Our view of paradise on Moloka'i
Baby boomers, close your eyes. Now, picture traveling to your perfect paradise.
What do you see? Alan has always claimed that a secluded cabin somewhere in the Montana mountains would be his ideal escape. He envisions the two of us sitting on a deck, drinking a morning cup of coffee as we watch the wildlife that comes to our clearing in the woods.
Not anymore. Since visiting the Hawaiian Island of Moloka’i, Alan has a new picture of paradise in his mind’s eye. It still involves drinking morning coffee on a deck, but this one is attached to Hilltop Cottage with views of Maui and Lana’i sitting in an ocean that mesmerizes with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing blues and greens.
Moloka’i claims to be the most Hawaiian of all the islands. It’s a treasure for those baby boomer travelers looking for off the beaten path experiences. Adventures range from hiking with a guide in the Halawa Valley with its thundering waterfalls to riding a mule down the cliffs at Kalaupapa, where Father Damien ministered to leprosy victims. Beaches are scattered along the southern and western edges of the island, while a large reef system offers snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.
The beach at Halawa Valley
Don’t expect to find luxury resorts on Moloka’i. With the exception of Hotel Moloka’i, accommodations include condo and cottage rentals plus a few bed and breakfasts. Alan and I were very happy with our rental. The large, one bedroom cottage contained everything we needed, including a washer and dryer. But the deck, with those gorgeous views, was where we spent most of our time.
If you’re looking for touristy activities, Moloka’i will disappoint you. This is the real Hawaii. At Murphy’s Beach, you might see a local spear fishing for his dinner or outrigger canoes racing in the late afternoon. Poke around the shops in the island’s main town, Kaunakakai, where customers line up at night for the sweet hot bread at Kanemitsu’s Bakery. Go exploring on the narrow, winding road to Halawa, which rivals the drive to Hana on Maui, in our opinion.
Have you been to Moloka’i? Post a comment to share your experiences, or tell me about your favorite paradise. OK, I’ll admit it. I was tempted to keep Hilltop Cottage and this beautiful island to myself.
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Molokai is one of my very favorite places. I love that it is so remote and so untouristy. When I was there a while back, I took the mule ride. Here’s a piece I wrote about that:
http://www.carousel-press.com/molokai.html
Carole, we’ll definitely be going back to Moloka’i. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for the mule ride on our first visit. After reading your article, it’s on our list for next time. Thanks for stopping by My Itchy Travel Feet.
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