Capturing the Moment

  The road winds down the edge of the cliff as you get closer to Halawa Valley. A waterfall can be seen at the far back of the valley, and rainforest jungle covers the rest. Today I explored the East End of Molokai Island, here in Hawaii. This part of the island offers a more serene and authentic Hawaiian experience, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of more tourist-heavy spots. The landscape is stunning, with lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and dramatic cliffs. We ventured into Halawa Valley, known for its cascading waterfalls and rich cultural history, and spent time learning about the true Hawaii from a family still living the traditional Hawaiian way. We hiked past ancient walls, toppled by tsunamis and reclaimed by the rainforest. We stopped to learn about a huge, seven tiered temple, dedicated to the agricultural god, Lono. And we swam under a sacred waterfall, enjoying having it all to ourselves. What ...

Ancient fish pond Looking down at Halawa Valley    Molokai is known as the Friendly Isle, and for its large population of native Hawaiians. It is a place of no chain restaurants, high rises, or stop lights. Ancient fish ponds dot the coastline, tucked in behind the largest barrier reef in Hawaii. If one follows the state highway until it dead ends at the Northeast corner of the island you will find a hidden world of ancient Hawaii hiding away from the hustle of the rest of the state. This hidden gem is called Halawa Valley. Uncle Polipo Greg blowing the Pu    Halawa Valley is blessed with copious rain, a protected bay, an idyllic stream, and up to nine waterfalls cascading down the back of the valley. The valley was once a bustling farming community, but this all changed when a tsunami washed 1.7 miles up the valley on April 1st, 1946. It is moving hearing the story of that fateful day from someone who was there, watching and listening to the destru...

View from above Halawa Valley, Molokai     Molokai is the least traveled to of the main Hawaiian Islands not including Ni'ihau which is private and forbidden, and Kaho'olawe which is also forbidden due to unexploded ordinances. There are no chain restaurants and no chain hotels on Molokai. In fact there is only one hotel at all now a days. It takes a certain kind of adventurous, off-the-beaten path traveler to make their own way over to Molokai. Usually it is to see the historic leper colony where citizens of the kingdom of Hawaii were sent to whittle away their days on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by crashing north shore surf and the other by 3,000ft sea cliffs. Molokai is also home to one of the largest sandy beaches in the state of Hawaii on its west end. However the real hidden gem lies in its people. Taro Patches   Molokai has been dubbed 'the friendly isle' by those who have spent time there. A high percentage of the 8,000 or so residents have...