Aloha and welcome to Molokai, otherwise known as “The Friendly Isle.” If you are looking for simplicity, quiet beauty and pristine beaches, Molokai is your island. You won’t find traffic lights, tall buildings or night clubs here. Molokai is a peaceful island destination with a population of about 8,000 residents who embody the aloha spirit.
Geography and Climate
Molokai is seated approximately 449 feet (137 m) above sea level. Like the other Hawaiian Islands, Molokai has a comfortable and pleasant year-round temperature at an average of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.8 C), with night-time temperatures a bit cooler in the winter months. Gentle trade winds combat the strong and ever-warming sun.
On Molokai’s northern coast, you’ll feel closer to the heavens in the midst of majestic sea cliffs of volcanic rock while overlooking the untouched valleys of Pelekunu and Wailau. In West Molokai, visitors enjoy unique scenery that seems unchanged over hundreds or even thousands of years. Ancient Hawaiian fishponds and other archaeological sites invoke curiosity and allow visitors to peek into the long ago civilization that once thrived on this island. The hiking on Molokai is unparalleled with many scenic overlooks, switchbacks and secluded tropical havens.
The main village of Kaunakakai on Molokai’s south shore reflects its pineapple port days with rich historical evidence. Mauna Loa, a former pineapple plantation town on the west side of the island, is the perfect place for an enjoyable stroll past quaint shops and local art galleries. Be sure to visit the Royal Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove, the last of the chiefly coconut trees planted by King Kamehameha V in the 1860s.
Beaches
Bask in ample sunshine on any of Molokai’s diverse coasts. Molokai is revered for its many secluded beaches, such as Papohaku Beach, the largest white-sand beach in the state. Visit Kawakiu Beach on the northwestern corner, a stellar example of the seclusion you will find on this island. If you are a camper, Papohaku Beach Park and One Alii Beach Park allow tent camping and have restrooms and shower facilities. Here on Molokai, you will find small and large beaches, white sand and black sand. Surfers searching for a challenge will appreciate the swells that tend to hit the west end in winter. For those who prefer calm waters and relaxed swimming, Murphy Beach and Sandy Beach will not disappoint. Divers will enjoy spectacular views of Hawaii’s only barrier reef off the northern coast.
Kalaupapa
During your visit to Molokai, a must-see is the infamous leprosy colony Kalaupapa on the Makanalua Peninsula on Molokai’s north shore. After an uncontrollable outbreak of what is also called Hansen’s Disease, lepers were forced into isolation at this site on the island of Molokai. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and the fourth by insurmountable sea cliffs, Kalaupapa is about as secluded as you can get. Kalaupapa was run by Belgian priest Father Damien and others who dedicated their lives with no thought to the risks of contracting leprosy. Today Kalaupapa enjoys a National Historic Site status and is home to a handful of former leprosy patients. Travel here on foot or by mule and experience the solemn remembrances of the selfless care and healing that transpired here.
Molokai Ranch
Molokai Ranch, once a thriving cattle business that operated for more than 100 years, covers one-third of the entire island with its beautiful 53,000 acres. Here paniolos, the Hawaiian cowboys, still ride horses and work in the tradition of their ancestors. Nowhere else in Hawaii will you find so many unique activities in one undivided land tract. Visit the Molokai Ranch Zoo with its unusual collection of exotic animals, or take a group on a true cowboy retreat. Experience Molokai’s Paniolo Roundup, where cowboys share their knowledge of the trade, or accompany paniolos on horseback down the Great Molokai Ranch Trail. The paniolo heritage of Molokai has greatly influenced generations not just on this island, but throughout Hawaii.
What makes Molokai unique?
Molokai is for those travelers who seek a simplistic, unfettered and awe-inspiring island to explore. Come to Molokai for the deserted, gorgeous beaches and leave your watch behind. Come to Molokai for the absence of shopping malls, elevators and fast food drive-thrus. Molokai is said to be Hawaii as it was 50 years ago. On rural Molokai, you will find fishermen and farmers dedicated to preserving the land below their feet and keeping the coastal waters unpolluted. The pace is relaxed and country living is the only way to go. The wild, untamed island of Molokai is the perfect place to find your center, rediscover clarity and embrace the true essence of nature.
