Late Checkout: Behold the Transformative Wellness Paradise That Is Sensei Lanai

“I think I’m going to cancel this trip,” was the first thing I told my therapist during one of our sessions. 

I had just come back from a huge European adventure, followed by a wedding in NYC, which was only a month out from yet another very big, very brave trip to London. There was no way I could sandwich a four-day jaunt to the Hawaiian island of Lanai to experience the full wellness breadth of Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort. “Too much wear-and-tear,” I cried!

Without taking a beat, my therapist leaned forward, looked me dead in the eye, and said sternly, “There’s not a world in which you don’t go.”

Given that she is a Pisces Sun, Virgo Rising, and Aries Moon, I nodded silently, went home, and booked my plane ticket that night for—what I soon learned would be—one of the most memorable, most outstanding, most transcendent trips I would maybe ever take in my lifetime.

The grounds were outstanding, the services were out-of-body, the food was five-star, the accommodations were supreme, and the island itself was mystical. There’s a line from some season of Survivor, as told to me by my friend who loves Survivor, “I’m already, I am, who I came to prove to be.” My time at Sensei was…that.

The Premise Behind the Premises

There isn’t one component of Sensei Lanai (or Sensei in general) that hasn’t been fully thought out, considered, or executed. That is all because the premise itself is extremely personal to the people who created it.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison (who owns 98% of Lanai) teamed up with world-leading physician and scientist David Agus to curate a top-to-bottom, 360-degree experience that goes above and beyond hospitality—focusing on actionable wellness that is driven, proven, and led by science. With two locations: Porcupine Creek in Rancho Mirage, California, and Lanai in Hawaii, the Sensei Way is spreading its gospel with programs and services that promote preventative care and healthy lifestyle practices for the long haul. 

The core pillars that define the programming of Sensei—across both locations—are move, nourish, and rest. There is not one activity, meal, or consultation that doesn’t address one or all of these core tenants. Not only do these themes keep the Sensei offerings focused and purposeful, but they also allow guests to dive deep into whole-body wellbeing in a way that is sustainable and personal. 

Everything is uniquely tailored to each individual guest’s needs, and the in-house specialists leading the charge on consultations are highly trained in their craft (which means they have percentages and data for literally everything). Don’t worry, they give you a leatherbound journal in which to take notes for all learning purposes!

Up, Up, and Away

Remember when I said there wasn’t one element of Sensei that hadn’t been considered? I was also referring to the transportation to and from the resort.

I arrived at the airport in Honolulu, only to find a young woman waiting for me with a lei and a sign with my name on it at baggage claim. Very novel for those of us who usually find ourselves in Uber lots or taxi lines. She took me to a luxury van that drove me to Lanai Air, which was just a few minutes away, where I would be taking a 20-minute charter flight to the island of Lanai—an included part of every guest's stay.

After an incredibly seamless, rainbow-filled flight past Oahu, myself and a handful of other Lanai passengers (some Sensei guests, some not), landed on the orange soil of Lanai, where we deplaned like celebrities, and I was greeted—yet again—by a Sensei concierge with a sign with my name on it. One woman kept asking me if I wanted her to take my picture in front of the plane because she could see me frantically trying to capture b-roll while also keeping my hair out of my face amidst the island winds, but I obviously declined because celebrities never pose in front of planes (honestly not sure if this is true, but I’m going with it).

We swiftly made our way to the resort in a Tesla (because of course), which was a mere 20-to-30 minute drive from the airport, past wild turkeys, horses, and perfectly placed pine trees, where I didn’t have to lift a finger from there on out.

Notably, transportation at the resort is a total breeze. Of course, your departure ride and charter flight for your return are equally handled, so you need not stress (they would never want stress to ruin your ability to move, nourish, or rest!). And if you find yourself wanting to go to the beach at Sensei’s Four Seasons sister resort about 20-to-30 minutes away for the afternoon, or head into town, there are vans that circulate multiple times throughout the day at specific times so guests never have to miss a beat (or eat).

