As the fifth largest Hawaiian Island, Molokai has a usable land area of 260 square miles and is located east of Oahu and north of Lanai. The island’s most famous tourist draw is the Kalaupapa National Historic Park – a settlement which was founded in 1866 in order for individuals with leprosy to be quarantined. This wild and beautiful island is home to only one true town, Kaunakakai, a true haven for visitors and residents alike looking to retreat from the more developed and touristy areas of Hawaii. To celebrate this tiny country town, here are 10 fun facts about Kaunakakai.
- The small town has a population of 3,400 residents.
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- You won’t find a single traffic light in Kaunakakai - and a “Molokai traffic jam” is often characterised by two drivers who stop to talk.
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- The town was once home to King Kamehameha V’s royal summer residence. The city’s main street, Ala Malama Avenue, was named after the home.
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- Back when pineapple and sugar exports were huge in Hawaii, Kaunakakai was a bustling port town, but has since calmed down tremendously.
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- Kaunakakai was an ancient canoe landing, and the Old Western-style storefronts paint the picture of a town stuck in time.
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- Molokai has the highest population of Native Hawaiians of any island.
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- Kaunakakai Harbor is home to the state’s longest pier - extending 1,900 feet, well past the reef.
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- Tourists visit Molokai just to get a taste of the fresh bread from the famous Kanemitsu’s Bakery.
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- The Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove is one of the last royal coconut groves in Hawaii.
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- The town was made famous in the 1930s with the song, “The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai,” beginning the long-running tradition of designating an honorary mayor of the town.
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