Shipwreck Beach runs for miles along Lanai's northeast coast, a windswept stretch of hard-packed sand and bleached driftwood facing the channel between Lanai and Molokai. The name comes honestly: a rusting Liberty ship from World War II sits grounded on the reef offshore, visible from the beach, its hull slowly dissolving into the channel.
The beach itself is not a swimming beach — the shallows are rocky and the current is strong — but it's a rewarding place to walk. Sea glass accumulates here in unusual quantities, worn smooth and frosted by years of wave action; greens and browns are common, blues and reds rarer prizes. Look for petroglyphs on the lava rocks at the beach's northern end.
Getting here requires a 4WD vehicle. The dirt road from Lanai City is navigable but rough, and a standard rental car won't make it. Plan half a day — the drive, the walk, and the wreck are worth the full trip.