Western Molokai Overview

The beaches on this side of Molokai are by far the best on the island and, given that western Molokai is for the most part uninhabited, you can find at least one to yourself—to either swim or watch the brilliant western sunsets. The Molokai Ranch, established in the 1850s by King Kamehameha V, was once roamed by Molokai’s paniolo (cowboys) but closed in early 2008. The company behind the Ranch still owns almost one third of the land in this region, but has sold off its herd of 800 cattle. Aside from the small town of Maunaloa and the condo developments around the now-defunct Kaluakoi Hotel, the area is mostly empty pasture land. Dry and dusty, the west gets 12 in. of rain or less each year, and water has to be piped in from the wetter eastern side to support life.

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