's rare when resort pictures look like real life, but here the real life is even better than the pictures. This place is pure zen. It's such a unique place and everything feels tucked away and private, there are so many hidden paths that lead to quiet seating areas (or hot tubs). The spa hales are like nothing I've ever experienced, if you book a treatment you then are allowed to spend time in your own private hale with a hot tub, sauna, cold plunge, etc. The shuttle between this property and the one on the beach was a bonus if you want beach time. Additionally, I'm vegan, and many of the options at Nobu were vegan or could be made vegan -- it was never an issue and the staff and chef were always accommodating. Every single staff member that I encountered once or many times was friendly, helpful, competent, and so genuinely lovely to interact with. Other adults-only resorts are completely geared toward young newlyweds but this place seemed to attract a variety of people and the staff never made me feel less-than as a solo traveler which I greatly appreciated. If you're looking for a place with lots of nightlife or noise this is not it, be prepared for tranquility (and lots of happy birds chirping), I cannot wait to come back!

  Jan 15, 2025
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  Peace & tranquility on Lanai

  On an island that really has little merit there are2 Four Season hotels each offering something different thanks to Larry Ellison. Sensei is a " decompress" hotel set in magnificent lush greenery and with beautiful art sprinkled around the grounds. If you want calm and peace then come here. The rooms are very tastefully decorated with everything you could possibly need. Staff are delightful and are ready to help you at every turn. The pool, hot tubs and Onsens are nestled in the magnificent grounds and no bookings are required. Its doubtful whether you will find a more picturesque group of Onsens anywhere in the USA....... private, with waterfalls and thick lush plantings are outstanding, stay for ten minutes or the whole day, there are no time restrictions. They also have 10 Halles which are basically a private massage structure that has steam and sauna and totally private but you need to book these. In general massages are expensive and to be fair overpriced in my opinion but staff are so nice you can really relax and float away. The main restaurant is Nobu, not as comprehensive as the Nobu at the beach Four Seasons but food is nicely prepared and tasty. A quiet and relaxing few days here soon gets you into the mood and you leave your work behind. If I have any criticisms it would be no nutrition program offered and no ability to have steam or saunas without booking the Halles. Come and find out for yourselves ! .

  Jan 06, 2025
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  Beautiful property, service issues.

  The property is absolutely gorgeous. Everything from the gardens, to the architecture and private spa hales are designed for ultimate peace and relaxation. Expert instructors lead a wide selection of free health classes every day. Make sure to book time in the spa hales which are truly special. However, we did run into service issues during our stay: 1. Avoid using the in-room iPad for service requests. We would regularly have to wait 30min+ for a response for requests made via the iPad chat function. 2. We were told by the front desk that third party taxi services were the best way to get to the Cat Sanctuary. We asked for help setting that up and they gave us a sticky note with a phone number to call. That number went to voicemail, so they gave us another sticky note with a number to call. We were eventually able to coordinate a ride ourselves, but the whole process left us disappointed. The Four Seasons is supposed to be synonymous with excellent service and we were given two phone numbers and told to essentially figure it out ourselves. 3. We scheduled a $90 smores experience to take place after our dinner on Saturday night at Sensei by Nobu. The dining experience team told us they would let the restaurant staff know so that we could go straight from dinner to smores. Dinner came and went and no one mentioned anything to us, so we walked to the front desk after dinner to see what was going on. Front desk called the dining experience team who said they had been calling our room and asked why we weren’t picking up. We weren’t picking up because we were at dinner…odd because they knew we would be at dinner when we booked the experience. After a delay, they were eventually able to get it set up for us. This really is a beautiful resort retreat. However, cannot wholeheartedly recommend to friends/family because of the service issues we faced. Hopefully our experience was an exception and not the norm.

  Nov 17, 2024