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    Kalaupapa Lookout

    4.7 (10 reviews)

    Kalaupapa Lookout Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Kalaupapa Lookout

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    Beautiful but where is the MISSING WOMAN who just disappeared here? I think that is creepy and I wonder what the police are doing?

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    Review Highlights - Kalaupapa Lookout

    This is probably one of the must-see sights on Molokai, unless of course you are actually going to the Kalaupapa peninsula.

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    Kalaupapa National Historical Park - One of the many beautiful churches in Kalaupapa!

    Kalaupapa National Historical Park

    4.6(20 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Closing the trail to mule and human traffic has made Kalaupapa a site only accessible to the…read morewealthy. Folks, apparently the only way to access Kalaupapa now is via Damien Tours, costing $645 per person. $1290 for me and my wife to visit. Why only one (commercial) option? You have made this a National Park only available to the wealthy and for some reason exclusively via Damien Tour Company. Please explain why. Shame on you for denying this wonderful (taxpayer supported) historic site to everyone else!

    Such a beautiful place and I highly encourage everyone to visit if youre allowed to! Flying…read moredirectly into Kalaupapa is unlikely so riding down from Kaunakakai is your better option. The whole island is full of breath-taking views and picturesque moments, but the trail to Kalaupapa will show you mauka to makai (mountain to ocean). Kalaupapa itself is an incredibly sacred place. You can feel the land when you arrive. The history itself is long and there are only a handful of its original occupants still living here so stop by and say hello! Residents and park workers (who maintain the history) are all friendly! Small souvenir shop, goods shop, but mostly everything you need should be brought with you. Accomodities are scarce but thats the appeal, to spend time in mostly untouched lands and waters. The stars shine bright as the skies are free from city lights and the water is crystal clear, saw monk seals on the shore sleeping. Its also quiet so the group you go with should be a good one -- Lifelong friendships could be formed out there. The church is beautiful and the pier is fun to jump off of. Again, its very humbling to come here and immerse yourself. Its a break from the civilization of the other outer islands. I had a wonderful time here and the memories made there are precious and worth more than most things. Spent 10 days here on a mission trip so I got a chance to know all the locals, play volleyball in their main park area, and attend church in the chapel. Book a trip down there if you can!

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    Kalaupapa National Historical Park
    Kalaupapa National Historical Park
    Kalaupapa National Historical Park

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    Phallic Rock

    Phallic Rock

    4.8(9 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Hey, who wants to be naughty and look at a Phallic?…read more If you don't know what a phallic is...........here is Google's interpretation - "Phallic" - relating to, or resembling a phallus, or erect penis. While visiting the Kalaupapa Overlook, there was a sign featuring another tourist attraction called the "Phallic Rock". Geez, I'm not one to rave about looking at a penis, but since I was here at the park already............I figured I mine as well make the trek to see it just for the adventure. The hike up the hill to the Phallic Rock will take you about 5 to 10 minutes, the trail way for this hike is not paved, so make sure you wear the proper shoes to make the hike up to see this rock. Be careful when walking along the pathway, as I noticed a lot of mossy rocks which can make pathway very slippery if the trail is wet, and to top it off, since the trail is in a Forrest area, there were also a lot of loose tree needles on the pathway, making the pathway hike for some unsure footing. Upon reaching the Phallic Rock, upon looking at it..........it didn't resemble a penis to me...........I would say it resembled more of a Honu (Turtle). There was a sign by the rock (see pic), as there is a story behind this legend. Worth the trip to see it? Perhaps, but I would say the real attraction was the Kalaupapa Overlook...........I wouldn't make a special trip just to see the Phallic Rock.

