Come On & Join Us - Molokai
By Maui Curmudgeon

This is the 3rd in a 7-part series of Maui Curmudgeon’s Hawaiian Islands Tour.

Molokai is the one Hawaiian island where you WILL experience old Hawaii. Yeah, we know, “they” say that about Lanai and Kauai and even the Big Island, but that’s all bull. Hawaii is located on Molokai. The rest is wishing.

The people on Molokai are tough – they’ve prevented cruise ships from coming, drove out their largest employer, the “Ranch” hotel and grounds (because it wanted to expand), and generally have the reputation of being unwelcoming. Not true, unless you want to move there. If you’re a traveler however, you’d be hard pressed to find nicer Hawaiians.

What makes Molokai worth visiting:

Never mind Lanai’s routine, reverse it. FLY to Molokai, don’t take the ferry. And get a car. There is no bus. This is a big island and you ain’t gonna walk it.

Stay, at least one night, two or three if you want to slow down and hear your own mind again. We recommend Molokai Shores, if you need a condo style, with kitchen. For more local ambiance, we recommend the Molokai Hotel. And that restaurant downstairs at the hotel? It’s worth it.

You can do the usual of course, like shop Kaunakakai. Have a meal at the cafe, everyone else does. And for the 6 am carbohydrate munchies, go to the Kanemitsu Bakery. You’ll like the prices and the quality.

For activities, since you’re there, you need to hike Halawa. There are two hikes to the spectacular falls, either are good. But you HAVE to take them – this is not a do-it-yourself hike. Pony up the money – it’s worth it. And the pool you swim in at the end has been called a bucket of champagne, for good reason – the waterfall drop is so high the water fizzes when it hits the pool. Neat.

Visit the Leper Colony. You MUST reserve the tour of the colony with Damian Tours, but you can either take the mules down the trail or hike. We recommend the hike – strongly. The mules – um, no. Walk.

Next up: The Big Island