Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [363]
Kayaking
The northeastern shore, sheltered by the reef, is best for kayaking. At the very tip, Halawa Beach (Click here) is a good launching point when seas are calm. In the summer, expert paddlers can venture around to the northern shore to witness the grandeur of the world’s tallest sea cliffs (for more information see the boxed text, Click here).
Note that rental-car companies do not allow kayaks to be carried atop their vehicles. Outfitters will deliver kayaks for fees ranging from $20 to $50. Moloka’i Fish & Dive (above) runs a guided five-hour trip ($90) that paddles with the wind, finishing with a boat tow back to the dock.
Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
Moloka’i’s 32-mile Pala’au barrier reef – Hawaii’s longest – lies along the south side of the island, promising top-notch snorkeling and excellent diving in uncrowded waters all year long, when conditions allow. To reach the good spots, you’ll need a boat.
During the summer, the West End beaches are easily accessible, magical spots for snorkeling, with clear, flat waters. Here, Dixie Maru Beach (Click here) and the rocks at Kawakiu Beach (Click here) are both prime spots. In the east, Twenty Mile Beach (Click here) is quite a good snorkeling stop.
For boat charters, Click here or go with one of the operators ($70, three to four hours) listed earlier (Click here).
Surfing
When it’s breaking, the stretch from Rock Point (Click here) to Halawa Beach (Click here) on the east end, and Kepuhi Beach (Click here) on the West End are reliable spots. Leave Kawakiu Beach’s (Click here) winter waves to the experts. For secret spots, see the boxed text, Click here. Moloka‘i Fish & Dive and Moloka‘i Outdoors (Click here) charge around $15 per day for surfboard rentals.
Swimming
Most year-round spots for a swim are on the northeastern coast, with Twenty Mile Beach (Click here), a cove just a mile past Waialua, and Puko’o (Click here) being the best. At the very eastern tip, Halawa Beach (Click here) is good only when the seas are calm. On the West End, sheltered Dixie Maru Beach (Click here) is good for a dip almost all year, while Kawakiu Beach (Click here) is only good in the summer.
Whale Watching
Witness the sudden drama of humpback whales breaching from December to April. Both Moloka‘i Fish & Dive and Moloka‘i Outdoors (Click here) and the boat charter operators (Click here) offer trips. Rates start at $70.
Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
Moloka’i has plenty of wind – advanced surfers can harness it in the Pailolo and Ka’iwi Channels. Most people grabbing the wind come to the island with their own gear.
On Land
Golf
The nine-hole Ironwood Hills Golf Club (Click here) is like something out of a Chevy Chase movie – in a good way. The 18-hole Kaluakoi Golf Course at the West End was closed as part of the Moloka’i Ranch shutdown (see the boxed text, Click here).
Hiking
Much like the island itself, the hiking here is pristine, remote and rugged, with very little traffic. Moloka’i’s most-hiked trail is the legendary descent to the Kalaupapa Peninsula (Click here).
Kamakou Preserve (Click here) features unique rain-forest hikes in the island’s untamed interior and out to scenic valley overlooks. At low tide, it’s possible to do some beach walking from Hale O Lono Point to La’au Point. Hiring a guide is required to hike to the falls in the lush Halawa Valley (Click here).
For trail maps and the general lowdown on hiking, swing by Moloka’i Bicycle (Click here). Walter Naki (558-8184) is a local who leads custom hikes across the island.
Mountain Biking & Cycling
There are over 40 miles of trails on Moloka’i good for mountain biking. The roads of the thick Moloka’i Forest Reserve (Click here) are prime for mountain biking, as are trails on the arid West End, many with ocean views. As for cycling, pretty much all of Moloka’i’s paved highways would make for a scenic ride, especially the trip to the Halawa Valley (Click here). For trail maps and