Molokai Day Trip

The islands of Hawaii are unique in their own way. Therefore, basing yourself in one place and then exploring hither and yon each day is the key to your happy Hawaiian vacation. What follows is a sampling of the many and varied day trips available on each island. While some of these trips are special to the particular island, others can be experience anywhere if you look hard enough.

Ride a mule
There was a time when the tiny settlement of Kalawao, on the island’s north shore, was locked away from the world. Located on the Kalaupapa Peninsula, Kalawao was a place where people came to die, banned by kingdom law to this stunningly beautiful place because they had been diagnosed with leprosy. Its fortress-like location made it a natural prison for its occupants. Today’s visitor is more likely to arrive on the back of a mule. The trip begins in Pala’au State Park. The trek follows the Kalaupapa Trail, which descends approximately 1,700 feet to the settlement below. Three miles and 26 switchbacks later, riders reach their destination. It is a most memorable trip.