MOLOKA‘I

Life is simple, beautiful and inspiring on Moloka‘i.

A mere 38 miles long and 10 miles across at its widest point, this small island is also home to dramatic wonders—including the world’s highest sea cliffs and the longest continuous fringing reef. Moloka‘i is also a pioneer in organizing the protection of Native Hawaiian aquacultural systems known as loko i‘a, sometimes translated as fishponds, kicking off an era of restoration in the 1990s that has taken hold across the Hawaiian Islands. See how natural charm and enduring history are inextricably linked on this secluded island.

Volunteer with the Moloka‘i Land Trust

Open the door to an incredible cultural and historical hands-on learning opportunity when you volunteer with the Moloka‘i Land Trust. They’ll take you on an off-roading tour through storied landscape, where you can be part of Moloka‘i’s living history as you contribute to local ecological restoration efforts. Ask Hotel Moloka‘i about the Mālama Hawai‘i program when you volunteer with this local nonprofit organization.

Book a Guided Tour with a Locally-Owned Outfitter

The best way to experience Moloka‘i is accompanied by a local resident who can share the history, culture and Moloka‘i’s unique way of life with you. Whether your interest is piqued by flyfishing, kayaking, SUPing, scuba diving, hiking, cultural experiences or opportunities to mālama, there is a locally-owned tour company that can provide an authentic and regenerative experience in this culturallysensitive place.

Pāpōhaku Beach Park

Want more space for your beach towel?

Moloka‘i’s Pāpōhaku Beach is one of Hawai‘i’s largest white-sand beaches, so there’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the sun, sand and waves. There are no lifeguards at this beach, exercise caution when swimming and be sure to follow ocean safety guidelines. Be sure to bring your mineral-only sunscreen to protect the reef from harmful chemicals—and protect yourself by always swimming with a buddy and checking for ocean hazards such as rip currents, rocks and shore breaks before you go out. There’s also a grassy park for picnicking and camping.

Kaunakakai

Kaunakakai’s long wharf forms the island’s main harbor, where you’ll find charter boats for fishing, snorkeling and seasonal whale watching. The town, while unassuming, does have a little bit of everything, including groceries, hardware, a pharmacy, gourmet wine and spirits shop, art gallery and gift shop. True to its island heritage, Kaunakakai has an “old-style Hawai‘i” feel, so don’t expect to see any brand name stores. But you can schedule a visit to local non-profit Ka Honua Momona, to get your hands deep in the mud and your consciousness deep into Native Hawaiian culture as you help restore the two loko i‘a (aquaculture ponds) they mālama

Saint Damien

An epochal figure in Moloka‘i’s history, Saint Damien dedicated himself to serving the Hansen’s disease (leprosy) patients who were quarantined for life in Kalaupapa, eventually succumbing to the disease himself in 1889. In 2009, Father Damien was elevated to sainthood by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, and Saint Damien’s Feast Day is celebrated worldwide by Catholic Churches on May 10. Two of Saint Damien’s churches remain on the island—St. Joseph of Kamalō and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows of Kalua‘aha, which hosts weekly Sunday Services. Saint Damien’s stewardship was shared by Saint Marianne Cope, who fulfilled many of his dreams and continued his legacy of compassion. Responding to a call to care for the sick on the then “Sandwich Islands” in 1883, she devoted 35 years to caring for those afflicted with Hansen’s disease on Kalaupapa. In 2012, Saint Marianne Cope was the first Franciscan woman from North

America to be canonized, and only the 11th American saint. While their example of selfless sacrifice is celebrated, today the complex legacy of this place, where society’s most unfortunate were confined, is still tangible today—making it a powerful place for reflection and to pay your respects.