edged between the destination colossi of  O’ahu and Maui is the still unspoiled island of Moloka‘i.  Like Cinderella, she has been considered the ugly stepsister of her powerful neighbors. However, the whereabouts of her glass slipper has long been known to Hawai‘i residents and should be discovered by the adventurous traveler, as this integral part of the Aloha State necklace is a gem of natural beauty and Hawai‘iana. On Moloka‘i there are no 7-11’s or Wal-Marts. The island doesn’t even have a stop light. That’s right, not even a stop light. What it does have are 3,000-foot seaside cliffs on its north side, unspoiled and lush valleys adorned with waterfalls along the north and east coasts, a long stretch of undeveloped golden sand on the west coast, one of the world’s most beautiful yet tragic places in the leper colony of Kalaupapa, and miles and miles of ranch land.

Tourism has not really taken hold here, and past and present efforts by the island and the state have had mixed results. The natural beauty of Moloka‘i is often overlooked because the other, bigger neighbor islands offer such a huge diversity and variety of tourist facilities. The Moloka‘i airport can accommodate only small inter-island jets, limiting the number of arrivals. In addition, many residents of the state see Moloka‘i as the last preserve of the old Hawai‘i, and a battle rages in the media, particularly on O‘ahu, between those who want to keep Molokai as it is and those who see the need for jobs for island residents. We believe it is up to the residents of Moloka‘i, not the armchair quarterbacks on O‘ahu and elsewhere, to decide what they want. If they want to maintain the status quo, so be it. If they want jobs, which means development, then that is their choice. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to put food on the table and get a good education. There exists a Moloka‘i plan, specifically designed to prevent the rape of the land. Somewhere between the present state and extensive development is probably where the island’s future lies. Be that as it may, now is a great time to see a piece of authentic Hawai‘i, and it’s on Moloka‘i.