Molokaʻi

Molokaʻi, also spelled Molokai, is the fifth most populated island in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. It sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, southeast of Oʻahu and north of Lānaʻi. The island is not very large—it measures about 38 by 10 miles—and it is the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

People on Molokaʻi have traditionally made a living from farming. The island is known for its cattle ranches, growing pineapple, sugarcane, and other small farms. Tourism exists, but it does not play a big role in the island’s economy. In the early 2000s, many tourism facilities closed after the main landowner stopped operating them.

One special place on Molokaʻi is the Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Long ago, this area was set aside for people who needed special care. Today, it is remembered as an important part of history. From Molokaʻi’s shores, you can sometimes see other islands like Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Maui in the distance.

Name

The island has many names used by local people. It is called Molokaʻi ʻĀina Momona, meaning "land of abundance," Molokaʻi Pule Oʻo, meaning "powerful prayer," and Molokaʻi Nui A Hina, referring to the goddess Hina.

People in Hawaii have used both Molokai (without an apostrophe) and Molokaʻi (with an apostrophe). The USGS and the Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names use the form with the apostrophe.

Geography

Molokaʻi formed from two old volcanoes called East Molokaʻi and West Molokaʻi. The tallest point is Kamakou on East Molokaʻi, reaching 4,970 feet. East Molokaʻi used to be part of a bigger mountain, but half of it fell away a very long time ago. Today, Molokaʻi has some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world and a very long reef along its south shore—almost 25 miles long.

Molokaʻi is part of the state of Hawaii and belongs mostly to Maui County, Hawaii, which also includes Maui, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe. There is one special area called the Kalaupapa Peninsula that is managed separately as part of Kalawao County. The biggest town is Kaunakakai, and the island has a small airport called Molokai Airport.

Ecology

Molokaʻi has two main areas. The western side is dry and has very few plants. Animals like deer and goats have eaten many plants there. This area has mostly kiawe trees that are not from the island.

The eastern side of the island is a high plateau with the Molokai Forest Reserve. It has wet forests that get a lot of rain each year. These forests have native ʻōhiʻa lehua trees and many special plants and animals. Some areas are protected to keep these plants and animals safe.

Below the higher areas, there are many plants that are not from the island, like strawberry guava and eucalyptus. Animals such as axis deer and feral pigs also live there. Near the top of Kamakou peak, there is a special bog called Pēpēʻōpae with unique plants.

Molokaʻi has many plants and animals that live only there. The island is also home to special insects, including a wingless fly.

History

People used to think Molokaʻi was first settled around the year 650 by indigenous peoples from the Marquesas Islands. But a study showed that people from the Society Islands arrived between 1025 and 1120. Later groups came from Tahiti and other Pacific islands.

Captain James Cook saw Molokaʻi in 1778, but the first European to visit was Captain George Dixon in 1786. In 1832, a Protestant mission was set up on the island. The first farmer to grow sugar and coffee commercially was Rudolph Wilhelm Meyer, who built the island’s first sugar mill in 1878. Ranching started in the 1800s when King Kamehameha V created a country estate there.

The island once had a place for people with a disease called leprosy. The government set up a settlement called Kalaupapa in 1866. Over time, many people were sent there and were not allowed to leave. Helpers came to support the community, including Father Damien and Mother Marianne. New treatments helped control the disease. In 1969, the laws forcing people to stay there ended, but some choose to live there still.

Economy

Molokaʻi has had trouble with big companies wanting to build resorts and change the island. The local community worked hard to stop these changes to keep their way of life. Because of this, Molokaʻi has fewer jobs and many people have less money than in other places. Today, many people on the island grow their own food and live simply.

Tourism on Molokaʻi is small. Only a few visitors come each year, and most stay in homes instead of hotels. The island is known for its natural beauty and traditions. People there have kept their culture strong, even as others tried to change it. Flights from nearby islands bring visitors, but a ferry service stopped running in 2016.

Infrastructure

The island of Molokaʻi has a hospital called Molokaʻi General Hospital that is open all the time. There is also a community health center, and people can be taken to hospitals on the nearby island of Oahu if they need more help.

All schools on Molokaʻi are part of the same school system run by the state of Hawaii. There are four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school called Molokaʻi High School, and a community college. There is also a public library in the town of Kaunakakai.

Molokaʻi has many beautiful parks and protected areas. Some of these parks include Palaʻau State Park, Kiowea Beach Park, and Papohaku Beach Park, which has a beach that is about 2 miles long. The area of Kalawao County is preserved as Kalaupapa National Historical Park, which can only be visited with a guide on a mule or by hiking.

Transportation

Highways

You can travel across the island using two main roads. Highway 460, called the Maunaloa Highway, runs from Maunaloa on the west side to Kaunakakai. Highway 450, known as the King Kamehameha V Highway, goes from Kaunakakai to Hālawa Beach Park. There is also Highway 470, which leads to the barrier mountains and the Kalaupapa peninsula. To reach Kalaupapa by land, you need to hike a trail. In 2018, mule rides on the trail stopped because the trail closed after a landslide. Today, most people get to Kalaupapa by boat.

Bus

A group called Maui Economic Opportunity runs buses for people to use on Molokaʻi.

Notable people

Molokaʻi has been home to many important people. Some of these include Mother Marianne Cope, a nun who became a saint, and Father Damien de Veuster, a Catholic priest who also became a saint. Other notable individuals are Joseph Dutton, who worked with Father Damien, and Peter Johnson Gulick, a Protestant missionary. The island has also seen politicians like Linda Lingle, who served as the 6th Governor of Hawaiʻi, and athletes such as Keith Luuloa, a professional baseball player for the Anaheim Angels.

Royalty

Molokaʻi has a rich history of royalty. Some of the important leaders from the island include Nuʻakea, a High Chiefess, and Hualani, another High Chiefess. Other leaders such as Keʻoloʻewa, Kapau-a-Nuʻakea, and Kanipahu were also high chiefs of the island.

Towns and villages

Molokaʻi has several small towns and villages. Some of the main places include Hoʻolehua, Kalaupapa, Kalawao, Kaunakakai, Kualapuʻu, Maunaloa, ʻUalapuʻe, and Hālawa. These villages are where the people who live on the island stay.