Visitor Attractions

You can choose to do absolutely nothing on Molokai, and that would fit in well with the island’s leisurely pace. But for those with a yen to explore, there's also plenty to see and do.

North Shore
• Kalaupapa Peninsula: A National Historic Park, Kalaupapa is a scenically gorgeous and isolated peninsula accessible only via a tiny airport or by descending 1,600 feet from “upcountry” Molokai. Visitors can choose to ride mules or hike down along a four mile trail with 26 switchbacks. Kalaupapa was made famous by Father Damien, a Belgian priest who devoted his life more than a century ago to ministering to patients suffering from Hansen’s Disease. Visits to Kaluapapa are allowed once a day, and tours are given via a clattering, vintage all metal school bus operated by Damien Tours. The bus driver's narrative of the settlement's history is sometimes both hilarious and infuriating, heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. The peninsula is partially ringed by the tallest sea cliffs on earth, collectively called the North Shore pali and vaulting more than 3,000 feet straight up.

Useful tips: If you plan on visiting Kalaupapa, you must be at least 16 years old, and you must register in advance with Damien Tours. Plan on devoting one full day on this excursion.
• Mo`omomi (moh-oh-MOH-mee) Sand Dunes: Managed by The Nature Conservancy, this wind-blown preserve can be visited only with a four-wheel-drive jeep. Here, bones of prehistoric birds that existed nowhere else on earth were discovered by the Smithsonian. The site is considered scientifically important by archaeologists, botanists and marine biologists.

• North Shore Sea Cliffs: Inaccessible except by air or sea, Molokai's magnificent sea cliffs are among the world's greatest natural wonders. Carved by thin canyons, untouched valleys, tumbling waterfalls and incredibly lush vegetation, an excursion to see them should be at the top of any Molokai vacation itinerary.

Useful tip: Sea excursions to see Molokai's sea cliffs take place only during the summer, when the seas are calm. Air tours are available year round. Cessna plane tours may be arranged on Molokai, Maui or O`ahu. Arrangements for helicopter tours must be made on Maui as there is no fueling station on Molokai.
Maunaloa Town
• Maunaloa Town offers the island’s only movie theater (a tri-plex) as well as a general store, Paniolo (pah-nee-OH-loh) Restaurant, and the whimsical Big Wind Kite Factory. Paniolo Restaurant serves “meals on hoof” (a.k.a. take-out), and it’s a good place to stop and buy a delicious meal for the whole family, especially if it’s Sunday afternoon when Molokai's stores are closed. 

• The Cultural Center was formerly known as the “Outfitters Center.”  The Cultural Center at  Molokai Lodge & Beach Village houses the Activity Desk, a retail shop and a mini-museum.  Visitors can also sign up for more than 20 guided land and sea adventures at the Cultural Center. The friendly staff at Molokai Fish & Dive manages the activities desk here and they offer a wealth of inside tips on where to find the best sights on Molokai.

• Plantation Gallery and Big Wind Kite Factory: Jonathan and Daphney Socher are the founders and owners of one of the longest running small businesses on Molokai. Located next to the Maunaloa Post Office, The Plantation Gallery and Big Wind Kite Factory feature treasures from Molokai as well as Bali, plus hand-made kites and windsocks manufactured daily. Jonathan will happily teach anyone the art of kite flying at the park next to his shop and Daphney will charm you with her many stories of their 30+ years of life on Molokai.

• Molokai Ranch: The Ranch offers an array of fun paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) experiences including horseback expeditions, cattle drives and round-ups. Arrangements can be made at the  Cultural Center.

Central Molokai / “Upcountry”

• Post-A-Nut (Ho`olehua Post Office):  Better than any postcard would be to mail home a real Hawaiian coconut. The best coconut “postcards” can be found at the Ho`olehua Post Office, which postmaster Peggy Leary keeps stocked with authentic Molokaiian coconuts that she collects daily from the around the island. Peggy also offers an assortment of pens for artwork, and encourages passers-by to choose a coconut, take it home, and decorate it. The cost? A smile, and of course, the postage to mail home your Hawaiian nut. Peggy Leary is a true Hawaiian, full of ho`okipa (hospitality), and the “Post-A-Nut” is a true gift of aloha.

• R.W. Meyer Sugar Mill: Built in 1878 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the fully restored sugar mill managed by the Molokai Museum & Cultural Center provides a fascinating look at Molokai's cultural and plantation history.

• Kamakou Preserve & Waikolu Lookout – This lush, mountainous rain forest covers some 2,774 acres and is under the care of the Nature Conservancy. The sanctuary contains more than 250 indigenous plants (90 percent of them not found outside of Hawai`i) and native birds. Guided hikes are available once a month.

Useful tips: A four wheel drive is required to get to Kamakou (available from the island’s rental car companies), and prior to going, you must stop ahead of time at The Nature Conservancy's office just outside of Kaunakakai. Guided hikes are often booked four months in advance, so call early.

• Pala’au State Park. Overlooking Kalaupapa, this 34 acre recreation site boasts stunning vistas from its Clifton setting and easy walking trails through woods of eucalyptus and ironwood trees.