Invisible in Plain Sight

Even though I knew I was walking into a 5-star, ultra-luxe, “only here if you are at the tippity top of society” resort, I somehow forgot that my room was probably going to take my breath away until I was actually escorted to my 450 square-foot Koele Room. I was in room 321, which—according to the woo-woo community, is an angel number for “new beginnings” and “being on the right path.” It felt right since I was definitely in the right place…and also because I was reading the book Signs like the true witch that I am (it’s fine, I’m fine).

All of the rooms—mine included—have been designed to provide an indoor-outdoor environment—bathed in light, integrated in nature, and cozy on a level of only the best Nancy Meyers-inspired bedrooms (except include incessant turndown service and your own private porch). You can also expect a spa-level, marble-ridden bathroom with enough robes for a lifetime. 

Overall, my room became my respite—my home away from home—in between meals and activities, and for when I just needed a moment to just sit (or rest as Sensei would have it). Although “just a room” in theory, my 321 felt like a Goldilox-esque space that was so incredibly versatile. If I needed to do work, there was a cozy desk area where I could tackle my bold emails while staring at the fawns of nature. If I wanted to lie down while watching something dark with Cate Blanchett, I could simply recline on my corner L-shaped couch. Needing to journal and process my emotions and signs from my spirit guides throughout the day? Easy! I’d just saunter outdoors to my personal, private porch with a table and chairs (great for sunrise and stargazing, by the way).

Nobu, No Problem

I was born and raised in LA, so I understand the panache that surrounds Nobu. What was once a hole-in-the-wall sushi spot in a Malibu parking lot has become one of the most globally talked about sushi powerhouses for the rich, famous, and rich and famous. Therefore, when I discovered that the entire culinary experience at Sensei Lanai was designed by world-renowned Japanese Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and his team, I died a million, sashimi-filled deaths. How would I relate to my community upon returning home? (I wouldn’t! Forget them!)

Everything on the Nobu menu is in line with Sensei’s nutritional Nourish philosophy (which—yes—includes some of the Nobu classics like the must-not-miss Miso Cod). Since you fill out all of your dietary preferences prior to your arrival, the chef and service staff ensure that all dishes that arrive at your table accommodate your individual needs. If I had a nickel for every time someone confirmed that “Miss Goodman” did not want gluten…and I didn’t (I never received an ounce of gluten on my plate).

The dishes at Nobu have been thoughtfully and artfully curated to not only support a love of nature and all of its elements—with many ingredients locally grown on Sensei’s very own farm—but to also support feeling good post-meal. 

Personally, I was blown away by the food—morning, noon, and night. 

My breakfast go-to was a gluten-free avocado toast—add cured salmon sashimi and a green juice for good measure (sue me!). Lunch could go any which way, but I found myself often swimming upstream once more towards the salmon burger in a butter lettuce wrap (sue me!). Dinner was a full Let go and let God that simply never got boring. Most notably, I engaged in Nobu’s $200 omakase on my last night, and it was a fully coursed culinary crescendo that left me continuously nodding with my mouth full, mumbling, “Omg…so good.”

The flavors were truly bananas (but not literally bananas). Also worth mentioning: every night, my meal would end with a complimentary truffle duo (the flavors changed nightly) that were genuinely text-your-friend-worthy. I think it included homemade gelato dipped in a chocolate shell of some kind, topped with flare, but I blacked out from how good they were, so I can't remember.

Planned to Perfection

Okay, now onto the juicy stuff—aka my itinerary!!

Pre-arrival, there was an extensive questionnaire process, where I had to select my preferences, goals, desired services, activities, and so on and so forth. After a few days, I received a comprehensive itinerary for a three-night, four-day structured wellness program that would encompass all of Sensei’s core pillars. My itinerary included spa services, guided fitness experiences, and even 1:1 consultations. As a note: most guests opt for longer stays, but because I was going as a part of an editorial mission, my itinerary was more jam packed. 

