Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [364]
Tennis
Enjoy free, public tennis courts at the Mitchell Pauole Center (Click here). Wavecrest Resort (Click here) and Paniolo Hale (Click here) condo complexes also have courts.
Yoga
Karen Noble (558-8225; www.molokai.com/yoga) holds intimate monthly Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga retreats on her lush property situated in Honomuni, East Moloka’i. Weekly classes are also offered, as are private retreats, which feature accommodation in simple screened huts, and vegetarian foods. Jump right into the ocean after finishing class in the open-air pavilion. All-inclusive prices for a week (including mud baths and other delights) are $1250.
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MOLOKA’I SURF BEACHES & BREAKS Jake Howard
What Moloka’i, one of the most breathtaking islands in Hawaii if not the entire Pacific, possesses in beauty, it lacks in waves. Unfortunately, due to shadowing from the other islands, there just isn’t much in the way of consistent surf. Yet when the surf’s up, keep in mind that the Friendly Isle encompasses the ideals of ‘old Hawaii’ in which family remains the priority, so remember to smile a lot and let the locals have the set waves.
On the western end of Moloka’i, winter swells bring surf anywhere between 2ft and 10ft (and, very rarely, 15ft). The break known as Hale O Lono is one such exposed area. It comprises several fun peaks and is the starting point for the annual 32-mile Moloka’i-to-O’ahu outrigger and paddleboard races. On central Moloka’i’s north shore, there are decent waves to be had at Mo’omomi Bay (Click here). As the area is an archaeological site, entry is dependent on approval from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. For information ask at the airport when you arrive. Tunnels, on the southern side of Pu’u o Kaiaka (Click here) to the west, is a popular break for bodysurfing and bodyboarding, and is also the only sand-bottom spot on the island.
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
If you have time, taking the ferry from Maui (right) is a more sociable and scenic experience than flying – the afternoon boat catches the sunset almost year-round, and in winter, breaching whales glorify the scene.
Air
Moloka’i (Ho’olehua) Airport (MKK) is small: you claim your baggage on a long bench. Single-engine planes are the norm; sit right behind the cockpit area for spectacular views forward. Because of weight limits for individual bags (40lb), pack a small duffel bag in case you have to redistribute your stuff. For more information on interisland flights, Click here.
The main airlines servicing Moloka’i have frequent service to Honolulu and one or two flights a day to Kahului on Maui. Unless you have a through ticket from the mainland, it’s usually much cheaper to buy from the carriers listed here, rather than their larger airline partners.
Island Air (800-652-6541; www.islandair.com) Partner with Hawaiian Airlines; flies planes with two, yes two, engines.
Mokulele Airlines (426-7070, 866-260-7070; www.mokuleleairlines.com) Partner with go! airlines.
Pacific Wings (888-575-4546; www.pacificwings.com) Often the cheapest.
George’s Aviation (834-2120, from outside Hawai’i 866-834-2120; www.georgesaviation.com) is a very small carrier that makes one round-trip daily linking Honolulu and Kahului, with a stop in Moloka’i. It arranges charters, in case, say, you don’t want to spend half the day connecting to Lana’i.
Sea
Moloka’i Ferry (866-307-6524; www.molokaiferry.com; adult/4-12yr $55/28) runs a morning and late-afternoon ferry between Lahaina on Maui (across from the Pioneer Inn) and Moloka’i’s Kaunakakai Wharf. The 90-minute crossing through the Pailolo Channel (aka Pakalolo Channel for all the pot smuggling) can get choppy; in fact, you can enjoy the thrill of a water park just by sitting on the top deck and getting drenched. Buy tickets online, by phone or on the Moloka’i Princess a half-hour before departure. Fares fluctuate with the price of gas.
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GETTING AROUND
Renting a car here is essential,