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		Explore Molokai Molokai is an island where the past and present mingle, where the traditions of the Hawaiian culture have been preserved and are yours to share. Today approximately 50 percent of the island’s population of 6,700 are of native Hawaiian ancestry with the result that it has often been called the most Hawaiian island. Molokai is the birthplace of the hula. Here, tradition holds the goddess Laka first danced the hula, and then traveled throughout the islands teaching others the graceful movements and chants that have been passed down through generations to today’s kumu hula or hula teachers. On the third Saturday in May, the annual hula festival Molokai Ka Hula Piko draws 4,000. Peaceful and uncommercialized, Molokai rewards visitors with such scenic wonders as the world’s highest sea cliffs, waterfalls cascading from nearly 2,000 feet to the sea and rainforests with plants and birds found nowhere else on earth. From the golf course on the west end, you can see the diversity of the island’s landscape which changes from upcountry ranchlands in one sweep to a three mile white sand beach and the blue ocean. Without the normal distractions of shopping malls and fast food restaurants, you are free to explore the ocean by snorkeling, kayaking, skin-diving, fishing, surfing, whale watching (in season) and sailing. Equally fascinating is adventuring over the 10 mile wide by 30 mile long island’s mountains and valleys by hiking, mountain biking, four-wheeling or horseback riding. Of great interest is Kalaupapa, the peninsula off the north coast of Molokai where lepers were first sent to fend for themselves in 1886.   Local Attractions   KALAE & EAST   To get started right on a full day of exploring, go to Kualapuu town for a great cup of coffee at the Plantation. Here you can sip one of the heavenly, freshly roasted coffees grown on their 300 acre plantation right at your feet. There’s a café with great sandwiches and other goodies plus a gift shop with made-in-Molokai goods. Walking tours of the coffee processing and roasting operations are twice a day. Nearby is the Molokai Museum and Cultural Center at the R.W. Meyer Sugar Mill built in 1878. On the National Register of Historic Places, this small museum features completely restored sugar processing machinery from the last century, including the mule-driven cane crusher. Open Mon. -Sat. 10-2. Gift shop. Admission. Call 567-6436.   As you head east on Hwy. 460, as soon as the highway levels out, you will see Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove on your right. One of the few remaining royal groves, 1,000 trees were planted here by King Kamehameha V in the 1800s. They sing a well-known song about the little town that serves as the island’s capital, the town called Kaunakakai. The song is called "The Cock-eyed Mayor of Kaunakakai" -- and apparently the town had only one mayor a long time ago. The town has an Old West feel with a single street lined with old-fashioned shops selling everything from local produce to island crafts.   At the water’s edge is the Kaunakakai Wharf. See if you can find the rocks that are the remains of Kamehameha’s summer home where he came to vacation and relax at this very spot. Here you will find all manner of water activities. Molokai Charters offers a half day of sailing and whale watching (in season) on their 42’ sloop "Satan’s Doll." Lani’s Kayak Tour and Rental has snorkeling and fishing adventures Mon.-Sat. They also offer a tour guide service. The Alyce C offers sport fishing on their 31’ boat that takes you right to the game fish off the coast of Molokai. Call 558-8377.   Next on this south side jaunt of the island are the Ancient Hawaiian Fishponds. Approximately 50 of these unique structures, originally built in the 13th century, fringe the south shore of Molokai. The idea behind a fishpond was to make harvesting the sea a sure thing for the ancient Hawaiians. Small fish could swim in through controlled gates called makahas. They would fatten up in the fishpond and be available for catch anytime. What is amazing is that so many of these Molokai fishponds have survived to this day. A few have been restored and are still in use. Some of those with names are the Kalokoeli Fishpond which is two miles from Kaunakakai, the Keawanui Fishpond about 12 miles from town and the Ualapue Fishpond just a bit farther. Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge is another key piece in the attempt to protect the Hawaiian stilt, the endangered bird with pink legs. These birds are shy, so you may not see any.   The Belgian missionary priest, Father Damien deVeuster, left his mark in many ways on Molokai -- the best known of which is his work within the leper colony at Kalaupapa. It is said he will soon be sainted by the Catholic Church for his work among the disfigured lepers, from whom he himself caught the awful disease. Two architectural gems that were designed and built by Father Damien are St. Joseph’s Churches built in 1876 located at Kamalo on the makai side of the road. Damien built Our Lady of Sorrows in 1874 and it is located at about five miles farther on the mauka side. Both are beautiful in their simplicity.   At the end of the road is Halawa Valley and Beach Park. Getting there is half the fun since as you drive the 18 or so miles to get there the road gets narrower and narrower. At times it hugs the coastline and other times it climbs through dense forest and then suddenly pops up in rolling pastureland. The views of the ocean and Maui are stunning. From the overlook, you can see the waterfall on your left. You can also savor the big view of the amphitheater-like valleys below. Once down in the valley, you will find scenic picnic areas. The beach and swimming are marginal. The remoteness of it all is what makes the trip worthwhile.   