Kaunakakai · Seaside hotel
Hotel Molokai
Polynesian-style bungalows on the water.
Official details for Hotel MolokaiHawaii · Couples · Two nights
Molokai
Old Hawaii, unhurried.
Molokai is the least developed of the main islands, a place of fishponds, ranches and small towns where most people are Native Hawaiian. Land at Molokai Airport, stay at the seaside Hotel Molokai, look down from Palaau State Park onto the Kalaupapa peninsula and the world’s tallest sea cliffs, and drive the east end to Halawa Valley.
Old HawaiiSea cliffsHistory
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to PHMK
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~4140 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~27 hr 51 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land at Molokai Airport.
PHMK (MKK), Molokai, is a part-time towered state airport at 454 feet with a 4,494-foot main runway, about 15 minutes from Kaunakakai.
The FBO
Molokai Airport (Hawaii DOT Airports)
808-567-9660Molokai Airport, Kaunakakai, HI
No fuel listed. A 1,280-foot mountain lies 2.8 nm off the Runway 5 threshold, and terrain rises quickly; egrets and pigeons near the field. Kalaupapa (PHLU) requires a state permit to enter and visitors must be on a guided tour. (FAA chart supplement and NPS.)
Hawaiian flying: steady trade winds with strong gusts and mechanical turbulence near terrain and in the channels between islands, afternoon showers and low clouds over the mountains, sudden obscuration in valleys, and long over-water legs. Carry life vests and consider a raft. Hawaii is about 2,100 nm of open ocean from California, beyond the range of most light aircraft. These guides are for Hawaii-based pilots and for visitors who rent or fly with a local operator, typically from Honolulu (PHNL), Kalaeloa (PHJR) or Kahului (PHOG).
02 / Where to stay
A seaside hotel.
Rates and availability need travel dates.
03 / Where to eat
Island cooking.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Dinner · Oceanfront
Hotel Molokai restaurant
Island cooking by the water at the hotel.
Official details for Hotel Molokai restaurantLocal guide
More food
Cafés and the bakery in Kaunakakai.
Hawaii Tourism for More food04 / Things to do
Cliffs, valleys and history.
Respect local customs and private land.
Kalaupapa lookout
View the peninsula and the tallest sea cliffs from Palaau State Park.
Hawaii State ParksKalaupapa National Historical Park
The former Hansen’s disease settlement; permits and guided tours required.
NPS05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
Late spring
Molokai Ka Hula Piko
A hula festival honoring the island as hula’s birthplace.
Hawaii Tourism for Molokai Ka Hula PikoYear-round
Quiet island
Mild, uncrowded weather.
Hawaii Tourism for Quiet islandDecember–April
Whale season
Humpbacks offshore.
Hawaii Tourism for Whale seasonConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Molokai weekend. Written for Hawaii-based pilots and visitors already in the islands. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at PHMK mid-morning.
- Midday
The Kalaupapa lookout at Palaau State Park.
- Afternoon
Kaunakakai, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at PHMK, subject to weather and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Kaunakakai and the wharf.
- Evening
Dinner at the hotel.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
The Kalaupapa lookout.
- Afternoon
The east end toward Halawa.
- Evening
Sunset at the hotel.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
A quiet morning by the water.
- Before leaving
Allow time at the airport.
- Fly home
Trade-wind showers build over the mountains in the afternoon; plan around them.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
The east end toward Halawa.
- Afternoon
The wharf.
- Evening
Dinner at Hotel Molokai.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Hotel and car; Kalaupapa tour if wanted.
Fuel
None listed; fuel elsewhere.
Terrain
Rising terrain near the runway.
Best seasons
Year-round.
Reviewed · Destination 224
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.