Molokaʻi

Molokaʻi

Molokaʻi is one of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. It sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, southeast of Oʻahu and north of Lānaʻi. The island is not very large—it measures about 38 by 10 miles—and it is the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

People on Molokaʻi have traditionally made a living from farming. The island is known for its cattle ranches, growing pineapple, sugarcane, and other small farms. Tourism exists, but it does not play a big role in the island’s economy.

One special place on Molokaʻi is the Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Long ago, this area was set aside for people who needed special care. Today, it is remembered as an important part of history. From Molokaʻi’s shores, you can sometimes see other islands like Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Maui in the distance.

The island has many names used by local people. It is called Molokaʻi ʻĀina Momona, meaning "land of abundance," Molokaʻi Pule Oʻo, meaning "powerful prayer," and Molokaʻi Nui A Hina, referring to the goddess Hina. People in Hawaii have used both Molokai (without an apostrophe) and Molokaʻi (with an apostrophe). The USGS and the Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names use the form with the apostrophe.

Molokaʻi formed from two old volcanoes called East Molokaʻi and West Molokaʻi. The tallest point is Kamakou on East Molokaʻi, reaching 4,970 feet. East Molokaʻi used to be part of a bigger mountain, but half of it fell away a very long time ago. Today, Molokaʻi has some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world and a very long reef along its south shore—almost 25 miles long.

Molokaʻi is part of the state of Hawaii and belongs mostly to Maui County, Hawaii, which also includes Maui, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe. There is one special area called the Kalaupapa Peninsula that is managed separately as part of Kalawao County. The biggest town is Kaunakakai, and the island has a small airport called Molokai Airport.