The Kalaupapa Trail
The hour to 1.5 hour hike down to Kalaupapa to visit the historical penninsula where Saint Damien and Saint Marianne, among others, cared for the victims of Hansen Disease (Leporsy) is highly recommended. Call Mrs. Marks at 808-567-6171, owner of Damien Tours, to make reservations which includes a permit to enter the colony. She is often hard to get ahold of so be patient and, when you do talk to her, be even more patient as her conversations are short, not too sweet, but to the point. If hiking in you need to take your own lunch and water and $50 a person for the tour. The tour begins at 10:00am at the end of the beach where workers' vehicals are parked and the mule coral can be found. You want to hike ahead of the mules as they are slow and leave a slippery mess.
The penninsula is the most beautiful place on Earth yet the last place you would have wanted to go to eighty years ago. Call Molokai Bicycle to be shuttled up to the top of the cliff where you can lock you bikes, do the hike down. take ther tour, hike back up, and ride the long down hill plus two miles of flat highway back to town. Or just get shuttled up, enjoy the view, hike to the Phallic Rock, and ride back down. Kualapu'u Village is on the way down where you can stop at the coffee plantation or the Cook House for lunch. Music at the plantation on Tuesday mornings at about nineish.
The penninsula is the most beautiful place on Earth yet the last place you would have wanted to go to eighty years ago. Call Molokai Bicycle to be shuttled up to the top of the cliff where you can lock you bikes, do the hike down. take ther tour, hike back up, and ride the long down hill plus two miles of flat highway back to town. Or just get shuttled up, enjoy the view, hike to the Phallic Rock, and ride back down. Kualapu'u Village is on the way down where you can stop at the coffee plantation or the Cook House for lunch. Music at the plantation on Tuesday mornings at about nineish.
Homelani Cemetary to Waikolu Lookout
Kamakou Preserve - arguablly one of the most beautiful rides on the planet. Take the dirt road 3.5 miles west of Kaunakakai from Homelani Cemetary ten miles up to the lookout at the 3,200 foot level. The first five miles are hot and dry (so start early) but once you enter the state forest you're in a different world. Five mile past the forest line and you're looking down at the spot where the opening scene to Jurasic Park Lost World's paragliding action was filmed. About 1 slippery mile past Waikolu is the Makakupaia road down to the south shore of the island. There are a lot of turn offs that deadend so having a guide for this portion won't hurt. Half a mile past the Makakupaia turnoff is the start of the Nature Conservacy's Pepeopae boardwalk to Pelekunu Valley. Figure on about one hour each way for this hike that will take you through a "different planet".
Another Glorious Morning in Paradise
After a nice ride through a beautiful, semi-techical forest you reach the end of paradise. Secret ride. Nough said.
The Descent to Halawa Valley
The 27 mile ride from Kaunakakai to Halawa Valley on the northeast tip of Molokai rivals any road ride in the world. The only problem is there is very little traffic on Molokai so it gets a little lonely. A nice 900 feet climb up to Pu'u O Holu Ranch (25 mile mark) makes the ride a little more challenging. Once you get into the valley there are two incredible beaches for swimming and two cool waterfalls to hike to. The valley is full of ancient home and agriculture sites and is terraced by a network of stone walls built centuries ago. Permission to hike to the falls is important or one can take a paid tour ($35 - $80 per person). Call us for help. The beach pictured at the top of this page is home to boats that take you along the highest sea cliffs in the world to Molokai's renouned north side. The other beach (directly below the riders) is cleaner and more private.
Up Kalae Highway 470
The road to Kalae, Pala'au State Park and campgrounds, Kalaupapa Penninsula Overlook, Phallic Rock, Molokai Mule Ride, trail to Kalaupapa and ride or hike through an amazingly fun forest climbs up State Highway 470. If you start in Kaunakakai on State Highway 460 heading west, take the Kalae Highway 470 4.2 miles out of town. Kualapu'u town is 1.75 miles up from there where you can have a coffee or snack at Coffees of Hawaii Plantation, eat at the Cookhouse or shop at Kualapu'u Market. From Kualapu'u the highway winds another 4 miles to the Kalaupapa Overlook making the total ride about 10 miles and a gain in elevation of about 1,700 feet. It gets a lot cooker the higher up go but riding in the morning is best. Typical of Molokai's roads, the Kalae Highway has little traffic. The flora and auromas as you enter the pine and eucalyptus forest is breathtaking. The climb is a little challenging but well worth the effort. On the left is Jen riding one of our Schwinn Fastback Comps that she rents 3 or 4 times a year during her visits from Portland.