KALAUPAPA & WEST   It’s pretty exciting to descend 1,600 feet down a steep cliff while swaying back and forth on a mule. That will be the better part of this Daytrip. The goal for this descent -- and return the same way -- is to visit an isolated peninsula of land on the island of Molokai where lepers were shunned for many years in what was called a “living tomb.” In the early days, once sent to Kalaupapa, you never left. The disease was stopped in its tracks many years before the State of Hawaii would allow the lepers to leave Kalaupapa in 1969. Some left at that time, but some stayed behind to continue the simple, easy-going lifestyle prevalent in the leper colony of old. Now the windswept sprawl of land that is about two and a half miles long and two miles wide is a very pleasant place to visit. As the matter of fact, Kalaupapa is a National Historical Park administered by the Hawaii State Dept. of Health and the National Park Service. The mules will bring us back up the steep pali about mid-afternoon. That will give us enough time to cover the west end of the island which claims to have the longest white sand beach in the Hawaiian Islands. From there we will try to catch the famous Molokai sunset.   We suggest you start your day early by going up Hwy. 470 to the end for a visit to Palaau State Park which is right at the edge of the pali overlooking Kalaupapa peninsula. The park provides an excellent look at where this Daytrip will be taking you. Exhibits at the overlook provide important facts about Kalaupapa and its history. There are actually three ways to get to Kalaupapa and none are by car since there is no road. You can go by air from the Molokai Airport (at $52 this way which provides breathtaking aerial views and is easier on your rump than by mule). You can hike a narrow trail down and up the 1,600 foot pali. The most popular is the mule ride down the same trail.   It’s obvious the Molokai Mule Ride offers great fun. The three mile plus trail has 26 switch-backs and offers breathtaking views of the peninsula below at every turn. The trail was originally built in 1886 by an immigrant from Madeira who it is believed followed the course of an ancient Hawaiian footpath. The trail was recently restored by the National Park Service -- all 1,630 steps. The mule ride begins at the Molokai Mule barn in Kalae in central Molokai at 8:30 and concludes at about 3:30 in the afternoon. Riders are matched up with their mule (choose Valentine, or Pale Face or Friendly, or how about Small Fry or Disney) at the barn. These veterans of the Kalaupapa trail, as the muleskinners will explain, are on "automatic pilot." Riders can just settle into their saddle and enjoy the spectacular views that open up at every turn of the trail. The Molokai Mule Ride operates one tour a day Mon.-Sat. Check-in is at 8 in the morning. Riders must be at least 16 years old, weigh no more than 250 pounds and be able to “relax and keep your center balance at all times.” Call 567-7550 for reservations.   Richard Marks’ Damien Tours has the only blanket permit to admit the general public to Kalaupapa, so ultimately all who visit connect up with him for the half-day, narrated ground tour of the settlement and National Historical Park. The mule ride includes the cost of the tour, but hikers and plane riders pay $30 for the tour. A rusty old school bus serves as the tour vehicle. Jimmy, one of the Kalaupapa tour guides, explains he’s lived in the colony for 55 years. He came as a child in 1942 as a suspected leper, and even though he didn’t have the disease on arrival, he had contracted it within a short period of time. Cured for a long time now, he says he stays because of the very comfortable lifestyle. This tiny community at one time had 600 residents, but now it is only 57 former patients (plus about 45 workers) and their ages are between 68 and 78. Things are very low-key in Kalaupapa. The colony still includes some trim, small houses occupied by the remaining residents, churches, a hospital, store and library. The speed limit for the few cars is 5 mph. At the pier, Jimmy tells you there is great excitement over the once-a-year barge service when all residents gather to see if anyone got a new car. One of the highlights of the tour is the visit to St. Philomena Church, known as Father Damien’s Church, where the history of Kalaupapa is told in the recently restored structure. The tour also includes a picnic lunch at Judd Park overlooking the famous Molokai north coast and the world’s highest sea cliffs which soar some 3,000 feet almost straight up.   Once you have un-kinked your legs from the ride up, get in your car and head out Hwy. 460 toward Maunaloa, which for many years was a company town for Dole and Del Monte pineapple when that crop flourished on Molokai. The pineapple is all gone now, but the town has been restored by Molokai Ranch with such features as Molokai’s first movie theaters. You can sign up for these and other activities at the Molokai Ranch Outfitters Center in Maunaloa town. Call 552-2791 for reservations. Worth a visit in Maunaloa is the Big Wind Kite Factory. This well-known manufacturer of kites and windsocks will teach you how to control two string aerobatic stunt kites at their special aeronautical testing facility. Located at 120 Maunaloa Hwy. 552-2364.   After you leave Maunaloa turn right and after about a mile and a half turn left at Kaluakoi. Take this down down toward the ocean and head for Papohaku Beach Park. This is a lovely 10 acre park that fronts the three-mile Papohaku Beach. The swimming can be tricky so pay attention to posted signs telling of water conditions. There are terrific picnic areas and camping is permitted. The reason for coming out here -- besides the claimed longest beach in Hawaii -- is to take a stroll to see one of the grandest sunsets in the Hawaiian Islands. Wait patiently for it. Just as the sun slips below the horizon, look carefully and see if you can spot the tiny "green flash."   Molokai is truly an island of traditional ways, and this is visible in its wonderful people who are more than happy to greet you and point you towards a hidden beach or some other attraction off the beaten path. Take a deep breath when you get to Molokai. It is time to relax, time to let moments pass slowly. There are no traffic lights, and no tall buildings. You have just the enchanting beauty of the land and sea as it has existed for centuries. The pristine waters and clean air are said to be a healing force. So be ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy true Hawaii and its Most Hawaiian Island, The Friendly Island – Molokai welcomes you.   Order by Phone: 1-800-709-BEAN   © 2002 - 2010 Molokai Coffee Company & Cooperative * 99-910 Iwaena Street * Aiea, HI 96701 USA   Phone: 808.487.9600 * info@molokaicoffee.com