    This place will always be close to my heart. It is impossible to write anything negative here when…read moreyou find yourself on one of the easiest hikes into a beautiful "jungle" of Hawaiian scenery leading to a monumental landmark before a gorgeous outlook! This is an established State Park, hiking trails & picnic area. There are public restrooms next to the parking lot & two trails to choose between. My Dad's favorite place was Phallic Rock. We vacationed to Molokai yearly growing up, always visiting this location. To honor his wishes, we made the trip this time to take him back to his favorite place. You don't have to pay to park or enjoy. There were only one or two others we encountered. An easy hike, about 1/4 mile to the infamous rock. Well maintained trail, just watch out for tree roots! I did it in flimsy flip-flops. The overlook & scenic areas are gorgeous. You get a view of the end of Molokai as well as the leper colony. There are some historic signs along the way that detail. But the entire trek is SO peaceful & beautiful. I could have spent the entire day there soaking in the serene beauty- almost "off the grid". This will forever be a favorite place- I do intend on keeping the tradition & coming back annually. Especially since part of our family will be there, eternally. Much appreciation to Hawaii's parks & recreation department for keeping this historic landmark there for all to enjoy over the years. It holds a special place, and meeting up with a local on our hike back to the parking lot offered an abundance more of history! I would highly recommend taking the time to visit this park & explore the trails. But, be respectful & keep it clean & serene! It's also a very cool story (displayed on signage) of how this place came to be with it's name. And, RIP to my dear Dad- forever 'dust in the wind' at this beloved & fun location.

    Photos
    Phallic Rock - Trail to the phallic rock.

    Trail to the phallic rock.

    Phallic Rock
    Phallic Rock

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    Kalaupapa Overlook - The parking lot.

    Kalaupapa Overlook

    4.8(6 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    If you ever thought about visiting the Kalaupapa Colony - which is now a part of the Kaulapapa…read moreNational Historical Park Service, one must make reservations, and you can get down there via a mule, or airplane. See this link for information about visiting this Historical Colony/Park - https://www.nps.gov/kala/index.htm My coworker told me about this place called - "Kalaupapa Overlook", as it was the next best thing to see, if you can't actually make it down to the Kalaupapa Colony. A short drive from Kaunakakai...........I would say it about a 7 to 8 mile drive from Kaunakakai town. As you get to the lookout, there is a paved parking lot where you can park your car for free. Upon exiting your rental car, please look for a sign in the parking lot that will direct you to see either the Phallic Rock, or the Kalaupapa Overlook. The very short hike down to the Kalaupapa Overlook is along a paved pathway, so walking down to the lookout is very safe, and easy to do. From the parking lot, to the Kalaupapa lookout area is probably a 1 to 2 minute walk..........an easy walk, not strenuous at all. When you get to the Kalaupapa Overlook, you will be treated to a breathtaking view of the Kalaupapa Colony! By the lookout area, you will see some signs (bummers that the signs were pretty worn tho) that will explain a little history about the Kalaupapa Colony. Worth the trip to get out here to see it! So beautifu!!!

    Amazing view and nice trees but its a little creepy. Where is the MISSING WOMAN who "vanished" here…read moreafter "hitting" a worker with her car? creepy. sounds like a local issue that got swept under the rug.... .... ... ... I also didn't see any leopards with my binoculars. They said there are leopards here...

    Photos
    Kalaupapa Overlook - Signs at the overlook.

    Signs at the overlook.

    Kalaupapa Overlook
    Kalaupapa Overlook - Zoomed in on the settlement.

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    Zoomed in on the settlement.

    Molokai Outdoor Activities - Molokai Outdoors offices and store inside Hotel Molokai's lobby.

    Molokai Outdoor Activities

    4.3(10 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    Molokai Outdoors is located inside the lobby area of Hotel Molokai, so it's very convenient if you…read morehappen to be staying at any of the hotel's rooms. They offer various tours, including Molokai Forest Reserve and Anupuka Dune & Mokio Preserve. Now keep in mind that because of weather and seasons, tours may be affected and there is also a minimum number of participants required for the tour to run. I went to Molokai in February 2024 and I was looking to do both of the aforementioned tours, though I could not do the Molokai Forest Reserve that day because of bad weather and muddy conditions and also because I was the only one signed up that day, so thankfully I opted for the refund in those circumstances. However, I was able to go on the Anupuka Dune & Mokio Preserve tour the following day because weather conditions were more favorable, though our tour guide Ally came across some really muddy conditions at times when driving the 4x4 van to and from the preserve in West Molokai. Overall, Ally did such a wonderful and fine job of navigating our group and explaining the history behind the preserve as well as allowing us to get off and explore the region and capture lots of photos and memories. We even stopped at Pono O Hale Beach and Halena Beach towards the end of the day to explore and/or relax for an hour! Anyways, I hope to be back soon to do the Molokai Forest Reserve tour with this organization (I'm told the summer months tend to be better times to do this).

