Monica "monicadear" F.'s Profile

The Kalaupapa Lookout is a lookout down a short trail from the parking lot at the end of Hwy 470.

You may look out over the world's highest sea cliffs to the Kalaupapa Peninsula, home of the original "leper's colony" for people with Hansen's Disease. The peninsula is now Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

There are many informational signs and pictures to give you some background on the dramatic and heartbreaking plight of the Hawaiians who had to deal with Hansen's disease.

The phone number is for the Molokai Chamber of Commerce. There is no posted phone number for the Phallic Rock site.

The Phallic Rock is a rock formation at the top of a hill.
First take Highway 470 all the way (past the Coffee Plantation, all the way up the hill) until it ends. Park and view the informational sign: there are actually two attractions here, the Phallic Rock (to the left), and the Kalaupapa Lookout (to the right).

The walk up to the Phallic Rock is very easy -- it takes you on about a 10 minute stroll through the ironwood forest and then up a steep incline with large boulders --- sorry, not handicapped-accessible.

"Throughout the ages, barren women would bring offerings and spend the night at this site in hopes of conceiving a child. Women still come here with their offerings and pray for fertility."

Please do not disturb the offerings or deface the rocks.
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Update: Note, the story of the origin of the rock can be found online. Note also that if women would *not* like to conceive, consider carrying a large stick with you when you come up here to fend off the power.
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Update #2: Note that the fertility "mana" (power) of this place is seriously strong. After 5 years of trying on the mainland with no success, we moved to Molokai and I personally got pregnant - twice - from visiting here/leaving offerings. So, just be aware.

The "Post-a-nut" is an experience where you can send a coconut by US Postal service mail to any address in the world. Organized by the postmaster at this tiny post office in Ho'olehua (pronounced Ho-Oh-Lay-WHO-ah), you may choose from any of the available coconuts, decorate it with the provided sharpie markers and colored markers, address it, and put postage on it for delivery.

We usually combine a trip to Post-a-nut with a trip to the Moloka'i Coffee Plantation and a visit to Phallic Rock/Kalaupapa Lookout.

This is a United States Post Office™ Location, local phone number is (808) 567-6144 and it is *not* the one on Maui that seems to be listed. It is here: http://usps.whitepages...

Business Hours
Mon-Fri
8:30am-12:00pm
12:30pm-4:00pm
Sat-Sun closed

We go here on Friday nights for a half-n-half:

pineapple/ham/jalapeno
and
sausage/mushroom/broccoli
pizza.

The breadsticks wrapped with pepperoni are also fantastic (with tomato-based red dipping sauce), as are the spicy chicken wings, a 6-pack.

Add a root beer and an ice cream sundae for dessert and you have a nice little meal for a celebration or if you just have a quick few moments before heading to the ferry.

Bring plenty of quarters for the video games -- Galaga and Centipede and Pac-man --- and you can play the pinball or put junior in the kiddie car.

Besides being one of the few (if not the only?) places to get pizza on Molokai, they also have weekly specials, Mexican night and prime rib on Thursdays.

Friendly service but can get busy--- cash only. To those who say it's expensive --- yes, everything on the island is expensive because it gets shipped from the mainland to Honolulu, and then shipped here. Just tack on an extra 20% to what you are used to paying.

This is absolutely another stop on the must-do tour of Molokai. The Purdy's have been naturally farming this land organically for over 50 years and offer a great selection of hand-picked batches of macadamia nuts, either roasted or raw.

Friendly tours hourly and a great chance to walk around and see the life cycle of the macadamia tree. Why go to a huge factory farm when you can get the down-home, family feel of this multi-generational nut farm? Plus Mr. Purdy is totally entertaining.

Be sure to pick up a T-shirt, too, and we also found some limited edition carved wooden jewelry.

Maka's Corner has some of the best burgers on the island- flavorful, tasty, yummy, and made with care and quality. Friendly service too, by Auntie Maka.

You can find this place right next to the Molokai Mini-mart: look for the shade booths and the contented people outside enjoying their hamburgers, mushroom burgers, chicken burgers, mahi burgers, saimin, fries, and cold drinks.

A full lunch menu and an inside sit-down counter. Support this local business -they're terrific and we always get the "special" (with lettuce, tomato, and onion) on any of our burgers.

The saimin (soup) is especially hearty - a noodle broth of a variety of toppings.

Start looking to the left after the 15-mile marker because you might easily pass this -- look for the little parking lot and the store and counter -- pull into the 2nd driveway for parking.

Items that you need are in the store like juice, milk, chips, drinks, ice, deli ham and cheese, yogurt, and dry goods. If you forget the tissue paper or the dog food, you can pick it up here too.

We usually visit the counter on our way to the beach at mile 19 - pick up an awesome loco moco (single, over-easy for me) or a teri chicken plate.

Friendly service, a real neighborhood feel, and a bulletin board with interesting happenings.

Get an ice cream out of the cooler and support the fledgling video collection by renting a DVD for a few nights to watch at your condo.

Take a moment to check out the grounds with amazing lauhala, giant pomelo and lovely flowers and treeks.

I kid you not if you head to the bathrooms (get the key from the cashier in the store, then follow the giant feet on the other side of the building) you will see a real live billy goat if you look beyond the ramp.

You really can't go wrong with the Mocha Mama, which I come out here for every Sunday (and yes, that is a 20 mile drive each way, so you know it's good). It's a thick, rich drink with espresso, vanilla ice cream, chocolate, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup.

mmmmm -- goood.

They recently expanded the deck and seating area so you can read the paper and relax while sipping your drink.

They also have a great lunch menu with custom deli sandwiches (ham, roast beef, turkey, etc.)  and fun local flavors from the bakery, as well as desserts galore.

If you're a tea drinker, you can have a good variety, and there are also fruit smoothie drinks on the menu.

There's a mule-drawn plantation tour where you can check out the coffee, and there are also walking and self-guided tours. [ EDIT effective 02/2011- call since this may not be running anymore]  

Kupuna night - with music! -- is on Sunday afternoons around 3pm - 5pm.

Did I mention the gift shop with Hawaii-style fun tchotchkes? I usually mix this up for guests with a trip to Post-a-nut at the Hoolehua post office, a ride up to the Phallic Rock and Kalaupapa lookout, and then a stop by Denise's gifts and pickup mac nuts at Purdy's on the way home.

UPDATE: effective 12/2010, the store section has been reopened as Blue Monkey, by the owners of Big Wind Kite Factory in Maunaloa town, who bring their eclectic and beautiful handmade and artisan selection of products, including musical instruments, pareos, natural hemp clothing and of course, kites, to the store.

The best place hands down for ice cream, we especially go for the Hawaiian style Rocky Road - chocolate, macadamia nuts, and coconut --- also the French Vanilla and tropical flavors like Mango and Ube (a kind of purple sweet yam).

Love, love, love the atmosphere - small town ice creamery -- lots of kids and families, open on Saturdays and fun to visit.

A must-see on Molokai