Perfect Days With Kids

Maui

South Shore	Lahaina & Kn'anapali	Hanakao'o Beach to Kahehili	Kipahula to Kaupo
North Shore & Road to Hana	Northwest Coast Adventures	Molokai	Lanai

Moloka'i

In the minds of most visitors to Hawaii, Moloka’i stands out because the island holds the isolated peninsula called Kalaupapa, notorious site of the state’s leper colony starting in the 1800s and home of the famous Belgian priest, Father Damien, who tended to the lepers for the last 16 years of his life.

Now a national park, the 2-mile hike or mule-ride down a 1,700’ cliffside trail to Kalaupapa and a tour of the beautiful, totally isolated peninsula, will be an unforgettable journey for you and your children. Make arrangements to fly from Kalaupapa’s tiny airport to Ho’olehua Airport and the experience will be even more memorable seeing the peninsula and north shore of Moloka’i from the air.

A trip to Kalaupapa is completely unique but there are other spectacular sights and experiences for you and your family on Moloka’i that deserve at least several days in your travel plans. Excursions by boat or guided kayak (in summer) to Molokai’s north shore east of Kalaupapa past sheer cliffs, waterfalls and Ha’upu Bay, accessible only from the water, is another such adventure experience. A hike with the Nature Conservancy (537-4508) through the Moloka’i Forest Reserve to the boardwalk Pepeopae Trail over a fascinating bog is one of the most fascinating nature excursions in Hawaii.

Drive or take a tour out to the East End to see Halawa Valley. Stop at the white-sands of Murphy Beach Park for swimming and snorkeling (out at the reef) or at Sandy Beach for a swim, and especially a picnic or swimming and bodysurfing close to shore at the beautiful (very cool!) black sands of Halawa Beach.

Depending on your children’s age and experience as hikers, consider hiking up Halawa Valley to Moa’ula Falls. Stay with the kids at Pu’u-O-Hoku Ranch, a great place for guided trail rides through the ranch and up into the mountains, near enough to Halawa Valley for a hiking daytrip or an unhurried visit to Halawa Beach.

Moloka’i has a couple of hotels but the island also provides some of the best vacation rental choices for families with children that you’ll find in Hawaii. If you stay at a vacation rental, before leaving the main town of Kaunakakai shop for groceries including bread and bakery goods from Kanemitsu’s Bakery. As an alternative, on the way out Kamehameha Hwy. to Halawa Bay stop at the Neighborhood Store ‘NCounter to pick up a take-out picnic lunch and supplies to bring to your vacation rental.

Meals that the kids will enjoy won’t be any problem on Moloka’i except perhaps on the West End. From floats, shakes and honey dipped fried chicken and other greasy spoon delights at the Moloka’i Drive-in to excellent pizzas, sandwiches and specials at the Moloka’i Pizza Café and very tasty and healthy meals at the Sundown Deli, Kaunakakai has plenty of places for plate lunch-type meals. The Hotel Moloka’i can take care of a couple of family dinners.

Rent a 4WD and a rack with mountain bikes (although you can rent bikes at Moloka’i Ranch in Maunaloa) to drive out to the West End of Moloka’i. On the way to the West End, stop at the restored R.W. Meyer Sugar Mill and your kids can see how such a mill actually worked over 100 years ago. Visit Purdy’s Macadamia Nut Farm to find out how these nuts are grown, harvested and processed and, of course, eaten. For family fun, take a guided bicycle tour through the nearby 500 acre-Coffees of Hawaii plantation and learn all about coffee growing and processing.

If you’re a camping family, 3-mile long Papohaku Beach Park on the west coast of Moloka’i is one of the best places in Hawaii to camp. Otherwise there are several excellent vacation rental choices in the vicinity and you can shop for essentials at the grocery store in Maunaloa. Your kids will find plenty of waves at Papohaku for bodysurfing and boogie boarding. All around Papohaku are fun and safe roads and trails for bicycling.

If you want to rough it with your family in comparative luxury, rent a “tentalow” from the Moloka’i Lodge on the Southwest coast at Kaupoa Beach. Kaupoa Beach is just a short 4WD drive or mountain bike ride from more beautiful, secluded beaches to the south. To the north, take your kids snorkeling at Kapukahehu Beach where surely none of their friends (or yours) have ever been to or even seen on a map.

Around the Moloka’i Lodge, in addition to more outdoor activities the family can go to the movie theater in town and actually see first-run features. Arrange with the Outfitter’s Center at Moloka’i Ranch to guide you and the kids in ocean kayaks to Kawaikiunui, Ilio Point and Pohaku Moliili for snorkeling at “secret” coastal spots. If you did not bring mountain bikes with you, rent them from Outfitter’s Center to explore roads to the west and southwest of Maunaloa through the ranch and along the coastline.

If you enjoy horseback riding, Moloka’i Ranch offers plenty. The kids can learn how to be a Paniolo (cowboy) from the ranch’s working cowboys. Moloka’i Ranch is more than a modern dude ranch. It has been a working cattle ranch for more than a hundred years and offers a unique opportunity for your kids to get to know about Paniolo heritage and the workings of a real cattle ranch. What a family vacation!