Paradise!
Wow! This has been one our best vacations ever! We love this laid back little island! The house has been the centerpiece of our stay – the view never gets old and we’ve begun to spot whales from the lanai. Mary arrived Monday and brought fantastic weather with her – no more rain or clouds!
Monday morning, John and I chartered a fishing boat to go whale watching – we even caught a small tuna! (OK, truth be told, we were supposed to be fishing, but nothing was biting! So we just say we went whale watching!
Whale Tail!
Afterward we picked up Mary at the airport . For dinner, John grilled us some great grass fed beef that we bought at the co-op.
Mary enjoying the lanai
Tuesday we drove up the coast about 10 miles past our place to the Hawala Valley where we had a picnic. The views were incredible!
Turtle Island on the way to Hawala Valley
Roadside Art
The highlight of the trip was Wednesday when we took a tiny plane over the sea cliffs to the peninsula of Kalaupapa, the former leper colony. It was nothing short of breathtaking. We were on a guided tour (the only way you’re allowed there) and it was fascinating to think about how horrible it would have been to be ripped away from your family and be exiled there. I had just read a book about it before we went, which really added to my enjoyment of being there.
Flying to Kalaupapa, sitting behind the pilot!
Peace
Some folks ride mules down the sea cliff!
What a view!
Lighthouse
This view!
One of many graveyards
Father Damien’s grave
Thursday I took Mary to the overlook where you can see Kalaupapa from Molokai “topside.” John and I had gone earlier and loved it. From there we also took a short walk to aptly named Phallic Rock. We saw these beautiful chickens there. We also stopped by the coffee house where a couple of guys were playing music on the porch.
Roy Horner on ukulele
Showy rooster, a spot of color in the forest
Friday we went into town for music and sunset at Molokai Hotel, very laid back. Afterward we had pizza in town, then sat in the alley behind the bakery to wait for the hot bread to be ready – yep, it’s a thing. And totally worth it! Pro tip: get the taro glazed donuts. So good your eyes will cross.
The Friday night band of ukuleles
Hot bread – come and get it!
And today, we hit the farmers market in town, then we drove all the way over to the other side of the island to see what’s over there. (Answer: not much except a gorgeous beach.) It’s so weird…the town of Moanaloa over there is literally a ghost town.
We met the nicest guy on the trip to Kalaupapa! His name is Tom, and, with his trip to Kalaupapa, has visited every single county in the United States!
Tom’s County Project
Ah, Molokai! How we love you!