Moloka’i

The Friendly Isle

September 2005

I deliberately scheduled the trip to Moloka’i to coincide with the full moon,

hoping catch some of Moloka’i’s beauty with the moon as a backdrop.

It wasn’t necessary. Molokai’i’s serenity presents itself unassisted.

Click on each photograph for a larger view.

Click here for an account of the Moloka’i experience.

An overcast 1^st day; view of Moku Ho’oniki island & Kanaha Rock from east Moloka’i	East Moloka’i Halawa Valley’s waterfalls			An aerial view of Papohaku, the state’s longest stretch of white sand beach, located on Moloka’I’s western shore
Windmade waves in the sands of Papohaku Beach. South-facing view.	Fierce onshore breaks are wonderful to watch, but because of the surf’s strong undertow, swimming is not recommended at Papohaku.			Papohaku Beach Facing north
Fishpond in the foreground (behind coconut trees) and the island of Lanai in the background.	The full moon setting in the west at sunrise. Taken from Kaunakakai Harbor.			Sunset from Moloka’I’s south shore. Taken from just ouside the Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove. The grove was started by King Kamehameha V with 1,000 trees; the grove now has about ½ that.
Outside the woodcutter’s property	Azzure lune			East Moloka’i, near the portion of the range called “Seven Sisters”
Seabirds at Papohaku Beach	Wild quail (female) west Moloka’i			Wild turkey west Moloka’i
Sunrise, with Moloka’i silhouetted and Maui close behind	The photographs at left & right were taken from the same point at Kaunakakai Harbor.			Sunset reflected.
KALAUPAPA (Kalawao County) Above photograph is actually a composite of 4 digital images, taken from the Peninsula & facing topside (south).
Leeward view of the Kalaupapa Peninsula, taken from the Pala’au State Park overlook. Okala Island, as seen from the Kalaupapa Peninsula, Kalawao side (on the eastern side of the peninsula). Pali (cliffs) to the right keep the peninsula isolated.	‘Two tragedies occurred on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the north shore of the island of Moloka`i; the first was the removal of indigenous people in 1865 and 1895, the second was the forced isolation of sick people to this remote place from 1866 until 1969. The removal of Hawaiians from where they had lived for 900 years cut the cultural ties and associations of generations of people with the `aina (land). The establishment of an isolation settlement, first at Kalawao and then at Kalaupapa, tore apart Hawaiian society as the kingdom, and subsequently, the territory of Hawai`i tried to control a feared disease. The impact of broken connections with the `aina and of family members "lost" to Kalaupapa are still felt in Hawai`i today.’ --From The National Park Service's webpage regarding Kalaupapa. You are strongly urged to visit the above website to learn more about Kalaupapa’s past & present. The site also contains a synopsis of the life of Father Damien, and his tireless service and contributions to the Kalaupapa community.
One story related about this lighthouse, located on the far north end of the Peninsula, very near the Kalaupapa settlement: People brought in to man the lighthouse were forbidden to have contact with patients of the settlement for fear of leprosy spreading beyond Kalaupapa. A wall was built around the lighthouse; packages delivered needed to be double-wrapped, with the outer wrapping being removed at the wall, once delivered.		The patients of Kalaupapa felt badly for the lighthouse watchman’s days of solitude, and they would stand at the wall to speak with him and keep him company. That story in particular touched me—despite their own plight and their condemnation to an exiled life, the people maintained their perspective and found within themselves such compassion for others, expressing it in whatever heartfelt way they could.
Photo index	Main page		Moloka’i Narration