Molokai Tourism

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The Molokai Hawaii, Molokai Island Travel Tourism and Accommodation, Moloka'i Hawaii, Kaunakakai, Pacific Islands

The Molokai is a small Hawaiian small islet with a stunning array of tropics. Sights on Molokai isle are the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Kahiwa Falls and Halawa Valley. For Molokai, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, please select from the following category of accommodations, rides, attractions, transportation or tourist information. The Pacific Islands chart does not show any lists on the chart itself, but can be navigated by mouseclick.

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The Kalaupapa is a secluded, insulated lowland promontory on the north shore of Molokai Islands, divided from the remainder of the archipelago by over 500m high rocks. On the harder (wet and windy) east banks near Kalawao, the first settlements that developed were later relocated to the less prominent west of Kalaupapa.

Prior to all this, thepeninsula has long been populated by tribal Hwaiian people - when the leprosy settlement was founded, these Hawaiians were driven out.... and added another obscure feature to the place. On some occasions the married couples declined to separate from their relatives and came to the settlement as so-called "ko'kua" ("helpers") priests, who were to become the Holy of Kalaupapa: .

In 1873, at the age of 33, he came to Calaupapa after learning of the terrible living environment of these miserable exiled. His work to enhance the life of his herd, with much individual dedication, both in health and worship and in many very hands-on areas (building homes, growing trees), soon became myth.

"Molokai: The Story of Father Damien" (an 1999 global movie with David Wenham and Peter O'Toole). Father Damien was originally entombed in one of his own church, in the tomb. Fr. Damien was not the last of Kalaupapa's saints. Marianne Cope, who came to Kalaupapa in 1888 when Father Damien was on her deathbed to take care of him and take over parts of his part after his passing, was also canonised by the Pope in 2012, as Kalaupapa's (so far) second minister.

Leprosy colonies were not the only settlements on the Calaupapa-Penninsula. 1906 a solid beacon was constructed at the north tip of the penninsula (at that times the "brightest lights in the Pacific"!) and next to it buildings for the beaconkeepers and their family. Previously in exile survivors were now able to move - and outsiders came to Calaupapa, among them prominent personalities (e.g. Shirley Temple and John Wayne).

In spite of all this, many inhabitants of the Kalaupa who were now free to flee their place of exil. Even today some former survivors of the disease still reside in the city ( "more than a decade at the moment of writing") who want to spend their life here. Part of it was for their conservation to ensure that their desires were honored and their remembrances honored that in 1980 it was declared a National Park (after it had already been declared a National Monument four years earlier).

External entry to the estate is therefore strictly monitored and the visitor is obliged to observe the private sphere of the population. However, not all inhabitants of Kalaupapa are former outpatients. Kalaupapa's actual body insulation has hardly altered. Entrance to the country is restricted to a precipitous bridleway. The National Park Department is currently working on the issue of what will become of Kalaupapa in the near term if no former patiens are living here and the co-management with the Ministry of Health ends.

Since such airplanes are quite low, one also has a wonderful view over parts of O'ahu and Molokai (the latter especially on the Kalaupapa flight). While I like to travel in such small airplanes, for some it may be a daunting task, especially if you are susceptible to travel sicknesses. These fights can be rough, especially on arriving in Kalaupapa.

We were just asked to stay at the airfield of Calaupapa, which is essentially a shed with almost no equipment (except a restroom and a well, but no staff), until the tourist guides picked us up. It turned out that the trips (see below) had taken longer, so that the tourbus with the horsemen and the guides arrived too later.

This is Molokai. When it arrived, the tourbus turned out to be an old US schoolbus, I think, a class from the 50s that would probably not be considered suitable for normal highways. However, for the almost traffic-free routes on Kalaupapa it was still okay.

After a brief briefing we bumped towards the village of Calaupapa. That' s where the business side of the concert ended. They showed us the memorials of Father Damien and Mother Marianne, the remains of the old clinic, the pier, church and other building - and the leader told the back ground in a well-planned narrative (if it was sometimes supplied a little unsafe - it was new to the work).

