 | |||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||
| |||||||||
 The Aloha Doctor has spent hundreds of hours researching first-hand the best places to stay in Hawaii. His knowledge and expertise gained from on-site visits, personal experience, and conversations with resort owners will ensure your trip to Hawaii is everything you imagined and more! The following is a directory of hand-picked accommodations the doctor prescribes: |
 | |||
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Hotel Molokai | Molokai | Hotel | Well, the truth is that this is a roach hotel. Just read Trip Adviser for verification. The beach isn't- it's a mud flat, the a/c is marginal if existent, they hand out bug spray for you and the bathroom walls. However, it is the cultural center of Molokai (only bar east side of the island), where you will hear ukulele jamfests and imprompto hula or whatever it is that the locals are doing that evening. If you are going to Molokai on the quick, either stay at the fancy Sheraton lodge, or stay here. Short of renting a condo or cottage, more suitable for longer stays, there just isn't anything else. Besides, the Polynesian hales are not prefab Lindal homes, they're locally built almost authentic replicas. Go crazy, you'll survive- you might even have fun.... more |
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Wavecrest Condo Resort | Molokai | Condo | Why someone would build a three story wonder 13 miles out of town, on its own, remains a mystery to me. And the appeal, on the surface, is pretty limited, compounded by the fact that the architecture is about as uninspiring as a Minnesota winter. That said, people do like it here- units run over $225,000 on the market. Maybe it is the very clean manicured grounds (the whole place is amazingly well maintained), the rental prices are ridiculously cheap, the adult oriented long term stay, away from Minnesota dig in for the winter here instead of taking the Winnebago to Florida ambiance. The units are certainly credible, and the location IS lovely, but I still wonder how it all happened...... more |
| Back | |||
 | |||
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Ala'a Hale | Molokai | House | Not personally viewed- I'm relying on a local who said this beachside house in a quiet neighbourhood has just about everything people want- comfort, beautiful location, good price. I tend to agree. $150 for a 2br house on the beach- try that on Maui 8 miles away- you'll be staring in that direction from the oversized verandah.... ... more |
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Aloha Molokai Beach house | Molokai | House | The Truth is that I have not inspected this place, but was told by a very reputable friend to include it in my listings. Between her and Frommers, I trust their judgement. For end of the world quiet, protected from the trades, on virtually your own beach, this may be it. ... more |
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Paniolo Hale | Molokai | Condo | Poor 'ole Paniolo Hale. Conceived in the 70's as an end of the world condo resort, and located on one of Hawaii's longest and most magnificent beaches. But the developers seemed to have forgotten that it is 12 miles to anywhere, and that an 18 hole golf course plus restaurant require traffic to succeed. Molokai is pretty quiet and laid back at the best of times (Recently they put the nix on cruise ships wanting to stop there for the day). And Paniolo is at the extreme end of the island.. however, there is a bit of a renaissance going on. The golf course is now fully restored- with green fees at a remarkably low $70 for a championship type course. There are some new owners who have renovated their condos, and a new breed of visitors are enjoying what is in fact this place's drawing card- comfort in seclusion. No restaurant at the resort- just a small store. If you want golf on the edge of the world, and then a swim- with yourself as probably the only person on a three mile beach, then consider a few days here. You can actually see the glow of Honolulu in the distance, but you will be worlds away.... more |
| Back | |||
 | |||
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Miller Molokai | Molokai | Villa | Imagine rustic luxury for up to 12 people in the middle of nowhere but still just half an hour from town, and a few hundred yards to a beach that goes on forever. A main house with 4 attached bungalows makes for an interesting and flexible design ensuring privacy even if you don't rent the whole place. Generally though, it is wedding parties or extended families that will make best use of the property. Gracious on site assistance from the caretaker. The area is dry and a bit wind swept, but you'll get over it! I sent some good friends here, and they came back awestruck that an extended family could have a whole Hawaiian beach to themselves, live in luxury and complete privacy, for less than a suite in a resort hotel. It's a good thing not too many people have figured that one out!... more |
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Pu'u O Hoku Ranch | Molokai | Retreat | This lodge/retreat/working farm is at once famous and yet unknown outside interested circles. Even if you can't round up a group to stay here, do call and arrange a horseback ride- WAY more reasonable than on Maui. ... more |
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Sacred Waters Ashtanga Yoga | Molokai | Retreat | Simple accommodations, sophisticated instruction. Not a place to schmooze with new-agers. It's not all hard work- after class you can swim/snorkel/sail/kayak within feet of your humble abode, or hike on th eendless Molokai trails... more |
| Back | |||
 | |||
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Sheraton Molokai Lodge and Beach Village | Molokai | Resort | This attempt at a Lanai type exclusive resort falls short, but is still of interest. Certainly, the 22 room lodge built in 1999 and taken over by Sheraton, has its charm. The 'tentaloos', on the other hand, suffer from their isolation, as well as bugs and a barely swimmable beach. Still- for something different, an offbeat honeymoon, a desire to live in quasi-rusticity, the latter ARE very romantic. I'd stick to the lodge....... more |
| Back | |||
 | |||
| Property | Island | Type | The Doctor's Advice |
Hale Pukoo | Molokai | House | A newly built dream house in east Molokai. Sensibly set up with a separate cookhouse/ sleep house/ outdoor shower. Don't be fooled; this is luxurious living guised as a Tahitian hut! You will have noticed I list several places in this neighbourhood- the obvious reason being I like it, and think others will as well. Molokai is an end-of-the-world place, and this is the end of Molokai. The biggest commercial venture around is the plate lunch eatery down the road. So, buy your own groceries, set up camp, head out to Halawa and hike in the rainforest, all without much thought about the rest of the human race. A rare privilege.... more |
| Back | |||
 |