Kawakiu Beach
Maunaloa, HI
Kawakiu sits at the north end of Molokai's west shore, a white sand crescent locals consider one of the most culturally significant spots on the island and the original launch site of the Molokai to Oahu canoe race. There's no road all the way in. Getting here means a coastal walk of about a mile and a quarter.
The cultural weight and the isolation make this one locals speak about with real respect, though access has been a genuine point of tension with the ranch that controls the surrounding land, and the hike alone keeps out anyone unwilling to work for it.
How we score beachesPark near Paniolo Hale off Kaluakoi Road and follow the shoreline north past Make Horse Beach. Expect some scrambling over lava rock along the way, and wear real shoes, not sandals.
There's no lot at the beach itself. Cars park informally off Kaluakoi Road near Paniolo Hale, and the rest of the trip is on foot.
The route is a rugged coastal hike of roughly a mile and a quarter over lava rock and dirt trail, not manageable for strollers or most mobility devices.
Summer's calmer seas make the swim and the hike both worth the effort. Winter's stronger currents and surf turn the water genuinely dangerous even for confident swimmers.
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