Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [370]
Moloka’i Wines & Spirits (553-5009; Ala Malama Ave; 9am-8pm Sun-Thu, to 9pm Fri & Sat) Has many Hawaiian and mainland microbrews plus inexpensive wines and upscale cheeses and deli items. This is the place to get all you need for silly tropical drinks. Fire up the blender!
Misaki’s (553-5505; 78 Ala Malama Ave; 8:30am-8:30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-noon Sun) The long hours are the key to success at this living museum of grocery retailing.
Outpost Natural Foods (553-3377; 70 Makaena Pl; 9am-6pm Mon-Thu, to 4pm Fri, 10am-5pm Sun) Organic produce, a good selection of packaged and bulk health foods and excellent local fare. Its deli (meals $4 to $6, open 10am to 3pm weekdays) makes fresh vegetarian burritos, sandwiches, salads and smoothies.
The Saturday morning market (see opposite) is a good source for local produce and prepared foods. Bamboo Pantry (opposite) has specialty foods.
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DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT
Bring board games, books and a gift for gab as nighttime fun is mostly DIY on Moloka’i.
Paddler’s Inn (left) serves booze inside and out until 2am. On Friday nights there is often a live Hawaiian band; at other times satellite sports prevails.
Out at the Hotel Moloka’i, Hula Shores (left) has a simple bar and is popular for a sunset drink at least once. On many nights there is live music or, for those dreaming the impossible dream, karaoke. But the real draw are the local kapuna (elders) who gather at a long table to play Hawaiian music on ‘Aloha Fridays’ from 4pm to 6pm. It always draws a crowd and the performers range from those with some languid and traditional hula moves to jam sessions with a ukulele.
Most rentals have DVD players. Although you can rent DVDs from Mango Mart (553-8170; Ala Malama Ave; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, to 6pm Sun), you are better off bringing your own unless your tastes run towards flicks rarely mentioned on Oscar night.
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TOP PICKS – LOCAL TREATS
Fruit trees grow in profusion in the east end of Moloka’i; if you’re lucky you’ll have plenty to pick from your rental. Organic farms are sprouting as well and you’ll find their produce at the Saturday morning market (opposite) and at Outpost Natural Foods (above) in Kaunakakai. Other local foods to look for:
Moloka‘i Coffee Company coffee (Click here), grown and roasted on the island
Kumu Farms Macadamia Nut Pesto at Friendly Market (above), superb and bursting with basil goodness
lavosh from Kanemitsu Bakery (Click here) – the macadamia nut and taro varieties are crunchy and delicious
Molokai Roadside Marinade, sold at Friendly Market (above) – turns any steak into a succulent, tangy treat
Pacifica Hawai’i sea salt (Click here)
Purdy’s macadamia nuts (Click here)
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SHOPPING
Saturday morning market (Ala Malama Ave; 8am-2pm) This weekly market at the west end of Ala Malama Ave is the place to browse local crafts, try new fruits, stock up on organic produce and pick up some flowers. You’ll find much of Moloka’i here before noon.
Bamboo Pantry (553-3300; 107 Ala Malama Ave; 9:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, to 3:30pm Sat) Gourmet and fancy packaged foods share shelf space with various cookbooks, kitchen gadgets and housewares.
Moloka’i Artists’ & Crafters’ Guild (553-8520; 2nd fl, Moloka’i Center, 110 Ala Malama Ave; 9:30am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-2:30pm Sat) Run by local artists, this small shop is as packed with art as a Jackson Pollack painting is packed with brushstrokes. Works in all mediums are here and quality ranges from the earnest to the superb. The T-shirts with local sayings are the real sleepers in the souvenir department.
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GETTING THERE & AROUND
Kaunakakai is a walking town. Rawlin’s Chevron (553-3214; cnr Hwy 460 & Ala Malama Ave; 6:30am-8:30pm Mon-Sat, 7am-6pm Sun) offers credit card–operated pumps, making it the only round-the-clock gas station on the island.
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EAST MOLOKA’I
The oft-quoted road sign ‘Slow down, this is Moloka’i’ really applies as you head east.