Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [365]
Exploring unmarked roads is not advisable. Folks aren’t too keen on strangers cruising around on their private turf and can get churlish. On the other hand, if there’s a fishpond you want to see, and someone’s house is between the road and the water, it’s usually easy to strike up a conversation and get permission to cross. If you’re lucky they might even share some local lore and history with you, particularly the old-timers.
Good free maps of Moloka’i don’t exist. Franko’s Moloka’i Guide Map is massively detailed and highly useful. James A Bier’s Map of Moloka’i & Lana’i has an excellent index. Both fold up small, cost under $6 and are widely available on the island.
To/From the Airport & Ferry
The various car-rental agencies will generally arrange transport for you between the airport, ferry dock and their locations as required. Note that the chains at the airport should be called directly at their Moloka’i offices to arrange ferry pick-up. See below for more details on rental cars.
A taxi (see right) from the airport costs around $20 to Kaunakakai, and $25 to the West End.
One of Moloka’i’s trademarks is the sign you see leaving the airport: ‘Aloha. Slow down, this is Moloka’i. Mahalo.’
Bicycle
Moloka’i Bicycle (Map; 553-3931, 800-709-2453; molbike@aloha.net; 80 Mohala St, Kaunakakai; 3-6pm Wed, 9am-2pm Sat) is the place to go for all things cycling. The owner has a great depth of knowledge about biking across the breadth of the island. He’ll do pick-ups and drop-offs outside of his opening hours. As well as offering repairs, parts and sales, there is a full range of rentals starting at $23/85 per day/week for mountain bikes. Glam models go for more. Prices include helmets, locks, pump, maps and much more.
Car
Keep in mind that rental cars are technically not allowed on unpaved roads, and there can also be restrictions on camping. If you intend to explore more-remote parts of the island such as Mo’omomi Bay, you’ll at least need a vehicle with high clearance, and probably a 4WD. Book well in advance, especially if planning a weekend visit. But if you’re feeling lucky in low season, walk-up rates at the airport can be half that found online.
There are gas stations in Kaunakakai; one in Maunaloa is open very limited hours. Expect sticker shock at the pump.
Alamo Rental Car (www.alamo.com) took over as the sole operator at the airport in 2009. Click here for toll-free reservation numbers and general rental information.
Island Kine Auto Rental (553-5242, 877-553-5242; www.molokai-car-rental.com), a local outfit, offers a full range of vehicles at good rates. Pick-ups can be arranged from anywhere.
Taxi
Hele Mai Taxi (336-0967) services Moloka’i.
Tours
Tours on Moloka’i come in two flavors: those you do because you want someone else to do the driving etc; and the tours that you do because they are the only way to have the experience, such as a trek up the Halawa Valley (Click here), Kalaupapa (Click here) or the guided tours of the Nature Conservancy’s Kamakou Preserve (Click here) and Mo’omomi Beach (Click here).
The two main activity operators (Click here) offer various tours including custom drives to pretty much any place on the island. An excursion to a plumeria farm ($15 per person), where you can make lei, and see the fragrant flowers in all their bounteous glory, is fun.
Much of Moloka’i’s coastline is only accessible by boat. The wild beauty of the impenetrable North Shore Pali, home to the world’s tallest sea cliffs (see the boxed text, Click here), is unforgettable. The activity operators and boat charters (below) all arrange trips that take the better part of a day, often include a stop for snorkeling, and don’t run in the winter, lest storms send you to Gilligan’s Island.
Boat Charters
Boat charters generally leave from Kaunakakai Wharf and, if you’re traveling in a group, can be tailored to your desires. Rates