Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MM
Halawa Valley
At the end of Highway 450, after utopian plantation homes, single-lane turns, the bluffs of
the ranchlands, and heavily forested valleys, the road reaches a left hairpin turn where a
cleft in the mountainside opens up like an amphitheater before you. This is
Halawa Val-
ley.
Congratulations. You've made it. At the lookout, try to snap a shot of Moa'ula Falls
toward the back of the valley, because this is the best view of it that you're going to have
unless you're part of a guided hike.
This is believed by many to be the original landing site of Polynesians inhabiting Mo-
loka'i (circa AD 650). There are some who say that visiting Halawa is like visiting another
country, and in a lot of ways, they're right. This truly is the “old Hawai'i” out here, a place
where mythology, lore, nature, and people all commune in a way not found back in “mod-
ern society.” The handful of residents who still inhabit this valley live a subsistence-based
lifestyle which in many ways parallels that of their original ancestors. Electricity is scarce,
and taro
lo'i
(fields) weave their way up the verdant valley floor.
The two beaches in Halawa Bay are suitable for swimming. The cove accessed by
walking across the streambed offers more protection and a soft, sandy bottom. Other
than snapping photos and walking barefoot down the beach, the main visitor attraction in
Halawa Valley is taking part in a guided hike to Moa'ula Falls. Permits are stringently re-
quired for hiking, and conversing with the local guides is the best (and only) way to feel
the
mana,
or strength, of this valley.
If your idea of a vacation well-spent is a day at the mall, jump off the ferry and start swim-
ming back to Maui. Most shops on Moloka'i are utilitarian general stores, although there
are some shops with worthy souvenirs.
The good news about shopping in Kaunakakai is that you don't have to go far. All of the
stores are on the same street, which means you can park your car on Ala Malama Avenue
and use it as a base for scouring every shop in town.
