We’re Ready for Molokai

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Is Kalaupapa no longer in operation? Are all of the residents now gone (either passed away or moved away)?

It’s technically a National Park now but there are around 6 people left who have chose to live there.

Just an FYI, the path down with all the switchbacks is still out of service because a portion was washed away. No word on when that will be fixed.

 

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Here’s a short minute from Molokai as the mostly rain rolls through. You can already see Maui again after the rain went through.

My wife always goes in When this rolls through so you will hear the tv in the background.

 

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Pretty much real time. Now you can see Maui clearly and the sun is coming through.

 

[Luanne]

It’s technically a National Park now but there are around 6 people left who have chose to live there.

Just an FYI, the path down with all the switchbacks is still out of service because a portion was washed away. No word on when that will be fixed.

When we went we did the "fly in fly out". No way were we going to hike down, or take a mule down.

 

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When we went we did the "fly in fly out". No way were we going to hike down, or take a mule down.

We still haven’t been down there. When we go we are flying though. I’m with you, no way I’m riding a mule down that.

 

[Luanne]

We still haven’t been down there. When we go we are flying though. I’m with you, no way I’m riding a mule down that.

I just figured out it was 17 years ago we were there. My younger dd was too young to go, so dh stayed with her. It was just older dd, who was 16. We flew in on a tiny little plane. One of those that is so small your "carry on" (like a small backpack) had to go in the wing storage. On the way back the pilot (young guy) was making a big deal of balancing the load and told my dd to sit up next to him. I teased her later that he wa s flirting with her, lol.

 

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I just figured out it was 17 years ago we were there. My younger dd was too young to go, so dh stayed with her. It was just older dd, who was 16. We flew in on a tiny little plane. One of those that is so small your "carry on" (like a small backpack) had to go in the wing storage. On the way back the pilot (young guy) was making a big deal of balancing the load and told my dd to sit up next to him. I teased her later that he wa s flirting with her, lol.

Time fly’s doesn’t it. They have 10 seat planes now with cargo Underneath. The wind can make landing down there tricky sometimes. But at least it’s a short flight. One of these days we’ll make it down there.

 

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This plumeria is in full bloom and smells wonderful. I can’t believe how it has grown and has so many flowers. We are really enjoying it this trip. It goes all the way across our lanai.

We will ask them to trim it when they can though. You can see the walkway in the pictures and we have people talk to us when they walk by. It’s nice to talk to the different people. Plus we can see the BBQ area and the pool a little better when it’s trimmed. But not many people here this trip so we’re enjoying the flowers more. I don’t know when it is the best time to trim those anyway.

 

[Luanne]

Time fly’s doesn’t it. They have 10 seat planes now with cargo Underneath. The wind can make landing down there tricky sometimes. But at least it’s a short flight. One of these days we’ll make it down there.

It's well worth it. It is honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. But such a sad history.

 

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It's well worth it. It is honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. But such a sad history.

Yes, the whole story is hypnotic. I have read many books on it and of course the movie and documentaries. We will get there.

 

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Lazy day today. We did laundry yesterday so we are taking it easy today.

We are going to grill some burgers later for dinner. I took a walk up to the office and tennis courts just to get a walk in. Took some pictures by the tennis courts.

 

[Luanne]

So lush and gorgeous!

 

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So lush and gorgeous!

Yes, one of the big pluses to this property. They take very good care of the grounds. It was a big selling point for my wife and I.

 

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Can’t hear very well on this one since I just had my phone again but this is at high tide and the creek/canal that runs behind the parking lot is full. It sounds really windy. It it is just the regular trade winds that are awesome. It’s not near as windy as it sounds on the phones mic.

 

[Tamaradarann]

We still haven’t been down there. When we go we are flying though. I’m with you, no way I’m riding a mule down that.

I need to tell this story about our trip to Kalaupapa about 5 years ago. We flew down and up again on an all day tour. On the way down we were on the plane with only the pilot and us. When we were down there we met this women who took the mule down and threw her back out. Well she got on the bus that takes you around for the rest of the tour. She couldn't move and didn't get off the bus for any of the tour. On the way back we were on the plane with that women, the pilot and us!

 

[slip]

I need to tell this story about our trip to Kalaupapa about 5 years ago. We flew down and up again on an all day tour. On the way down we were on the plane with only the pilot and us. When we were down there we met this women who took the mule down and threw her back out. Well she got on the bus that takes you around for the rest of the tour. She couldn't move and didn't get off the bus for any of the tour. On the way back we were on the plane with that women, the pilot and us!

I’m afraid of heights, strange how planes don’t bother me but I can get motion sickness. But there is no way I will be on that mule looking down from those switchbacks.

 

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Just finished breakfast on the lanai. Now I am finishing the last of my coffee. We had a pretty good rain last night and it continued into this morning but it has past and the sun is hot today.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

 

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First time on the lounger since we have been here. This could have been a mistake.
I don’t think I am leaving for a while. We’ll see if I stay awake.