    Long overdue review. Very highly recommend. Gordon, Clare and Alex - thank you so much for taking…read morecare of us! Wonderful family-owned business. They offer everything from rental vehicles to rental equipment and tours. Alex was the best guide. Mahalo from John and Sandy in San Diego!

    Photos
    Molokai Outdoor Activities - Aqua Sunshirt Size Medium!

    Aqua Sunshirt Size Medium!

    Molokai Outdoor Activities - Kalaupapa Peninsula - the eternal quarantine

    Kalaupapa Peninsula - the eternal quarantine

    Molokai Outdoor Activities - Phallic rock

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    Phallic rock

    US Post Office - Gary is the best!

    US Post Office

    4.4(14 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    This was one of the spots recommended when visiting Molokai. I thought the pos a nut activity was…read moresilly but I figured why not. EXPERIENCE: Parking: You can pull over but there is plaza parking. Feels: It was near the corner of the intersection. Depending on the season or time of day it can have a flow of people. The spot itself is nothing too special. Straight business so no room to hang out. The signs were a bit worn down and the Post-A-Nut items weren't as promotable. However, they do provide sharpies at the post office and you can work on them in your car or sit on the grass. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Fantastic! Friendly people and very knowledgeable. OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Fantastic! Friendly and patient employees. A good activity and solid service. I appreciate the story behind Post-A-Nut and I wish Gary and the rest of the team the best. Tips: - DUE TO COVID BRING YOUR OWN COCONUT. I got a fallen one from Coconut Grove. - When drawing on the coconut - save 1/3 for drawing, 1/3 for your address, and 1/3 for stamps. - https://postanut.com/

    Pretty cool gem in Moloka'i and this is where the Post-A-Nut is located. The coconuts are free to…read morecolor decorate your own and have it shipped virtually anywhere (though the postage is super expensive in my opinion). I think the way it works is that on one side you put your shipping address and on the other side you put your paintings and drawings. Pretty cool concept, though!

    Photos
    US Post Office - Stamped and ready to mail!

    Stamped and ready to mail!

    US Post Office
    US Post Office - Sample coconut art

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    Sample coconut art

    Father Damien Tours - Inside the church

    Father Damien Tours

    3.4(15 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Going to Kalaupapa is a five-star experience almost by definition, and so I recommend doing it even…read morethough our tour experience was quite unimpressive. We went down on foot and met the tour, and the hike was part of what made it special. If you are reasonably fit I highly recommend doing it that way. Our guide was one odd duck. I was never really certain he really knew the history or understood Hansen's disease, but he sure liked to talk about himself a LOT. I mean really a lot. Like, I don't care that he has "DNA memories" that he's actually from ancient Israel. And had a bit of the class clown style of wanting to be humorous and entertaining rather than letting the place speak for itself. What about explaining what happened in 1866, 1969, and the opening of the park in the 80s? What about some more about Father Damien and Mother Marianne? Twice he made jokes about how after the advent of sulfa drug arrested the disease, all the residents wanted to do was party. Maybe true maybe not, but there are more substantive things to talk about. I suspect that most tourists spend the time and money for Kalaupapa for religious, spiritual, or historic reasons. We don't need a "show." So, yeah, I loved Kalaupapa but the $ to listen to that guy for three hours left me feeling a bit resentful.

