Molokai accommodation from AU$262

At its widest point, Molokai is only 61 km long and 16 km across. But for such a small island, it has so many natural attractions to keep you occupied. It’s believed to be the birthplace of that famous Hawaiian dance ‘the hula’, and legend tells of a hula goddess named Laka. Molokai has stone fishponds from 700-800 years ago, and you can still catch sight of a lot of these wonders with a walk along the southern coast.

Kaluapapa, a small community on Molokai, is a former leper colony where Father Damien moved to in 1873 to care for sufferers of the disease. Mandatory isolation ended in 1969, but some survivors chose to remain in Kaluapapa.

Things to do

Molokai may be secluded, and a little hard to get to, but it’s worth it to escape the crowds. The eastern sea cliffs are staggering to behold, reaching up to 1,700 feet. You can gaze upon their grandeur with a helicopter ride from Maui, or charter a boat tour with fishing. To see those Pacific Ocean views from up above, hike the cliffs or take a guided mule tour that leads to Kaluapapa, which is now safe to visit and a national historical park. Visit Father Damien’s grave and learn all about the colony’s past as you take in the sights of sea cliffs, waterfalls and forest.

Halawa Valley is in Molokai’s East End, and you can get there by guided tour only. You’ll find two beautiful waterfalls: Moa’ula Falls and Hipuapua Falls, as well as mountains, valleys and a beach park with palm trees, a lagoon and two coves.

The Kamakou Preserve is close to 1,122-hectares of rainforest close to the summit of Kamakou, Molokai’s highest mountain. Take the five-kilometre round trip and spend time among more than 250 species of rare Hawaiian plants.

And of course, Molokai has no shortage of beaches, like Papohaku Beach, which is also called ‘Three Mile Beach’ for having exactly that amount of soft white sand. Molokai’s south shore is home to a mighty 45 km barrier reef, and you can see its marine life and coral up close with some snorkelling or a scuba dive.

Getting here

Book one of our cheap flights to Honolulu to say ‘aloha!’ to Hawaii. There are no direct flights to Molokai, so you’ll have to get a flight from Honolulu or hop on a ferry from Maui. There’s no public transport on Molokai, but luckily there are a couple of hire car services so you can see as much of the island as possible during your stay. Book your Molokai accommodation with us for high cliffs, not high costs.