The present clergyman gave a brief lecture in the central temple of the present village about Kalaupapa, his past and membership of the temple - all in a very funny way (he was Irish!). Then we drove to the other side of the penninsula, to Kalawao, where the first village and Father Damien's principal place of work was, before we were transferred to the lee side of Kalaupapa.

The St. Philomena Cathedral with the tomb of Father Damien in the graveyard next to it. It is the only preserved part of the old Kalawao town. However, a blackboard in front of the cathedral has a card and information about this first Molokai leprosy infestation and its population.

We waited a long while for the airplane - and we could take the chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery, which includes the high leghthouse, which is located as a light house at the northmost point of the calaupapa-penninsula. Eventually the aircraft landed and soon we were at the start - and had another delicacy: The aircraft sweeped towards the northeast and eastward, before returning southwest towards O'ahu, so that we could get a last and even more magnificent look at the northerly Molokai rocks in all their breath-robbing splendour.

Situation: on a promontory on the north shore of Molokai Island,". Accessibility and costs: very limited, only through organised tours; together with transportation, these can be very high. Currently there is no general admission to the city ( "Kalaupapa"), except at the residents' own request. There is only one way for a tourist to get there: an organised trip.

Kalaupapa's own trips are organized by a sole organizer, Father Damien touring. This is a compulsory trip when you visit the website - you are not free. You cannot go to Kalaupapa yourself and just show up - you will be refused entry without the previously agreed permission.

There are three basic options to get there, i.e. to the departure points of these tours: We are arranging package holidays with a small airline chartered from Honolulu International Airfield on O'ahu. It is also possible for Molokai to organise its own services, but these do not always seem to be available, and it may be necessary to book them and the trip individually.

But the most important other way to get to Kalaupapa is by mouse! Kalaupapa Rides start from a barn on the top of the Molokai and follow a 3.5 miles (approx. 5 km) long trail with 26 serpentines. Once you arrive at the bottom, you take part in the obligatory Father-Damien-Tour through the town.

Parcel of both together (tour and return) will cost about 200-250 US$. This can be booked either through Father Damien Tours or directly with Kalaupapa Maple Group. There is a 250 lb (approx. 113 kg) limitation in either the trip or the flight in, with the possibility for the burros to still fly by air, whereby a supplement may be charged for obese travellers, while the burros do not transport anyone more heavy than the specified limits.

There is also the possibility to explore the bridle path on feet. The cost for tours and parking is between 55 and 70 US$. It is also possible to comb through these different ways of getting there, e.g. to go down and on mules.

Guided visits only from Monday to Saturday - the garden is open on Sundays! You can fly in and take the whole parcel for the trip from 8.00 am to 3.00 pm, but be at the airfield (or in the stables ) about half an hours before and be on time.

If touring is running or not, also depends on the weathers. They can be very rough, but heavy wind can make landings in Kalaupapa almost non-existent. As I was doing the fly-in parcel, the aircraft did not take off from Honolulu General International/National but from the airline's own privately owned terminals on the other side of the airfield area.

Pater Damien Tours offers free collection and transportation from your accommodation - if it is on the Waikiki or Honolulu lists. If you start the trip from Molokai, you have to go your own way to the hutches, or you can take a cab from Molokai International Station (about 30 USD).

Please make sure you reserve in time, because the number of places on the trips, the places in the small airplanes and the number of burros are severely restricted! There are 12 places in the airplanes, and the max. permitted number on the trip is 100). You must be over 16 years of age before you can participate in any of these trips.

There is a behavioural codex within the village of Calaupapa, which forbids, for example, the photographing of people. On-floor tours can last only a few hour, but the return journey takes at least as long. Of course, it takes the longest when you are walking, but the mules are not so fast either.

You have to expect long waits until the groups get together and the trip starts as such. It' not a ride for the eager! It is probably the breathtaking landscape that is one of the major causes for getting here, so that Kalaupapa itself offers the non-dark combo.