    Going to Kalaupapa was a once in a lifetime experience. Not everyone can go to Kalaupapa. Pretty…read moremuch the only way to go there is getting a sponsor who lives in Kalaupapa or you can book a Father Damien Tour. Once you book your tour or get someone to sponsor you, you can either walk/mule ride down the cliff (which takes about 1 hour down and 2 hours upward) or you can fly in by plane. We booked our flights online with http://www.molokai-outdoors.com/ Originally, they had no tours for the day we wanted to book for due to not having a driver but a few weeks prior, we checked the website again, and there was a tour for the day we wanted so we booked it. We flew in with a personal plane. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the person who will be conducting the tour. He took us on a old school bus. We headed into Kalaupapa and picked up the people who hiked down for the tour. The tour itself was wonderful. We saw many places and heard a lot of information about Kalaupapa and the story of Father Damien. Although Kalaupapa is small, the tour takes a total of 4 hours because there is a lot of stops and story telling. Bring water and a lunch with you. There is a small store that you will be stopping towards the beginning but that's about it. Bring a camera too to take pictures. They say don't take pictures of the patients at Kalaupapa but we didn't see too many anyways. We took pictures of scenery only.

    Photos
    Father Damien Tours
    Father Damien Tours - Awesome and comfortable bus!

    Awesome and comfortable bus!

    Father Damien Tours - The view is worth the tour!

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    The view is worth the tour!

    Ke Nani Kai - Small beach huts on Kepuhi Beach

    Ke Nani Kai

    5.0(4 reviews)
    15.4 mi

    First time to Molokai, honestly didn't know what to expect. Quiet, local and laid backstarts to…read moredescribe the Island. It's Hawaii 50 years ago. Spent copious amount of time looking up where to buy food and things to do. Sadly, talking to some of the locals and further reading some of these things weren't available. Part of the reason to go to Molokai was to visit the leper colony, Kalaupapa but it was still not open to tourists. We did go to the lookout for a view. Absolutely stunning.... Got sidetracked back to the condo. It was very affordable at $124/night, staying 4 nights. It was also clean and well supplied for beach items, bedding and towels. The kitchen was a bit short on supplies but we made it work. The condo was very quiet, which was incredible, listening to the wings, which never seemed to let up. Each morning we were greeted by the rooster walking around, welcoming the first rays of light. Along with the rosters, there were hens, turkeys, peacocks and a few cats that stopped by during the week. Grocery shopping was done in Kaunakakai, 20 miles away at Friendly Market or Misaki's. Prices were expensive but that was to be expected. We also got some local food from people selling on the street. The laulau was amazing. The bread from Kanemitsu's Bakery was amazing and affordable. The beach at the resort wasn't bad, but the surf was very rough, crashing right at the beach making our tough to get in and out. The beach itself was nice, quiet with very few people. Some nice trails to walk, including the now defunct and overgrown golf course, carts paths are still intact. This isn't glitzy and glamorous. No 5 star hotels or restaurants to eat at. Still sold good local island food can be found at the poke trucks in town and at Mana'e Goods & Grindz! Can never go warring with a moco! It was my speed, enjoying every moment of it, more than Maui, five days later. No commercialization and very few tourists. Rental car was cheap, and the flight runs trip on Mokulele was fun. You want retro Hawaii, this is it! Great time, friendly people. This is Hawaii!

    Gorgeous well maintained facility with friendly staff. The workers kept a distance (perhaps because…read moreof covid) but we're very courteous when we did interact. They did an excellent job of keeping the place clean! The grounds were well landscaped with large grassy areas and lots of native flowering plants. We also enjoyed seeing the wild turkeys, peacocks and deers. There were wonderful trails to walk on along the road and previous golf course. It is located along a beach that has amazing sunsets. You can walk to the beach from your room and walk along the beach but the water is not for swimming. It is too rough and rocky. The pool is great and even has a hot tub. We also enjoyed the various grills and trash cans across the grounds. They also had a tennis court and library! We will be interested in returning again!

    Photos
    Ke Nani Kai - A view from the lanai

    A view from the lanai

    Ke Nani Kai - Kepuhi Beach, just north of the condos and resort

    Kepuhi Beach, just north of the condos and resort

    Ke Nani Kai - A bite from the kitchen into the dining room, living room and master bedroom off to the left.

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    A bite from the kitchen into the dining room, living room and master bedroom off to the left.

    Kalaupapa Lookout - localflavor - Updated July 2026

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