There are many beaches that offer safe, uncrowded swimming and snorkeling. Season and ocean conditions dictate which beaches will best suit your personal wishes. During the summer and fall the west end beaches, Kepuhi, Papohaku, Make Horse and Dixie Maru, are good choices. However, the winter ocean swells create monster waves that make dangerous albeit beautiful surf conditions.

Halawa Beach - Highway 450, Halawa
Halawa Beach Park is actually made up of two beaches - Kama'alaea Beach (the curved beach on the left) and Kawilli Beach (the rocky, more exposed beach on the right). The two beaches together form a curved bay-type area at this eastern end of the island. Both beaches are usually calm in the summer. However, the winter months bring large waves and this becomes an excellent surfing beach. Excellent area for picnics and fishing. The Halawa Stream flows into the Kawilli Beach. This stream is often full and wide due to the heavy rains in the mountains above. The drive to Halawa Beach is well worth the trip. The view of the ocean and the neighbor island of Maui is inspiring.

Hale O Lono Beach - West Molokai
Hale'o Lono Beach is next to the man-made Hale'o Lono Harbor, site of the Molokai to O'ahu Outrigger Competition. This beach is small and remote. All the land leading to the beach and harbor is owned by the Molokai Ranch but there is a dirt road that allows public access to the area. In ancient times there was a heiau (temple) located in the area dedicated to the god, Lono. Hence, the naming of the beach and harbor "House of Lono". Lono was one of the major gods brought to the islands by the Polynesians who settled here. He is the uncle to Pele, goddess of fire. Lono had lots of attributes such as god of fertility and agriculture, peace and productivity. He was often visualized as a dark cloud, waterspout, or whirlwind.

Honouli Malo'o Bay - Highway 450, East Molokai
Located between Murphy's Beach and Sandy Beach along the East Coast of Molokai, Honouli Malo'o Bay is another good surfing area. This more protected bay also has a sandy beach good for swimming and snorkeling. The little settlement of Malo'o is located on the mountain side of the highway. Here native Hawaiians still live off the land as their ancestors did by growing taro and fishing.

Kakahai'a Beach - Highway 450, South Molokai
Also known as Kakahai'a County Park and National Wildlife Refuge, this beach park is located just a few miles east of the main city of Kaunakakai. The swimming here is not very good due to the shallow, rocky bottom, but the park is very nice for picnics. The National Wildlife Refuge is home to two endangered species of seabirds - the Hawaiian Stilt and the Hawaiian Coot. The beach is actually an ancient Hawaiian fishpond used to raise fish for the royalty. Some of the area in the beach park is restricted for conservation purposes and permission must be obtained before exploring the sanctuary.

Kepuhi Bay - Kaluakoi Resort, West Molokai
Kephuhi Beach is the primary beach for the Kaluakoi Resort. As with all the beaches on the west coast, this beach is usually not safe for swimming due to high surf conditions. The beach has a rocky and sandy shoreline making it even more hazardous for water sports but picturesque for viewing the ocean and beautiful sunsets. During the summer months, however, the ocean can be much calmer making this area nice for snorkeling, diving and bodysurfing.


Kiowea Beach - Highway 460, South Molokai
This beach park is located to the east of the Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove before Kaunakakai Wharf. The area is currently undergoing refurbishing along with the replanting of the Coconut Grove. The beach is poor for swimming due to the mud-flats that surround this portion of the island, however, it is an excellent picnic area and superb for watching the sunset.

Mo'omomi Beach - Mo'omomi Road, Northwest Molokai
Mo'omomi Beach is located in the Mo'omomi Preserve. The beach is accessible only by a 4-wheel drive dirt road that is deeply rutted and often impassable. The shoreline is sandy but is only safe for swimming in the summer months when the ocean is calmer. During the winter, the waves wash away a large portion of the beach, but the strong northeast tradewinds drives more sand inland creating huge sand dunes. These dunes are up to a mile long and hundreds of feet wide. Ancient Hawaiians lived in this area during the summer in order to fish and prepare food for the rough winter months on the north shore of Molokai. Evidence indicates that people came to this region as early as the 11th Century. The Preserve surrounding the area encompasses 921 acres and protects over 22 native plants. The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii purchased and manages the Mo'omomi Preserve. They conduct informational hiking tours regularly into the area.

Murphey's Beach - Highway 450, East Molokai
This palm lined beach park is one of the prettiest along the Halawa Valley Drive and possibly in all of Molokai. The water is shallow and protected inside the reef. Perfect area for swimming, wading or snorkeling if there is no surf. The area is perfect for a family outing or just a stop along the beautiful drive along the East Coast of Molokai. Several areas along the road provide picturesque views of the beach and the coconut palms surrounding it.

One Ali'i Beach - Highway 450, South Molokai
Located just east of Kaunakakai, One Ali'i I and One Ali'i II make up this beach park. The swimming is only fair here due to coral and rock, but the park is great for picnics and relaxing in the sun. The Hawaiian name for this beach indicates that is was a favorite area for the ali'i (royalty). This could be because the fishpond here was used to raise fish for the royalty or because the ali'i swam and fished in this area.

Papohaku Beach Park - Kaluakoi Road, West Molokai
One of the longest and finest beaches in the Hawaiian Islands. This beach extends over three miles of coastline and is more than 300 yards wide. Even though the beach is beautiful, it is often deserted and it is not uncommon to find yourself alone in paradise here. Strong tradewinds coming from the west can whip up the sand along this long beach making it quite uncomfortable during windy weather.

Pohaku Mauliuli Beach - West Molokai
Located behind the Kaluakoi Resort and a little to the north (right) of the main beach here, Kepuhi Beach, are the two Pohaku Mauliuli Beaches. The first beach is more tide pool than beach as the little sand that is here is usually being covered by waves. A small bluff separates the two beaches. Climb the bluff to view a pretty, isolated beach with a lot more sand. Swimming is not advised in this area unless the ocean is extremely calm and even then a rouge wave can reek havoc on the unwary. There are strong currents and high surf along this coast, especially in the winter months.

Puko'o Beach - Highway 450, South Molokai
Two small beaches make up this natural harbor cove. The first area encountered after parking is more muddy and less hospitable. Walk a little further to the east to see the more sandy crescent-shaped beach. Here the water is clearer with a more sandy bottom. The area provides beautiful views of the coastline. The beaches are usually deserted, even in the summer months.

Sandy Beach - Highway 450, East Molokai
This little beach, though not as pretty as Murphy's Beach, is better for swimming due to the reef protection it receives and the deeper shore bottom. It is the last sand beach going east before reaching Halawa Beach Park.

Sandy Cove - West Molokai
Located to the left of Hale o Lono Harbor, this sandy-rocky beach area is fairly well protected and certainly secluded. It is the last easily accessible beach along this coast due to restricted access to the remainder of the shore by Molokai Ranch.

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