Each of the Hawaiian Islands is very different. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. We will suggest that Molokai can become a favorite of yours like it has become for us but don’t expect this to be the “Disneyland of Hawaii” with the non-stop diversions and tour operators you will find elsewhere.

On Molokai, you won’t need a restaurant reservation or have trouble finding a place to park or get stuck in a traffic jam.

You will find beaches, scenery, golf, snorkeling, fishing, diving, kayaking, and hiking that are unsurpassed anywhere in Hawaii. You will also be able to enjoy pupus (snacks) at a waterside table while you watch the sun set.

What is amazing is you get all the good things Hawaii has to offer without all the modern inconveniences for about a third of the cost of a vacation on Maui or the other “developed” islands!

You will have no trouble keeping busy—if that is what you want to do. Here are some suggestions for things to do on Molokai related to our specific location at Wavecrest resort on the East End of the island:

1. The one thing not to be missed is the “friends” entertaining at Coffees of Hawaii in Kualapu’u from 3-5 on Sunday. It is a local group playing Hawaiian music and doing hula. It is free and not to be missed! You will never see this on Maui!
2. Drive out to the Halawa Valley and beach. It takes about 30 minutes from the Wavecrest Resort. The far end of the road becomes one lane but don’t let that keep you from seeing the incredible valley, it’s waterfalls, and the magnificent beach. At the end of the blacktop, you can enter the beach area on the very short dirt road but be careful of its condition. We suggest taking a picnic lunch—perhaps a terrific plate lunch or “Mahi burger” “to go” from the general store at Mile Marker 16.
3. Hike the Halawa valley to the falls. You will need a guide and the Molokai Fish and Dive shop can arrange it. We also recommend Kalani Pruett who runs Molokai Flowers. He is usually at the Saturday market downtown. He leads a 90-minute walk up to the falls on a fairly level trail. If you can climb over a few downed trees and maintain a good pace you will enjoy it. It is followed by a tour of his gardens and then he makes “smoothies” from the fruit he picks.  You can reach him at: kuleanaworkcenter@yahoo.com or 808-336-1149.  Call early in your stay and be prepared to leave a message since he can’t get cell or landline service until he comes to town.  He will call you back. 
4. Snorkel at “Mile Marker 20 Beach”—7 miles east of the Wavecrest. This is the best snorkeling and one of the prettiest beaches in all of Hawaii. Be sure to go when the tide is relatively high—Molokai Fish and Dive (where you can sign up for most activities) rents gear and has tide tables.
5. Play a round of golf at the Ironwood Hills golf course—it will cost you about $50 (Kamaina even better) for nine holes for two with a cart and club rentals—less with a pull cart (they will even sell you balls for 25 cents apiece). It is rough around the edges but it’s Hawaii and you can’t beat the views. It is the former Dole Plantation executive course built in the late 1920s and presents a style of course you won’t often play—it will humble you! The after 3 pm special for all of the above is about $35 for two people.
6. Visit Kalaupapa—the “Leper Colony.” The “Mule Ride” down is famous. There is also an airplane ride down with a tour and you can hike down yourself but be sure to arrange a tour with the colony before hand as access is restricted. You can also see the colony from the lookout at the top of the road—see car guide
7. On Friday night from 4 to 6 pm the “aunties” perform at Hula Shores in the Hotel Molokai (Mile Marker 2). Picture a dozen elderly “locals” gathered around with ukuleles and other assorted instruments singing the old songs. If you are here on a Friday this is a must.
8. Spend a day at some fantastic beaches. The big waves and the long sand beaches on the island will be found at the beaches on the western side—but the surf can be very dangerous, if not amazing to watch, particularly in the winter. If the Honolulu forecast is for surf on the west end of the islands to be two feet or less it is probable that the surf out on the west end is manageable—but look for the locals to go in first! These beaches are often better for snorkeling and swimming in the summer depending upon the ocean swell. “Dixie Maru Beach” is a favorite of ours and is generally sheltered from the wind and swells even in winter. Go past the Kulakoi resort and Papohakuo Beach on the coast road to the dead end—enter via the public access road. It is named after a Japanese fishing vessel that sunk and can be seen while snorkeling out in the center of the inlet. “Make’ (Dead) Horse Beach” offers the best of Hawaii beach scenery. This is where the final scene for Pirates of the Caribbean III was filmed in January 2007. Drive to the entrance of the Paniolo Hale condos. Instead of turning left into their complex, turn right onto the little dirt road and follow it 100 yards to an open area. Park there and walk across the former 12^th fairway of the Kaluakoi golf course and down the hill. You will come to the first impressive beach. There are two even more impressive beaches across the rocks to the right. Take your tennis shoes along to cross the rocks between beaches. The surf can be really impressive—and dangerous—here particularly in the winter. There are no lifeguards on any of these beaches and the surf can be very dangerous— you have to use your own judgment!
9. Be sure to barbeque at least one evening. A bi-weekly barge comes in on Monday and Thursday mornings and the best selection of food is in the local markets just after that. That is particularly true of the local “poke” delicacy and sashimi grade tuna. We think the Friendly Market is the best grocery store. Be sure to make a stop at Kumu Farms (T-F 9-4) where you will find farm fresh organic fruits and vegetables harvested on site as well as local grass fed beef (we recommend the filet). It is across the main road from the airport runway—look for the sign on the side road. Kualapu’u Market also has a good selection of steaks.
10. Molokai Fish and Dive in Kaunakakai (808-553-5926) and the activities desk at Hotel Molokai (808-553-4477) can help you with hiking, diving, horseback riding, fishing kayaking, and all the other options. We suggest stopping in at Molokai Fish and Dive (downtown) early in your stay to take a look at the options. Kayaking inside the 20-mile reef (you see part of it a half mile out from the Wavecrest) is particularly popular. They also have two boats for dive, snorkel, and whale watch trips.
11. Take full advantage of the Wavecrest pool, cabana, and lawn chairs—particularly for whale watching in the winter. The Wavecrest side of the island is more sheltered than the western beaches and condos where the wind blows non-stop all winter.
12. Don’t miss the winter sunset on the western side of the Wavecrest.
13. If you are looking to get off the island for a day, you can take the Lahaina Ferry over to Maui for $80 roundtrip. They can help you with a rental car if you want to get outside of Lahaina Town—the Volcano National Park is about 90 minutes away. There are dozens of restaurants and shops within an easy walk of the ferry dock on the waterfront.
14. You can also fly to Honolulu or Maui. Check the Island Air and Mokulele Airlines websites for their current bargain rates. This is the way the locals go to Honolulu. It is a short cab ride to Pearl Harbor and Waikiki is about 30 minutes from the airport.

