Molokai Real Estate

About – Molokai enjoys mild year-round temperatures right around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It is Hawaii’s 5^th largest island spanning 260 square miles. The leeward side of the island, the western and southern coasts, are considered the driest. The island’s windward side, the northern and eastern regions, receive the most rainfall and are generally a bit cooler. Molokai is known for having the tallest sea cliffs in the world, towering 3,600 to 3,900 feet above sea level. The island contains Hawaii’s longest beach, Papohaku, and the state’s longest continuous fringing reef stretching 28 miles.

What you’ll Find – Molokai is a place of deep historical significance, from the time of ancient Hawaii, up through Hawaii’s plantation and ranch eras. In 1866 Molokai was designated by King Kamehameha V as the site for a sanitarium for those suffering from Hansen’s disease, also known as Leprosy. The small exile settlement of Kalaupapa was established on Molokai’s northern shores amidst the towering sea cliffs. The cure for Leprosy led to the settlement being largely abandoned by 1969, though some of the original occupants still live there to this day. The region is now known as Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

Lifestyle – You can expect a quiet way of life amidst this remote island which has been largely untouched by modern development. The island’s pace is certainly slower and more relaxed than most of the other islands, and residents are just fine with that. With no stop lights, no big box stores, and few developments, Molokai has preserved much of its same lifestyle for generations.

Amenities – Kaunakakai is the main hub on the island, resting on the southern shoreline. It holds the small main street of Ala Malama Avenue with shops and businesses that cover about 3 blocks. The town has one hotel, a few restaurants, grocery stores, and local businesses. There are also a handful of stores, restaurants, and businesses found across the island. Kaunakakai is the home of Molokai’s only Harbor. Molokai’s single airport is located roughly 8 miles northwest in Hoolehua. A daily ferry runs between Maui and Molokai.

Market Info - Average Molokai single-family homes for sale are priced around $500,000, and the market is considered somewhat less competitive than Hawaii’s more densely populated islands. There are both single-family homes and a few condominiums on the island.