On Molokai No Lines Or Crowds - Just Isolated Beaches And Opportunities For Adventure
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Molokai is a stunningly beautiful outer island of the Hawaiian Archipelago situated near Oahu and Maui. The Island has many breathtaking vistas. Cliffs on the North side are the highest in the world. Its population has shunned development and preserved local tradition. Short on amenities but long on natural beauty. It has few restaurants, 2 gas stations, no stoplights. Small prop planes are the only way in and out. Visit here and have a entire beach to yourself, amazing sunsets, and the adventure of a lifetime.
Molokai Is Known As The Friendly Island - Embrace The Culture and Chill Out - Aloha Spirit - Ohana
I made a friend on my first full day on Molokai. A local surfer saw me sitting in the hot sun, offered a cold water from his cooler. Awesome Braddah, raised on Molokai. My wife drove up in the rental Jeep and 3 of us talk story. Night before in Misaki's grocery the clerk made us feel very welcome. In fact, that was a theme the whole trip. You might read about tourists not feeling welcome on Molokai. I am going to guess they should look to themselves. Be cool visiting Molokai or any Hawaiian Respect the people, land and culture.
Tip #2:
Rest Overnight Or Longer On Maui Or Honolulu Before Starting Your Molokai Adventure - 2 Great Tourism Destinations
Wherever you come from you spent a lot of time and energy getting to Maui or Honolulu (the 2 islands flights to Molokai originate.) We came from California and it turned into a very long day of traveling and worry about making our connection. Give yourself a break, stay a extra night on one of the bigger Islands. Ferry from Maui to Molokai has been closed for years. The only option to Molokai is a Mokulele or Southern Airlines plane. Both are same company. Flight time is less than 1/2 hour. Awesome airplanes with great crews. Tourism on the bigger Islands, adventure just getting to Molokai.
Tip #3
Kaika Rock And The Dry West Side Of Molokai - Kepuhi Beach
Lodging options are somewhat limited on Molokai. Hotel Molokai has Ohana Grill and is convenient to Kaunakakai Town. We stayed on the West Side at Kepuhi Beach Resort Condos. From here it is a short and beautiful walk to Kaika Rock and Kepuhi Beach. Views from Kaika Rock are magnificent. The walk takes you past abandoned buildings that were once a beautiful resort and golf course. This Island does not welcome development. Not having high rises blocking the beach was amazing. Kepuhi Bay is a favorite winter surf location for locals.
Tip #4
Holoholo - Renting A SUV Is The Best Way To See Molokai
We are Jeep people, see (Youtube.com/@muddyruttzz.) Naturally we rented a Jeep. Alamo is the only large car rental outfit and it is located at the airport. There are other options to rent vehicles from local folks. Next visit I think that is what I will do. There is local transportation in the form of a small shuttle that goes around the Island. I think exploring on Ebikes would be awesome but my wife would not dig that. She did love driving the Jeep though!
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We visited Kauai few years ago. Everyday we made sure to visit Kauai Coffee. They offer free samples of all the delicious coffee they roast.
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Make Your Dinner Reservations Early And Expect Special Moments
The restaurants on Molokai require reservations and they keep different hours than you are probably used to. Our trip was over Christmas and hours were more limited than usual. We did not get to eat at the Pacific Eatery that we heard was so good. Hotel Molokai had buffet dinner Christmas Eve and fortunately we were able to secure a reservation. They have the Ohana Grill and there is entertainment. Hawaiin Slack Key Guitar beautiful vocals. We were treated to 3 local ladies performing a impromptu Traditional Hawaiian Dance. Unexpected and Magical!
Island Time And Ohana - Closed Sundays And Holidays And Molokai's Small Town Charm
Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family. Not being open 24/7 helps maintain time for families to be together. Especially true on Holidays when businesses are open even less than usual. For those of us who come from busy cities and urban areas it might seem unusual. There were a few places open for limited hours on Christmas but generally speaking the small downtown was deserted. Not the entire list but the 2 gas stations, Molokai Mini Mart and Hula Bean Coffee were all open for limited hours.
Have you seen a deserted downtown like the picture? Small town charm.
Tip #9
Visit Halawa Valley For The Stunning Views - Great Hike to A Beautiful Waterfall
Halawa Valley is on the East side of Molokai. There are magnificent views of Halawa Bay and Valley from the turnouts along the road. Be sure to make your way all the way to Halawa Beach Park. Moaula Falls is on private land. Permission is required to visit there and it is a 3 mile hike. To long of a hike for us in our limited time.
Tip #10
Enjoy The Ride Wherever You Are Driving Around Molokai - Beautiful Views Around Every Turn
Tip #11
Hard To Find Secluded Beaches - Dixie Maru Beach
Just one example there are many more. Dixie Maru Beach is a small sheltered cove. Drive to the West Side of Molokai and to the end of Pohakuloa Road. Formerly a place the US Military used for practicing bombing. A recent rain washed the red Molokai soil into the water and it is mixed with the sand. Great place to swim or watch a sunset.
Tip #12
Local Grindz - A Taste Of Molokai Food Trucks For Some Awesome Poke
Grindz is a word for food in Hawaii. Situated what looks like permanently in downtown are 2 food trucks. You will not be giving up anything by eating from them. the food is excellent. Fish and vegetables was fresh and delicious.
Tip #13
Explore Off-Road In Your Rented SUV
Molokai is a small Island but there are miles of dirt roads to explore. We had time to explore a good bit of the Maunahui -Makakaupa'ia Trail. We also took a couple turns and got the Jeep a little stuck. 4WD Low got us out eventually. We did not make it to the end but there is great scenery views and hiking on this trail. Pretty rare to have this much open country to explore anywhere but more amazing to do it on a tropical island.
Tip # 14
Historical Kalaupapa Overlook Palauu State Park - One Of The Most Awe Inspiring Views On Molokai
It was a sunny eating our dinner on Kaunakakai Wharf on the south side of Molokai. We headed North to see the Kalaupapa Overlook where there was a light rain. Kalaupapa Peninsula was a Leper Colony There are still a few patients there. Now it is a National Park. Very isolated and difficult to get to. Access is very limited. It was a magnificent view from the overlook.
Tip # 15
Kanemitsu's Bakery And A Taro Donut - We Missed Out On The Hotbread
You can tell when food is good when you see all the locals going there. Kanemitsu's unfortunately was closed for most of out visit during Christmas Holidays. Finally the morning we were leaving they were open. My biggest regret of the trip was not being able to go to the "secret" window at the back for night time hot bread. Well, I guess that will be on my long list of stuff I need to do on Molokai next visit. I will definitely return and spend a lot more days there next time.
A Short But Enriching Experience | Next Trip Will Be More Days And In Summer
Many great adventures were left undone on Molokai. It is a small Island and 3 days only allows for a small sample of what it offers. We were there in winter. Summer brings calmer waters and access to more locations around the Island.
Here are a few items to do on our next trip:
View The North Shore Pali Cliffs From the Water.
Hike to some of the many waterfalls.
Visit the Sandalwood Pit
Camp on Molokai (Reservations/Permits Required.)
Eat at more restaurants.
Explore the Ancient Rock Quarry.
Spend more time on beaches.
More 4 Wheeling.
Note: Every Hawaiian Island has a official color. Thumbnail for my video the word Molokai has the exact (hex code) green and the word Hawaii has exact red color for these Islands.
Map of Molokai
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