• Plantations and Farms: The Molokai Coffee Plantation offers tractor pull and walking tours of its 500 acres of coffee trees, and the best little nut farm in Hawai`i is Purdy’s Macadamia Nut Farm where you can visit the orchards, crack your own nuts and sample macadamia blossom honey.

South Shore

• Kaunakakai Town:  The heart of Kaunakakai Town is a one block stretch along Ala Malama Street where tin roofed buildings dating back to the 1930s house many of the town's eateries and shops. “Town” is the place to go for most anything you need, including groceries, supplies, medical services, wines and spirits, gifts, souvenirs and public services. Be sure to pick up a loaf of Kanemitsu Bakery's world-famous “Molokai Bread.”

• Kaunakakai Harbor: Near Kaunakakai Town is the longest wharf in Hawai`i. As the island’s main harbor, Kaunakakai is home to charter boats that offer fishing, snorkeling, whale-watching and sight-seeing expeditions.

• Kapuaiwa Grove: King Kamehameha V is said to have planted more than 1,000 coconut trees here in the 1860s. This is one of the last of the royal coconut groves and possibly the best place on the island to view a Molokai sunset.

• Plumeria Plantation:  The Molokai Plumeria Plantation is owned and operated by the Wheeler Family, who are happy to give tours to visitors with advance reservations. The Wheelers supply many of the state's hotels and flower shops with hand-picked plumeria flowers on a daily basis. On the tour, visitors can pick their own flowers and sew a lei, and take home the lei needle as a souvenir. You'll know you're near the plantation when the sweet, heady fragrance of the plumeria trees fills your car.

• Fringing Reef: The extensive reef along Molokai's southern shoreline is an incredible setting for shoreline fishing, ocean kayaking, snorkeling and ocean exploring. 

• Fishponds: Ancient Hawaiians were experts in aquaculture, and some 60 rock wall fishponds along the southern coastline serve as testaments to their skills. Most were built 700 to 800 years ago, and the largest was more than 400 acres in size. One of them is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, members of the community are working to restore these fishponds to their ancient splendor.

East End
• Churches: Molokai has a number of small churches. Two historic ones worth visiting include St. Joseph's Church, built in 1876 by Father Damien and located near a monument erected in his honor; and Kalua’aha Church, the first Christian church built on Molokai, in 1835.

• Kamalo (kah-mah-LOH) Wharf: For centuries prior to Kaunakakai Harbor, Kamalo served as a main harbor for Molokai. It is the island’s best natural harbor.

• Kawela (kah-VEH-lah) Battleground: Located high on a ridge, this site is a legendary place of refuge and the site of one of Molokai's most famous battles. It is said that Kamehameha the Great’s most destructive fighting took place at Kawela. Outrigger canoes lined the shore for four miles so the battle could be fought to the finish.

• Smith Bronte Landing: This site marks the end of the first commercial plane flight across the Pacific Ocean from California.

• Waialua (why-ah-LOO-ah) Beach: Located between mile post marker 19 and 20, Waialua beach is the safest beach for swimming and snorkeling during the winter season. The fringing reef at Waialua extends almost a quarter mile offshore, making shallow water snorkeling fun and easy.

• Pu`u O Hoku (POO-oo oh HOH-koo) Ranch: This 14,000-acre working ranch and organic farm offers an eleven room lodge and two cottages on its property – a perfect place for retreats and exclusive gatherings. The ranch also offers a wide range of horseback excursions.

• Halawa Valley & Bay: One of only five easily accessible valleys on Molokai, Halawa Valley and Bay is a beautiful spot for hiking through a lush Hawaiian forest and past ancient settlement sites to a natural waterfall where you can swim in the pools. For their own safety and for the preservation of fragile ancient sites (many of which are unmarked and therefore, easy to damage by unaware guests), visitors should sign up for a guided hike led by a knowledgeable resident. Down near the ocean is a pristine blue lagoon and beach.

Useful tip: Halawa Valley residents don’t want people just traipsing through, but they don’t mind if you're led by a Halawa Valley cultural guide. Ask the Molokai Visitors Association for help in contacting the guides.

Legends say some of the first Polynesians voyagers to Hawai`i landed their double hulled canoes at the mouth of Halawa Valley.

• Ili`ili`opae Heiau. One of the largest of its kind in the state, this Hawaiian temple at mile post 15 is 3,000 square feet and up to 22 feet high. It is believed to have once been three times larger. Accessible by horseback or horse drawn wagon, the excursion includes an experience in rural island living, such as shore fishing, coconut husking or hula dancing.

West End
• Beaches: Dixie Maru Beach is a perfect spot for viewing the sunset, and Papohaku  Beach is one of the largest in the state, measuring three miles long and 100 yards wide. Smack dab in the middle of Papohaku  Beach is a park with grassy areas for picnicking and camping.

• Kawakiunui (kah-WAH-kee-oo-noo-ee) Bay: Kawakiunui Bay offers one of the best beaches on Molokai's west end. It is accessible only by foot or four wheel drive. Pedestrians can reach it via a short 20 minute hike along the shoreline heading north of Kaluako`i Resort. There is also a rugged, in-land road that begins at the former site of Kaluako`i Golf Course's 14th hole restroom. The road is washed out and not recommended for driving, but is popular among residents and visitors for hiking.