I was interested to read the letter from Tim and Devon Guard, regarding the reopening of the Lodge at Koele in Lanai, now the Koele Sensei Retreat (“New luxury Koele Lodge drives away customers,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 6).

Our family also enjoyed visiting this special place, especially on Thanksgiving when it seemed half the population of this beautiful island joined guests and staff for a truly joyful celebration of community and aloha.

We have plans to visit Lanai later this month, so I sent the concierge a note inquiring about dinner reservations or perhaps stopping by to see the new changes. The response read in part: “With the Koele Sensei Retreat location now being an all-inclusive wellbeing retreat, the location will only be able to be accessed by guests registered to Koele with a reservation, and will not welcome day guests.”

Although the letter was signed, “With Warmest Aloha,” I can’t help thinking that the residents of Lanai, and the many “day-guest” visitors from throughout Hawaii, might not be feeling the aloha just yet.

John Dooling

Waialua

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