Molokai Real Estate

About – As Hawaiʻi’s fifth largest island, Molokai enjoys consistent year-round temperatures of a mild 75º - 85º F during the day and spans 260 square miles. The leeward side of the island, the western and southern coasts, are considered more arid and dry while the island’s windward side, the northern and eastern regions, receive the most rainfall and are generally greener and wetter. Known for having the highest sea cliffs in the world, towering over 3,600 feet above sea level, Molokai is also home to one of Hawaii’s longest white-sand beaches, Pāpōhaku Beach, and the state’s longest continuous fringing reef.

What You’ll Find – From the time of ancient Hawai‘i to Hawai‘i’s plantation and ranch eras, Molokai is a place of deep historical significance. 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. By 1969, the cure for Leprosy led to the settlement being largely abandoned, although some of the original occupants still live there to this day. Today, the region is known as Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

Lifestyle – Largely untouched by modern development, life on this island moves at a slower, more relaxed pace that residents and visitors alike truly value. With no stop lights, no big box stores, and limited developments, Molokai has preserved its rural lifestyle for generations. In the central town of Kaunakakai, an absence of traffic lights takes you back to a simpler time, virtually unchanged since the early 1900s. This charming paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town is also home to the island’s main harbor and Kaunakakai Wharf, where some locals still fish for dinner. 

Amenities – The island’s largest town, Kaunakakai, sits on the southern shoreline and still retains much of its early 1900s paniolo charm. On the small main street of Ala Malama Avenue you’ll find blocks of shops and businesses, including grocery stores stocked with island-grown food and restaurants featuring fresh island cuisine and local favorites. For the traveler, there is an oceanfront hotel, a single bed and breakfast, and condo vacation rentals in Kaunakakai, on the East End, and the West End resort area of Kaluakoʻi. Kaunakakai is also home to the state's longest pier. Molokais single airport is located in the center of the island, about 8 miles northwest in Hoolehua.

Market Info - The market is considered somewhat less competitive than Hawaiʻi’s more densely populated islands, making it an attractive investment opportunity for those interested in affordable, quieter island living. On the island, there are single-family homes, condominiums, residential & agricultural lots, and commercial properties. 

To learn more about Molokai real estate, try one of these search results: Kaluakoʻi Real Estate on the West End, Kualapu‘u Real Estate to the North, or Kaunakakai Real Estate in South Central and East Molokai.