Get in touch with nature at Molokai Island in Hawaii - photo courtesy of Christina via Flickr
You don’t hear about many people visiting Molokai Island in Hawaii, and that makes it ripe for a best-kept secret. People often rave about the pristine wilderness of Kauai, (which, to be fair, is stunning), but if you’re looking for a truly unspoiled wilderness wonderland and local Hawaiian experience, look no further than Molokai, Hawaii’s oft-overlooked island.
Molokai is often described as the Hawaii of the past. Home to beautiful landscapes and roads that are only accessible by mule rides or ATV romps, here the Hawaiians live in tight-knit local communities. Only 8000 permanent residents populate the island, and no skyscrapers or even stoplights line the skyline, though this is Hawaii’s fifth largest island. Hawaiian culture thrives and here you can, perhaps, get the furthest from the rat race and finally relax among virgin rainforests and the famous iron-rich red dirt of Hawaii.
Molokai also boasts the world’s highest sea cliffs and the longest contiguous fringing reef – a whole 28 miles of it. So outdoor activities are a main attraction, though it seems this small island is often overlooked. People love the 3-mile long white sand beaches of Papohaku Beach, while the Halawa Valley boasts towering waterfalls, and the Kalaupapa National Historical Park offers photogenic landscapes and a variety of hikes for a range of experience levels.
So all-in-all, if you’re looking for a sublime Hawaiian escape, consider Molokai. A mule ride to a backwater cathedral or an ATV ride through untouched white sand beaches makes for a unique travel experience.
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