Tuesday, August 21~First day in Molokai~

Leaving Honolulu heading south to Molokai

Diamond Head Crater

Hanauma Bay

Molokai

Our plane, there were 8 passengers counting a baby

Our condo at Hotel Molokai.  Also had 2 twin beds and a kitchenette

Our lanai

Oceanside pool and hammocks

We drove to the Kalaupapa Trail overlook

The lighthouse at Kalaupapa

 The steepest cliffs in the world lie behind the colony of Kalaupapa, this area was chosen to keep the leprosy patients from leaving the colony.

 And need I say it, this was the Phallic Rock.  Curiosity got the better of us.

 Yesterday we were walking in Waikiki, today in a forest of some unknown tree that looked much like a spruce.  Much more enjoyable that the hot sidewalks of Honolulu.

Sharon was so depressed this morning because she was missing the first day of school for the first time in 35 years.  And then she woke up and realized it was just a really bad dream!!  We flew out of Honolulu on Pacific Wings (more like a wing and a prayer!) to the island of Molokai where we will be staying until Friday morning.  It was a beautiful flight and we flew right over the Diamond Head crater and could see Hanauma Bay from the air.  It was about a 25 minute flight before we landed on a very small airstrip.  We picked up our rental car and headed to the Hotel Molokai to check in.  The island appears to be quite dry except in the areas that are irrigated such as the coffee plantation and the macadamia nut farms.  We had lunch at Paddler's Bar and got the special, 2 hamburgers for $15 with sides.  We are going back tonight for the entertainment.  Judy Snyder said we needed to find where Lono was playing because he was a premier musician on the island.  Lono is playing at Paddler's tonight.  We drove to the Kalaupapa Overlook to see the leper colony.  It looked absolutely beautiful today.  Hard to believe that for nearly 100 years anyone in the islands that had or appeared to have leprosy were exiled to this desolate place.  Sharon and I just booked the mule ride to the bottom for Thursday so make sure to check out the blog on Friday (or Saturday) for what I believe will be some spectacular photos.  Heading out for supper and some island Aloha.