LANAI CITY, Hawaii -- About 600 visitors and workers to the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay on Wednesday reflected on scary moments after officials evacuated the hotel because of a fire closing in on the property.

John Walter and his wife were among hundreds at the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay who saw the fire racing toward the hotel.

"I’ve seen fires all the time but I've never seen one explode like this one did. The winds were blowing 40 to 50 mph gusts," Walter said. "The clouds were rising so fast the condensation was turning to moisture and white clouds."

At first, visitors and hotel workers were taken to the beach, but the smoke was so bad catamarans were brought in to evacuate everyone to Maui

"The fire was running pretty fast with these heavy winds with smoke. We thought 'Hey, be safe. Take people to the beach.' but smoke got that area. We got them on busses to the harbor then onto boats to start taking them away," Castle and Cooke President Harry Saunders said.

Finally the threat subsided and authorities allowed everyone back to the hotel.

"I’ve fought fires here since 1986, but this was a big thing. I’ve never seen anything like this," helicopter pilot Don Shearer said.

Firefighters spent Wednesday working on hot spots.

The strong gusty winds are still blowing Wednesday and that evacuation was something residents and visitors will not soon forget.