West End

Escape to west Molokaʻi for a quiet retreat. Relax on some of the state’s largest and least crowded beaches, including the sweeping white sand expanse of Pāpōhaku Beach and peaceful Kapukahehu Beach (also known as Dixie Maru Beach), a perfect spot to snorkel or gaze at a romantic Molokaʻi sunset. The arid West End faces the Kaiwi Channel. This treacherous 41-mile stretch of Pacific Ocean is the arena for the annual Molokaʻi Hoe canoe competition in October, from Hale O Lono Harbor in Molokaʻi to Waikīkī on Oʻahu.  

Visit the small plantation town of Maunaloa, where you’ll find unique shopping, including the handmade kites of the Big Wind Kite Factory. Once a resort area, the West End is still a great place to find condominium and cottage rentals. As you make your way down Kaluakoʻi Road westward, be on the lookout for wild Axis deer. These spotted beauties were given to King Kamehameha V as a gift in the 1860s.