While there isn’t enough time in this world to dive into every single thing I did, some notables:

• Private Hale Time: Imagine your very own Japanese spa hut bigger than a one-bedroom apartment, filled with a steam shower, infrared sauna, infrared-heated bathtub, outdoor cold pool, jacuzzi, and private shower? The Sensei Hales (pronounced hal-ehs) are absolutely breathtaking and a true expression of artful luxury. For 60 minutes, I had the freedom to experience the full breadth of Sensei’s spa offerings on my own time within the confines of my own personal space. It was one of the first things I did when I arrived and it immediately re-regulated my central nervous system.

• Thermal Body Mapping and Massage: Given that the Sensei Way is driven by science, data, and total wellbeing optimization, it only made sense that I would get a massage that included discovering all of the inflamed parts of my body using an exclusive Sensei-developed, thermographic technology. My practitioner was so incredibly informed (and equally horrified by the red areas on my body). “Do you even get circulation?” she asked. I had to fess up and tell her that I didn’t think so! My divine massage treatment was followed up with 30 minutes of private hale time once more to allow for full-body decompression.

• Nutrition 1:1 With Biomarkers: As an almost certified Holistic Nutritionist and wellness snob, I can be real “eye-rolly” when it comes to hearing what nutritionists have to say. Such was not the case during my 1:1 session with Danielle. Before our session, Danielle measured a whole host of biomarkers to get a sense of my body’s unique baseline that would help inform our time together. Then, for an hour, we broke down what my body needs to perform at its best and walked through—supplement by supplement, powder by powder, ingredient by ingredient—ways in which I could modify, shift, or enhance my diet. It was a highly collaborative process where I felt safe, informed, and excited to enact new changes (that were totally manageable, by the way!).

• Hike 1:1: I won’t lie to you: the hike was one of the first things I tried to cancel, so I could opt for a second beach day instead. Boy, am I glad I didn’t. My hiking guide took me on an expansive hike for 2.5 hours across 4.9 miles of Lanai. At the very top, we had a full view of Maui and Molokai—not to mention he regaled me with encyclopedic, historical knowledge of the island (and Hawaii in general) during our time together.

Other things I loved: Morning Meditation and Yoga, Nourishing Body Wrap, beaching at the Four Seasons Lanai, full moon stargazing in one of the outdoor onsen tubs, and Mindset 1:1 with Lydia.

A Rich Land With an Even Richer History

It’s very easy—especially as an LA-ite—to view Hawaii as one of those “let’s just get some sun in the winter” destinations. However, after talking to so many Lanai natives and residents, my view of things changed.

Lanai, which is home to about 3,400 people, is a place that everyone who lives there feels connected to and protective of. So many residents—many of whom are from the island—mentioned never leaving or refusing to live anywhere else. There is a deep-rooted commitment to the land and a spiritual one at that. 

Even more interesting, Larry Ellison—while a non-native Hawaiian—has invested so much care, preservation, and nourishment into the island in an organic fashion. Sensei is not some enormous, commercial resort, compromising the natural habitat of its surroundings. If anything, it has added even more life to the incredibly rich land, maintaining its ethos at all costs. Better yet, no one is even allowed on the island unless they live there or are staying at one of the three resorts to ensure the safety and cleanliness of Lanai day in, day out.

“Aloha” Means Hello and Goodbye (and Hopefully Hello Again)

Admittedly, this piece is long. But that’s also because my stay at Sensei was unlike anything I had ever experienced before in my life (and may never again, by the way, unless I strangely win the lottery or fall into familial wealth). 

I was convinced the property was empty, but one of the concierges informed me that it was actually completely booked. Because of how each itinerary is curated, most guests don’t really overlap during their stay so as to maintain a level of privacy and personal care. Truly epic.

At the end of the day, every single component of Sensei’s property has been artfully considered to engender a sense of privacy, luxury, sensorial pleasure, spirituality, quiet, and applicable education in an experience that has no gaps or errors. Just a profound orchestral performance of wellness proportions. 

As Johnny Tsunami (legend) once said, “Urchin’s motto, man: ‘Go big or go home!’”