Molokai - November 2001

A good buddy of mine, Tomek, visited me recently. In search of a quick adventure like the many we shared as undergrads at UCSD, we decided to hop over to Molokai for some mountain biking.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Hawaiian islands, Molokai is one of quietest of the group - and as far as I am concerned - the most interesting.

Called "The Friendly Island" among locals, Molokai offers a slow, relaxing pace reminiscent of the old Hawaii of lore. Last I heard, there's still only one stop light in the center of town...And the popular thing to do 9 pm on Friday night is to eat hot breads and pasties fresh from the back entrance to the local bakery! You'll also find white beaches, waterfalls shooting off cliffs, desert climates AND rainforest climates, and perhaps the last bastion of aloha.

Airfare is about $50 one-way from Honolulu. Cars can be rented from the airport at $30-$40 per day. (Since there is no public transport, an el cheapo rental is a good idea.) We got our our mountain bikes from Molokai Ranch at $35 for 24 hrs.

Bring suntan lotion, a couple of good books, your camera and someone to adventure with... leave your watch and cell phone on Oahu (Sprint phones don't work on the island.)

In addition to the mountain biking, be sure to reserve enough time to spear fish, hike down to Kalaupapa, check out the east side of the island, go on a trail ride, hand out on the beach, and kayak the shoreline. Perhaps the best itinerary is 2-3 nights camping (bring gear from Oahu) followed by 2-3 nights on Molokai Ranch.