Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
53,000 acres with inter-crossing trails that weave up and down the West End to
the beach—simply spectacular. Guided tours range from $45 for 2 to 3 hours to
full-day rides with a guide and lunch for $85. They'll take kids as young as 6 years
old. Bike rentals are $35 a day.
CAMPING
Camping equipment is available for rent from
Molokai Rentals
and Tours
(
&
808/553-5663;
www.molokai-rentals.com). A two-person camp-
ing package is $25 a day or $140 a week; inquire about rates for families of three
or more.
One of the best year-round places to camp on Molokai is
Papohaku Beach
Park
, on the island's West End. This drive-up seaside site makes a great get-
away. Facilities include restrooms, drinking water, outdoor showers, barbecue
grills, and picnic tables. Groceries and gas are available in Maunaloa, 6 miles
away. Kaluakoi Resort is a mile away. Get camping permits by contacting
Maui
County Parks Department,
P.O. Box 526, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 (
&
808/
553-3204
). Camping is limited to 3 days, but if nobody else has applied, the
time limit is waived. The cost is $3 a person per night.
For a change, you can camp in an ironwood forest. At the end of Highway
470 is the 234-acre piney woods known as
Palaau State Park
, home to the
Kalaupapa Lookout (the best vantage point for seeing the historic leper colony).
Camping is free, but you'll need a permit from the
State Division of Parks
(
&
808/567-6618
). For more on the park, see p. 321.
HIKING
Molokai's entire West End, some 53,000 acres, is opening to hiking
tours through
The Lodge at Molokai Ranch
(
&
888/627-8082
or 808/660-
2824; www.molokai-ranch.com), which offers a variety of hikes to fit abilities.
Prices range from $45 for an easy 2- to 3-hour hike (acceptable for kids as young
as 8) to $85 for advanced hikes (best for kids 12 and up).
HORSEBACK RIDING
One of the most scenic places to go riding on
Molokai is
Pu'u O Hoku Ranch
(
&
808/558-8109;
www.puuohoku.com),
about 25 miles outside Kaunakakai on the East End. Guided trail rides pass
through green pasture on one of the largest working ranches on Molokai, then
head up into the high mountain forest. Don't forget your camera: There are
plenty of scenic views of waterfalls, the Pacific Ocean, and the islands of Maui
and Lanai in the distance. Children are welcome; rates are $55 for an hour-long
ride (kids 8 and up will love this), $75 for a 2-hour ride (better for kids 12 and
up), and $120 for a beach adventure.
For those looking for a little more than a horseback ride,
The Lodge at
Molokai Ranch
(
&
888/627-8082
or 808/660-2824; www.molokai-ranch.com)
offers a “Paniolo Roundup.” Kids 12 and up can learn horsemanship from the
ranch's working cowboys and compete in traditional rodeo games; the half-day
adventure is $80. Two-hour trail rides also are $80.
TENNIS
The only two tennis courts on Molokai are located at the
Mitchell
Pauole Center,
in Kaunakakai (
&
808/553-5141
). Both are lit for night play
and are available free on a first-come, first-served basis, with a 45-minute time
limit if someone is waiting. If you left your racket at home, you can rent one for
just $4 a day ($16 a week) from
Molokai Rentals and Tours,
HC01 Box 28,
Kaunakakai (
&
808/553-5663;
www.molokai-rentals.com). You can also rent
tennis rackets and balls from
Molokai Outdoors Activities,
in the lobby of
Hotel Molokai, just outside Kaunakakai (
&
877/553-4477
or 808/553-4477;
www.molokai-outdoors.com).
