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''The Friendly Isle''
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6838 (c1995)
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261 mile&2 (676 km&2)
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5th Largest Hawaiian Island
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Kamakou, 4,970 feet (1,515 m)
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(also ''Molokai'') is the fifth largest island of the
Hawaiian Archipelago . The island is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km), with a land area of 261 mile² (676 km²). It lies east of
Oahu across the 25 mile (40 km) wide,
Ka-iwi Channel and north of
Lānai , separated from it by the
Kalohi Channel . The lights of
Honolulu are visible at night from the west end of Molokai, while nearby Lānai and Maui are clearly visible from anywhere along the south shore of the Island.
Molokai is built from two distinct volcanoes known as East Molokai and the much smaller West Molokai. The highest point is ''Kamakou'' on East Molokai, at 4,970 feet (1,515 m). East Molokai volcano, like Koolau on Oahu is today only what remains standing of the southern half of the original mountain. The northern half suffered a catastrophic collapse and now lies as a debris field scattered northward across the
Pacific Ocean bottom. The south shore of Molokai boasts the longest fringing reef of the US and its holdings -- nearly 40 km long.
Molokai is part of the
State Of Hawaii and located in
Maui County , except for the
Kalaupapa Peninsula , which is separately administered as
Kalawao County . Maui County encompasses
Maui , Lānai, and
Kahoolawe in addition to Molokai. The only town of any size on the island is
Kaunakakai , which is one of two small ports on the island. The main street of downtown Kaunakakai is roughly two blocks long. The airport is located on West Molokai.
Molokai is known as the "Friendly Isle" and is one of the least developed of the main Hawaiian islands.
The island's population is diverse, with a high percentage of people of Hawaiian ancestry. Molokai is noted for the numerous
Hawaiian Fish Ponds along its south shore. Some of these have been restored in recent years. Molokai is also the oldest site for sufferers of
Leprosy in the United States (the leper colony at
Kalaupapa ), which became widely known through the work of
Father Damien .
There are several small hotels in Kaunakakai and a resort located on the west end. on the western-facing shore is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.
The population of Molokai today ranges between 6,000 to 8,000 depending on the season. In the winter, the population balloons with Snowbirds from all over the world.
