3 Best Sights in West Molokai, Molokai

Although the mid-1970s Kaluakoi Hotel and Golf Club is closed and forlorn, some nice condos and a gift shop are operating nearby. Kepuhi Beach, the white-sand beach along the coast, is worth a visit.

The Kaluakoi Hotel is closed, but you can still access its ½-mile ivory-sand beach, which is contrasted by turquoise ocean, black lava outcroppings, and magenta bougainvillea blossoms. When the sea is perfectly calm, lava ridges in the water make good snorkeling spots. With any surf at all, however, the water around these rocky places churns and foams, wiping out visibility and making it difficult to avoid being slammed into the jagged rocks. Stick to the northern part of the beach to avoid as many of the rocks as possible. If the surf is too high for snorkeling, head up the path to the bench and take it all in. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; walking.

Established in 1923, this quiet community at the western end of the highway once housed workers for the island's pineapple plantation. There's not much in Maunaloa anymore, but it's the last place you can stock up on supplies before exploring nearby beaches. You can also stop at Maunaloa's Big Wind Kite Factory to talk with Uncle Jonathan, who has been making and flying kites here for more than three decades.