 

[Luanne]

I need to tell this story about our trip to Kalaupapa about 5 years ago. We flew down and up again on an all day tour. On the way down we were on the plane with only the pilot and us. When we were down there we met this women who took the mule down and threw her back out. Well she got on the bus that takes you around for the rest of the tour. She couldn't move and didn't get off the bus for any of the tour. On the way back we were on the plane with that women, the pilot and us!

Our plane was pretty full. But on the way back we had several new passengers. Either they had planned to hike (or take the mule) down and fly back or they made that decision AFTER the trip down. Another thing that was nice about the fly in fly out was that we got to see a short film about Kalaupapa before the tour started. Those who hiked in or took the mules didn't get that.

 

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Our plane was pretty full. But on the way back we had several new passengers. Either they had planned to hike (or take the mule) down and fly back or they made that decision AFTER the trip down. Another thing that was nice about the fly in fly out was that we got to see a short film about Kalaupapa before the tour started. Those who hiked in or took the mules didn't get that.

Most of the time flying into Molokai our plane has between 8 and 10 people so pretty full. I suppose the flight for the tours may vary a little more.

 

[Luanne]

Most of the time flying into Molokai our plane has between 8 and 10 people so pretty full. I suppose the flight for the tours may vary a little more.

The planes for the tours are smaller. I think ours only held about 6 to 8 people. As I recall the planes that fly to Molokai were a bit larger than that.

 

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The planes for the tours are smaller. I think ours only held about 6 to 8 people. As I recall the planes that fly to Molokai were a bit larger than that.

Ours on Makani Kai and Mokulele have been 4 rows of two and a two seat bench in the rear. Maybe they had different ones or use different ones for the tours?

 

[Luanne]

Ours on Makani Kai and Mokulele have been 4 rows of two and a two seat bench in the rear. Maybe they had different ones or use different ones for the tours?

I think they do use different planes. The whole trip was kind of surreal. When I booked we were told to check in at the airport and wait at a certain gate. Now, if memory serves me correctly, we had to have our backpacks weighed and I think we had to tell them our weight as well. We (my dd and I) went to wear we thought we were supposed to wait. No one else there, we were outside the terminal. In a bit someone came looking for us as we were in the wrong place. But with so few passengers I guess it was easy to round everyone up.

I don't know which airline does the tours. I don't know if there is information on their website. I'm going to go look.

I'm back. Everything has changed since we took the tour 17 years ago. At that time Richard Marks was still doing the tours, although he didn't the day we went as he wasn't feeling well. He was a resident, and passed away some years back. It does look like Mokulele took over as the official airline for the tours in 2018. So unless they have tiny planes they may be flying the same ones they use for inter-island in. There are smaller airlines that do charters, but then you'd need to book your own tour as the only way to get in is to be a "guest" of a resident.

Here is the article where I was getting this information:

https://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/2019/05/15/kalaupapa-how-to-get-there-today/

 

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I think they do use different planes. The whole trip was kind of surreal. When I booked we were told to check in at the airport and wait at a certain gate. Now, if memory serves me correctly, we had to have our backpacks weighed and I think we had to tell them our weight as well. We (my dd and I) went to wear we thought we were supposed to wait. No one else there, we were outside the terminal. In a bit someone came looking for us as we were in the wrong place. But with so few passengers I guess it was easy to round everyone up.

I don't know which airline does the tours. I don't know if there is information on their website. I'm going to go look.

I'm back. Everything has changed since we took the tour 17 years ago. At that time Richard Marks was still doing the tours, although he didn't the day we went as he wasn't feeling well. He was a resident, and passed away some years back. It does look like Mokulele took over as the official airline for the tours in 2018. So unless they have tiny planes they may be flying the same ones they use for inter-island in. There are smaller airlines that do charters, but then you'd need to book your own tour as the only way to get in is to be a "guest" of a resident.

Here is the article where I was getting this information:

https://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/2019/05/15/kalaupapa-how-to-get-there-today/

Yes, and now with COVID, Mokulele and Makani Kai have joined forces so there is really only one other airline, Hawaiian, coming to Molokai now.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I think they do use different planes. The whole trip was kind of surreal. When I booked we were told to check in at the airport and wait at a certain gate. Now, if memory serves me correctly, we had to have our backpacks weighed and I think we had to tell them our weight as well. We (my dd and I) went to wear we thought we were supposed to wait. No one else there, we were outside the terminal. In a bit someone came looking for us as we were in the wrong place. But with so few passengers I guess it was easy to round everyone up.

I don't know which airline does the tours. I don't know if there is information on their website. I'm going to go look.

I'm back. Everything has changed since we took the tour 17 years ago. At that time Richard Marks was still doing the tours, although he didn't the day we went as he wasn't feeling well. He was a resident, and passed away some years back. It does look like Mokulele took over as the official airline for the tours in 2018. So unless they have tiny planes they may be flying the same ones they use for inter-island in. There are smaller airlines that do charters, but then you'd need to book your own tour as the only way to get in is to be a "guest" of a resident.

Here is the article where I was getting this information:

https://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/2019/05/15/kalaupapa-how-to-get-there-today/

The flight we took was a private tour airplane it wasn't an airline. They just do tours even though some do come from Oahu. The plane would seat I believe up to 9 but we were the only passengers until we were joined by the Mule Injured woman.