Molokai

The Last Hawaiian Island

Text by Valerie Mellema

Visitors to Molokai immediately notice that the island does not have the heavily traveled or “touristy” feel of the other islands. There are definitely more natives than travelers, and this makes for a unique experience when visiting Hawaii.

The island can boast no buildings taller than a palm tree, not a single traffic light, it is home to the longest white sand beach in the island chain (which also plays host to occasional visits from sea lions), and there are no malls, no fast food, no hustle or bustle.

Guests come to the island to experience what the natives call the “aloha spirit”, but they also come to see some of the remarkable sights of this small island.

The Molokai Ranch is home to some of the only remaining “haniolo” or Hawaiian cowboys. Here visitors are welcome to stay at the 53,000 acre ranch for a few days, join in on a cattle ride or learn rodeo skills and how to ride a horse like a true haniolo.

There is also a large amount of interest in the famous Father Damien and the leper colony he established on Molokai in the late 1800s. Today approximately 100 people who suffer from Hansen’s disease (which is the formal name for leprosy) live and work on the Kalaupapa Peninsula. The disease is no longer contagious and island visitors are welcome to make a journey down into the valley. There are several companies that offer tours to the area and it is best to make a reservation well in advance.

There is a great deal of history, both ancient and modern on the small island and among the many things for travelers to do, one of the most popular is to take a hike to West Molokai, known as the “birth place of the Hula”, as well as travel to the famous Phallic Rock, where ancient Hawaiian women would go to spend a single night alone in meditation and prayer if they found they could not conceive children.

The island is also home to a large working macadamia nut farm and many visitors love to stop by and learn how to open the shells and taste the nuts in their raw and roasted forms.

The island is also known for its incredible fishing and there are many guests who come strictly to join one of the local fishing trips.

Finally one of the most famous shops on the island does not sell a typical tourist item, the Big Wind Kite Shop, is an incredible place for families to visit and purchase a few days worth of Molokai fun!