The Hawaiian Islands are home to jaw-dropping natural beauty from the mountains to the coast, but nowhere will you find more breathtaking scenery than within Hawaii’s countless incredible parks. With more than 50 state parks, waysides, recreation areas, monuments, and historic sites, there are countless Hawaiian parks to choose from, some easier to reach than others. This state park, in particular, is about as off-the-beaten-path as you can get and is wildly beautiful. Ready to explore this little-known park? Let’s go!
Nestled on the island of Molokai approximately three miles north of Kualapu’u at the end of Kalae Highway is Pala’au State Park, a 234-acre natural oasis that is home to breathtaking pasture lands and koa, eucalyptus, and ironwood forests.
Perhaps most famous for its scenic overlook of Kalaupapa, a former leper colony with the ocean on one side and giant 1,600-foot cliffs on the other described by Robert Louis Stevenson as a "prison fortified by nature," Pala’au State Park is a perfect spot for a picnic or camping getaway.
To visit the Kalaupapa Lookout, head right from the parking lot on a paved path. Here, you will discover a sweeping, panoramic view as well as interpretive signs that identify the sights some 1,700 feet below and briefly describe the tragic history of this remote place.
Don’t forget your camera! This place is as wild and beautiful as it gets.
You can also choose to go left from the parking lot on the short but steep dirt path that meanders through an ironwood grove to the Phallic Rock. This unmistakably shaped boulder measures in at six feet tall, and legend says that the rock is the fertility demigod Nanahoa, who turned to stone after he threw his wife over a cliff during an argument.
It is also believed that a woman wishing to become pregnant need only spend the night nearby to do so.
Picnicing is a popular activity here and tent camping is allowed with a state permit. Drinking water is not available at the park, but you will find restrooms. Entrance to the park is free, and because Pala’au lies at an elevation of approximately 1,600 feet, the temperature here is often much cooler than the islands’ beaches.
So, what are you waiting for? A trip to Molokai isn’t complete without visiting the unparalleled Pala’au State Park.
Address: Highway 47, Ho'olehua, HI 96729
Have you visited the island of Molokai lately? What’s your favorite attraction to visit on this small but stunning island? Sound off in the comments below!
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