Everything about Molokai totally explained
Molokai (also
Molokai) is an
island in the
Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km) in size with a land area of 260.0 square miles (673.4
km²), making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the
27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of
Oahu across the 25-mile (40 km) wide
Kaiwi Channel and north of
Lānai, separated from it by the
Kalohi Channel. The lights of
Honolulu are visible at night from the west end of Molokai, while nearby Lānai and Maui are clearly visible from anywhere along the south shore of the Island.
Geography
Molokai is built from two distinct volcanoes known as East Molokai and the much smaller West Molokai. The highest point is
Kamakou on East Molokai, at 4,970 feet (1,515 m). East Molokai volcano, like Koolau on Oahu is today only what remains standing of the southern half of the original mountain. The northern half suffered a catastrophic collapse and now lies as a debris field scattered northward across the
Pacific Ocean bottom while what remains on the island are the highest
sea cliffs in the world. Views of these sea cliffs are presented in the movie
Jurassic Park III. The south shore of Molokai boasts the longest fringing reef of the US and its holdings—nearly 40 km long.
Molokai is part of the
State of Hawaii and located in
Maui County, except for the
Kalaupapa Peninsula, which is separately administered as
Kalawao County. Maui County encompasses
Maui, Lānai, and
Kahoolawe in addition to Molokai. The largest town on the island is
Kaunakakai, which is one of two small ports on the island.
Molokai Airport is located on West Molokai. The
United States Census Bureau divides the island into three
census tracts: Census Tract 317 and Census Tract 318 of
Maui County, Hawaii, and Census Tract 319 of
Kalawao County, Hawaii. The total
2000 census population of these was 7,404, living on a land area of .
Molokai is separated from Oahu on the west by the
Kaiwi Channel, from
Maui on the southeast by the
Pailolo channel, and from Lānai on the south by the
Kalohi Channel.
Ecology
Molokai is split into two main geographical areas. The low western half is very dry and the soil is heavily denuded due to grazing by goats and poor land management practices. It lacks much ground cover and virtually the entire section is covered in non-native
Kiawe trees. One of the few natural areas remaining almost intact are the coastal dunes of Mo'omomi, which are a
Nature Conservancy preserve.
The eastern half of the island is a high plateau rising up to an elevation of on Kamakou peak. The eastern half is covered with lush
rainforest that get over of rain per year. The high elevation forests are primarily native
'Ōhi'a lehua trees and an extremely diverse endemic flora and fauna in the understory. Much of the summit area is protected by the
Nature Conservancy's Kamakou and Pelekunu valley preserves. Below, the vegetation changes into a primarily exotic flora of guava, eucalyptus, and cypress. Introduced
axis deer and wild pigs roam the native forests, destroying native plants, expanding exotic plants through disturbance and distribution of their seeds, and threatening endemic insects. Near the summit area there's the unique
Pepeopae bog, where miniature ohias and other plants coat the soggy ground.
Molokai is home to a great number of endemic plant and animal species. However, many of its species, including the
Oloma'o,
Molokai Creeper, and the
Molokaʻi ʻŌʻō have become extinct. Molokai also has a wingless fly among many endemic insects.
Culture
Molokai is known as the "Friendly Isle" and is one of the least developed of the main Hawaiian islands.
The island's population is diverse, with a high percentage of people of Hawaiian ancestry. Molokai is noted for the numerous
Hawaiian fish ponds along its south shore. Some of these have been restored in recent years. Molokai is also the oldest site for sufferers of
leprosy in the United States (the
leper colony at
Kalaupapa), which became widely known through the work of
Father Damien.
There are several small hotels in Kaunakakai and a resort located on the west end.
Pāpōhaku Beach on the western-facing shore is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.
The population of Molokai today ranges between 6,000 to 8,000 depending on the seasonal tourism on the island.
Kirby Wright based his novel Moloka'i Nui Ahina on the life and times of his paniolo (cowboy) grandmother who lived on the east end of the island.
Towns and villages
Further Information
Get more info on 'Molokai'.
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