Aloha and welcome to Molokai, otherwise known as “The Friendly Isle.” If you are looking for simplicity, quiet beauty and pristine beaches, Molokai is your island. You won’t find traffic lights, tall buildings or night clubs here. Molokai is a peaceful island destination with a population of about 8,000 residents who embody the aloha spirit.
Geography and Climate
Molokai is seated approximately 449 feet (137 m) above sea level. Like the other Hawaiian Islands, Molokai has a comfortable and pleasant year-round temperature at an average of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.8 C), with night-time temperatures a bit cooler in the winter months. Gentle trade winds combat the strong and ever-warming sun.
On Molokai’s northern coast, you’ll feel closer to the heavens in the midst of majestic sea cliffs of volcanic rock while overlooking the untouched valleys of Pelekunu and Wailau. In West Molokai, visitors enjoy unique scenery that seems unchanged over hundreds or even thousands of years. Ancient Hawaiian fishponds and other archaeological sites invoke curiosity and allow visitors to peek into the long ago civilization that once thrived on this island. The hiking on Molokai is unparalleled with many scenic overlooks, switchbacks and secluded tropical havens.
The main village of Kaunakakai on Molokai’s south shore reflects its pineapple port days with rich historical evidence. Mauna Loa, a former pineapple plantation town on the west side of the island, is the perfect place for an enjoyable stroll past quaint shops and local art galleries. Be sure to visit the Royal Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove, the last of the chiefly coconut trees planted by King Kamehameha V in the 1860s.
Beaches
Bask in ample sunshine on any of Molokai’s diverse coasts. Molokai is revered for its many secluded beaches, such as Papohaku Beach, the largest white-sand beach in the state. Visit Kawakiu Beach on the northwestern corner, a stellar example of the seclusion you will find on this island. If you are a camper, Papohaku Beach Park and One Alii Beach Park allow tent camping and have restrooms and shower facilities. Here on Molokai, you will find small and large beaches, white sand and black sand. Surfers searching for a challenge will appreciate the swells that tend to hit the west end in winter. For those who prefer calm waters and relaxed swimming, Murphy Beach and Sandy Beach will not disappoint. Divers will enjoy spectacular views of Hawaii’s only barrier reef off the northern coast.
Kalaupapa
During your visit to Molokai, a must-see is the infamous leprosy colony Kalaupapa on the Makanalua Peninsula on Molokai’s north shore. After an uncontrollable outbreak of what is also called Hansen’s Disease, lepers were forced into isolation at this site on the island of Molokai. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and the fourth by insurmountable sea cliffs, Kalaupapa is about as secluded as you can get. Kalaupapa was run by Belgian priest Father Damien and others who dedicated their lives with no thought to the risks of contracting leprosy. Today Kalaupapa enjoys a National Historic Site status and is home to a handful of former leprosy patients. Travel here on foot or by mule and experience the solemn remembrances of the selfless care and healing that transpired here.
Molokai Ranch
Molokai Ranch, once a thriving cattle business that operated for more than 100 years, covers one-third of the entire island with its beautiful 53,000 acres. Here paniolos, the Hawaiian cowboys, still ride horses and work in the tradition of their ancestors. Nowhere else in Hawaii will you find so many unique activities in one undivided land tract. Visit the Molokai Ranch Zoo with its unusual collection of exotic animals, or take a group on a true cowboy retreat. Experience Molokai’s Paniolo Roundup, where cowboys share their knowledge of the trade, or accompany paniolos on horseback down the Great Molokai Ranch Trail. The paniolo heritage of Molokai has greatly influenced generations not just on this island, but throughout Hawaii.
What makes Molokai unique?
Molokai is for those travelers who seek a simplistic, unfettered and awe-inspiring island to explore. Come to Molokai for the deserted, gorgeous beaches and leave your watch behind. Come to Molokai for the absence of shopping malls, elevators and fast food drive-thrus. Molokai is said to be Hawaii as it was 50 years ago. On rural Molokai, you will find fishermen and farmers dedicated to preserving the land below their feet and keeping the coastal waters unpolluted. The pace is relaxed and country living is the only way to go. The wild, untamed island of Molokai is the perfect place to find your center, rediscover clarity and embrace the true essence of nature.
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