Introduction to Kaunakakai, HI

KAUNAKAKAI, at the midpoint of the southern shoreline seven miles southeast of the island's airport, is by far the largest settlement on Molokai. Despite being home to most of the businesses that keep island life ticking over, it's really no more than a village. There's just one main street, Ala Malama Street, half a mile in from the ocean. Once you've ambled its full 200-yard length, and scanned its array of single-story false-front wooden stores and the sweet little timber-framed St Sophia's Church, you've seen all that central Kaunakakai has to offer. Call in at the Kanemitsu Bakery to pick up a loaf of their sweet Molokai bread, renowned throughout the islands. Molokai Island Creations – run by the same people as Molokai Fish and Dive next door –is the most interesting place for clothes and souvenirs and has piles of signed copies of the owner's book of photographs, A Portrait of Molokai.

The epicenter of the island is generally considered to be the crossroads at milepost 0 on Kamehameha V Highway, where Ala Malama Street heads away inland. Three of its four corners are occupied by a gas station, the Molokai branch of the Bank of Hawaii (Mon–Thurs 8.30am–3pm, Fri 8.30am–6pm), and the friendly offices of the Molokai Visitors Association (Mon–Sat 8am–5pm; PO Box 960, Kaunakakai HI 96748; tel 553-3876, 1-800/800-6367 (US & Can) or 1-800/553-0404 (HI), fax 553-5288, www.molokai-hawaii.com).

Information by Rough Guides

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