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Moloka'i is geographically in the middle of the Hawaiian Islands; it is
the heart of Hawaii. By this we mean more than the island's central location in the Hawaiian island chain --
Moloka'i is historically Hawaii's spiritual center as well. The ancient name of the island is Moloka'i Pule O'o --
"Moloka'i of the Powerful Prayer." Shrines and temples are numerous and some are the largest and most
impressive in the islands. Moloka'i is the traditional birthplace of the hula, and the only
major island where the population is still largely native Hawaiian. That connection to Hawaii's roots
makes a difference; on Moloka'i, the aloha is tangible.
Moloka'i is wild. It has the world's highest sea cliffs, Hawaii's
longest waterfall and largest white sand beach. Valleys with names that sing like an old litany -- Waikolu,
Wailau, Pelekunu -- are graced with shimmering waterfalls that blow upward in the sea breezes. An achingly
beautiful world of unpopulated landscapes where no structure is taller than a palm tree, Moloka'i is a haven
for trekkers, cyclists, adventurers, and those seeking lesser-worn pathways.
Though only 22 miles from the bright lights of Oahu,
Moloka'i is often overlooked. Development has been minimal, and amenities are rustic and traditional.
Don't come to Moloka'i for exotic resort hotels, gourmet restaurants, fast-food franchises, cineplexes,
traffic lights, elevators, or escalators. There are none. Come because there is more to do and see
than on islands twice the size, and recognize that Moloka'i offers a truly authentic Hawaiian experience.
People who enjoy Moloka'i most are those who get to know the islanders and join in the Moloka'i way of life.
In summer when the surf is low, you can boat to the remote
beaches of the north coast's deep, shadowed valleys, where utter silence prevails. Flightseeing tours
offer glimpses of this majetic wilderness as they skim the top of Mt. Kamakou, a world of misty forest,
where birds found nowhere else on earth sing their sweet songs and miniature ohi'a trees burst
forth with crimson blossoms.
You may go to Moloka'i the first time out of curiosity,
maybe on a day trip from Honolulu. But you will fall in love with the island precisely because it's
an escape from mainstream tourism. And like the locals, you may find it's such fierce love that you too will
be determined to protect Moloka'i from overdevelopment and keep it very Hawaiian. Moloka'i continues to play its
role as a place of learning and retreat, a spiritual sanctuary rooted in nature and respect for tradition --
a role well worth preserving in our modern world.
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