Molokai is famous for spectacular biking and hiking trails. Visiting the Hansen's disease colonies at Kalaupapa is a unique destination. The area is still settled and is only reachable by mule ride.

The first European visitors came to the island in 1789 when Captain George Dixon anchored off the Molokai coast.

In 1832 a protestant mission was established on the island by Reverend Harvey Hitchcock.

In 1865, King Kamehameha V approved a law that quarantined lepers in Hawaii to settlements on the Kalaupapa penninsula. The settlements were poorly managed and fell into chaos. In 1875 Father Damien arrived in Kalaupapa to establish a church for the inhabitants. He restored order to the community and stayed at Kalaupapa until he died from leprosy in 1889. Father Damien was canonized on October 11, 2009, by Pope Benedict XVI.

The island is 260 square miles and is currently home to an estimated 8000 people. The largest settlement is the town of Kaunakakai.

Molokai has some of the worlds highest sea cliffs reaching up over 3000 feet on the north shore.