Always call restaurants and other vendors first to be sure there haven’t been any changes since the last time this information was updated. Like anyplace else, Molokai is always in a state of change.

A few other tips:

1. The General Store, just three miles away at Mile Marker 16, has a small but good selection of groceries, produce, videos, and liquor. It also has a very good breakfast and lunch counter serving sandwiches and great plate lunches.
2. Hotel Molokai is in a great waterside setting and old-fashioned “Tiki Bar.” The food is not as good as the view. The simpler the item you order the happier you will be. If you keep it simple, you will have a good experience—we like the Wonton Min (Saimin) and the Chinese Chicken Salad. They generally have good local entertainment every night. Don’t miss the “Na Kapuna” (the local elders) singing on Friday evenings from 4-6.
3. The Coffee Plantation (Coffees of Hawaii) in Kualapu’u has a nice sandwich shop and gift shop. Think of it as the local “Starbuck’s.
4. Kualapu’u Cookhouse is an interesting place to go for an OK lunch or their very good dinners—very rustic and very local. They do not serve alcohol but people often bring their own bottle of wine or beer. People often line up starting at 4:30 for the Thursday prime rib special. They do not take credit cards. This one is for the adventurous. Their “pepper crusted Ahi” as well as their “ribs in guava sauce” are very good.
5. Paddler’s has opened and reopened a number of times in recent years and has a conventional local menu. It has the atmosphere of the Cookhouse without the good food.
6. Molokai Burger is a good “fast food” place. It is at the main intersection in Kaunakakai. They have expanded their menu to include plate lunches. It is a good lunch choice with lots of photos on the walls featuring Molokai history and current landmarks.
7. Molokai Pizza Cafe (behind Molokai Burger) makes the best pizza on Molokai—and it makes the only pizza on Molokai. The pizza is good. Eat in or the “ambiance” is better taking it back to the condo (808.553.3288). They have a Mexican night on Wednesday that is surprisingly good (try the burritos).
8. Molokai Wines and Spirits on main street is a really good place to find wine. We patronize them because we want to support the choices they offer on the island. We appreciate their posting Wine Spectator ratings for many of their offerings. They have many bottles close to $10 with ratings in the high 80s. They also offer gourmet cheeses and even ice cream.
9. There is a craft festival and sort of Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 am to noon across from the Library in town. We recommend it.
10. The Big Wind Kite Factory (and gift shop) is in Manauloa on the west end. It has been a “landmark” for over twenty years for its eclectic gift shop offerings from around the world. They just opened a branch at Coffee’s of Hawaii.
11. Denise’s Gift Shop is at the intersection where you make the left turn to the Cookhouse and Coffee Plantation in Kualapu’u and is full of interesting things. Look for the strip mall—instead of turning left to Kualapu’u look for the driveway to the right. There are a couple of other interesting shops with her.
12. There is a county library in Kaunakakai with computers and Internet access and the town has free “WiFi” in the vicinity of the health foods store nearby. They also have the daily newspapers for those of us that still like to read the real thing.
13. There is an interesting Sugar Cane Mill Museum on the road that goes up to the Kalapapa lookout (just past Ironwood golf course). It is a good “rainy day” thing to do.
14. Your “Molokai Drive Guide,” that all the car rental places give you, will have all the spots we have mentioned on their map and will have most of the phone numbers you will need.