The search for the real Hawai'i begins and ends with Molokai . Inviting and inspiring, exciting and exquisite, there is still one place where Aloha is not just a word, but also a way of life.
Molokai, The Friendly Isle, rich in culture and unforgettable scenery, from lush valley and pristine ocean waters to uncrowded beaches and friendly smiles. If you enter into the simple lifestyle and find yourself wandering down to Kaunakakai Harbor to watch the locals fish for their dinner, you might meet up with one of the island's top-notch boat captains, and before you know it, you'll heading out beyond the longest Hawaii reef and deep fishing your own dinner.
It's a discovery you will remember forever. It's the Old Hawaii and the place with Mana (spirit).
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH
The afternoon sun strikes St. Joseph's Church with such a bold ray of light that it looks as if God is about to perform a miracle. This little 1876 wood-frame church is one of four Father Damien built "topside" on Molokai. Restored in 1971, the church stands beside a seaside cemetery, where feral cats play under the gaze of a Damien statue amid gravestones decorated with flower leis.
KALAUPAPA PENINSULA
In the 1850s, Hansen's Disease swept through the Hawaiian islands. The worst cases were sent to this isolated, yet magnificent, peninsula. Father Damian arrived in 1873 and he worked tirelessly for the patients until his death in 1889. Father Damian was revered for his infinite, all consuming love for the residents of Kalaupapa. Today, the peninsula is a National Historical Park only accessible by air, mule or foot. Fly in and hike out, hike in and fly out... Most famous is the mule ride.
All visitors to the park must receive a permit from the Department of Health to enter the Kalaupapa settlement. The East side of the peninsula is called, the North Shore Pali - Towering 3,600 to 3,900 feet, these are the tallest sea cliffs in the world.
POPOHAKU BEACH
... is dream like. White sand expanse three miles long, it's one of Hawaii's biggest beaches and certainly one of the most beautiful. A great spot to watch the sun sink into Pacific and stay alert for the green flash at sunset.
KAUNAKAKAI
Molokai's main town is Kaunakakai which is virtually unchanged since the early 1900s. Take a leisure walk down Ala Malama Street and enjoy an eclectic collection of charming shops and restaurants. Don't miss Saturday's outdoor market and the picturesque Kaunakakai Harbor.
HALAWA VALLEY
Eastern most of the amphitheatric. Like valleys of the remote, it has lush north coast. Halawa Valley is the only valley easily accessible by guided hikes only. This is one of Hawaii's true natural wonders. A half mile wide and three to four miles deep, it is backed with cliffs and two towering waterfalls. The 150ft. pool is so full of bubbles it's been likened to swimming in champagne. At the spectacular mouth of valley, you can stand on the golden beach and imagine you're a heroic Polynesian voyager to the Hawaiian Island. This is one of the spots where the original visitors to Hawaii first landed.
JESUSALEMA HOU CHURCH IN HALAWA VALLEY
