Sixth largest of the islands, Lanai is located in the center of the Hawaiian island chain and is approximately 13 miles wide and 19 miles long. The island's name translates to “day of conquest,” and like all of the Hawaiian Islands, is volcanic in origin. Roughly triangular in shape, Lanai enjoys a protected location with Molokai and Maui to the north and Kahoolawe to the east. The island's unusual beauty is most apparent in its contrasts, from sunny, white sand beaches to rugged pine forests. Lanai offers a primitive charm of its own along with a full complement of warm, friendly residents. This quaint island was formerly the world's largest pineapple plantation, owned by the Dole Company. In 1991, the island underwent a historic conversion from agriculture to tourism. The new island owner, the Castle & Cooke Corporation, opened two luxury resorts, and employed the island's small population of farm workers as hotel staff. This evolution opened the island to endless discovery, with it's untouched beaches, ancient ruins, and impressive forest of Cook Island Pine trees. One visual oddity is the island's Garden of the Gods. This reddish lunar landscape valley is dotted with boulders, unique rock formations, and compacted sand. There is a vast array of hues from red to orange to browns and even blues, during intense sunsets often giving the rocks an eerie glow.