Laysan Albatross (Moli in the Hawaiian Language). There are places that we don’t write about or share on social media - and I’m about to break one of my own rules and tell you about one of them. It’s not like it doesn’t exist in the guidebooks or that it’s some huge secret. It’s just that it exists in proximity to so many other great options that it usually gets overlooked - and I’m totally okay with that.
Mokuleia means “Isle of Abundance” in the Hawaiian language and when you drive out the Farrington Highway past Dillingham Airfield with it's sky-diving schools and glider rides, you will not find an abundance of anything. In fact, you might start to feel very lost. Interestingly enough, the TV show Lost was largely shot out this way and there are remote beaches that almost never have more than a single local family on them.
Mokuleia means “Isle of Abundance” in the Hawaiian language and when you drive out the Farrington Highway past Dillingham Airfield with it's sky-diving schools and glider rides, you will not find an abundance of anything. In fact, you might start to feel very lost. Interestingly enough, the TV show Lost was largely shot out this way and there are remote beaches that almost never have more than a single local family on them.
Mokuleia Beach
Mokuleia Beach Park has great conditions for kite surfers and wind surfers and one thing that can be very satisfying is to spend some time on the beach watching the kite surfers catch massive airs from the huge winter waves. The beach here is long and sandy but the bottom is generally rocky/reefy and hard on your feet.
If you go all the way to the end of the road - you will find a parking area where hikers depart to reach the westernmost point on Oahu - which cannot be reached by roads, Kaena Point.
The hike to Kaena Point is dry and hot. Along the way, you might see nesting sea birds. Please keep in mind that these animals are protected, so do not go near them. Also, if you disturb their nests, there are huge fines. The trail is rocky and the coastline is dotted with karst coves that make a swim look tempting - but you might want to avoid that temptation, the ground is sharp and rocky with a’a lava and the currents are deadly.
Reaching the point, you will find the toppled and graffi covered remains of one of the Oahu lighthouses. The new lighthouse that replaces it is more of a bare bones tower.
Mokuleia Beach Park has great conditions for kite surfers and wind surfers and one thing that can be very satisfying is to spend some time on the beach watching the kite surfers catch massive airs from the huge winter waves. The beach here is long and sandy but the bottom is generally rocky/reefy and hard on your feet.
If you go all the way to the end of the road - you will find a parking area where hikers depart to reach the westernmost point on Oahu - which cannot be reached by roads, Kaena Point.
The hike to Kaena Point is dry and hot. Along the way, you might see nesting sea birds. Please keep in mind that these animals are protected, so do not go near them. Also, if you disturb their nests, there are huge fines. The trail is rocky and the coastline is dotted with karst coves that make a swim look tempting - but you might want to avoid that temptation, the ground is sharp and rocky with a’a lava and the currents are deadly.
Reaching the point, you will find the toppled and graffi covered remains of one of the Oahu lighthouses. The new lighthouse that replaces it is more of a bare bones tower.
 Laysan Albatross nesting near Kaena Point. |  Kaena Point Lighthouse. |
It’s not recommended that you take this trail during the night of the new moon - as Hawaiian legend says that is the night when the recently deceased rise up and march to Kaena Point before plunging into the ocean - if these spirits catch you, you will join them and never return.....
As always, respect one another and respect the natural wonders of our beautiful planet.
Mālama Honua: “Care for our Island Earth”
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