Kaunakakai Molokai
As Molokai's largest town and island capital, Kaunakakai is the main commerce center of the island. Restaurants and shops are definitely "mom and pop" and often close early. The size of the town - at only two to three blocks down Main Street - is the perfect metaphor for the culture of the island itself - remote, quiet, but full of surprises.
Visitors to Kaunakakai can see the famous Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove. The grove of beautiful coconut palms was planted by order of King Kamehameha V in the 1860's. Only a few hundred of the original 1,000 trees still stand today in this area named for seven sacred ponds located at the site. Each tree was planted to commemorate a warrior in Kamehameha's army and to shade the mystic ponds. View the grove from Kiowea Beach Park - we recommend sunset - for a spectacular view. The danger of falling coconuts has prompted government officials to prevent visitors from walking directly through the grove.
Across the main highway is the location of the island's main harbor and Kaunakakai Wharf. Because of shallow mud plains under the ocean in this region, most of the ferries and barges to Molokai land about ½ mile off shore. Tourists driving to the end of Kaunakakai Wharf will not only have a spectacular view of the city of Kaunakakai, but also of neighboring islands Maui, Kahoolawe and Kauai across the Kalohi Channel.
Hawaii Vacations
Molokai Hawaii
Kaunakakai Molokai
