Snorkeling in Molokai Hawaii – Best places to snorkel

Due to harsh weather conditions and strong currents, Molokai is not the most popular destination for Hawaii’s best snorkel spots. Therefore, it usually stays under the radar. But in fact, the fifth largest Hawaiian island is home not only to breath-taking waterfalls and tall sea cliffs but also to the archipelago’s longest fringing reef lying about half a mile off the southern coast featuring an abundance of healthy corals and rich marine life that you can freely explore if you come in the right time. This guide tells you the best beaches for snorkeling in Molokai!

Kumimi Beach Park

Kumimi Beach -located on the southeast shore at Mile Marker 20- offers the best snorkeling in Molokai. This is the spot that is calm throughout the year and almost always safe for water activities.

Therefore, this narrow, white sandy beach is an excellent place for kids and beginners. In the shallow water, you can observe various Hawaiian fish species.

The best time to snorkel here is at high tide. If the tide is low, the beach becomes very rocky, increasing the risk of injury. Also, keep in mind that you should always swim only on the inner side of the reef and stay out of the water if large waves break offshore.

Waialua Beach – George Murphy Beach Park

Right before Kumimi, there is another Molokai snorkeling beach at Mile Marker 18 called Waialua. The offshore reef protects this lovely sandy beach, so the conditions are often suitable for underwater exploration.

Don’t expect a fantastic snorkeling experience, but small coral heads are in the clear, shallow water with some fish around, making it an excellent spot for beginners. There are no amenities here, but some trees provide shade, making Waialua a superb place to picnic and relax.

Halawa Beach Park

On the east shore of the island, at the east end of Highway 450, lies Halawa Park, which is comprised of two beaches: Kawili and Kama’alaea. This park is a popular surfing spot during winter thanks to the big waves, although in summer, snorkeling is also possible if the weather is good.

Halawa Valley - Molokai — Halawa Valley – source: Wikimedia Attribution: Rose_Braverman

This means that the water is calm and there is no rain since if it is (or it was) raining in the mountains, the rainwater enters the ocean here, carried by Halawa Stream, and makes the water murky.

If you visit this Molokai snorkeling spot when all conditions are ideal, there is a small reef in the middle of Kama’alaea Beach (the one on the west). But don’t be sad if the water is not calm enough for swimming! Halawa is an excellent place to sunbathe and spend a lovely day in a beautiful natural environment.

Kapukahehu Beach – Dixie Maru Cove

Located on the western shore at the end of Pohakuloa Road, Kapukahehu is the perfect place for those who wish to enjoy the sun and sea in a remote spot. This sheltered, crescent-shaped sandy cove is fringed by a reef that protects it from large waves, making it an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling in Molokai, especially during summer.

Kapukahehu is also called Dixie Maru Cove after the Japanese sailboat that wrecked here in the 1920s. The boat’s nameplate was placed near the beach’s entrance, so people started to call this place Dixie Maru.

There are no lifeguards here, so stay out of the water if the surf is up and follow the island’s unwritten swimming rule: if there are no local folks in the water, don’t go in.

Moku Ho‘oniki

One of the best spots to go snorkeling is the little island of Moku-Ho’Oniki (Elephant Rock) off the northeast end of Molokai. The corals are extremely vibrant and healthy here, especially on the south side of the rock, and the number of fish is incredible.

Moku Ho‘oniki is a very advanced Molokai snorkeling spot, accessible only in perfect conditions when there is no strong wind and the water is calm. Therefore, we recommend searching for an experienced tour operator like Molokai Fish and Dive if you want to visit it.

Snorkel tours depart from Kaunakakai Harbour when the weather allows, taking you to Moku Ho‘oniki or another snorkel spot on the fringing reef where the conditions are the best to dive.

No matter which place you visit, the water is amazingly clear, with 70-140 ft visibility, which makes it easy to observe colorful reef fish like triggerfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, and green turtles. If you are lucky, you will encounter dolphins and maybe humpback whales during the trip.

Papohaku Beach Park

During the summer months when the ocean is calmer, Papohaku Beach Park can be another beach to go snorkeling in Molokai. This 3-miles-long, 300 yards wide stretch of sand is the longest beach in all of Hawaii with distant views of Oahu’s Diamond Head.

It is an unspoiled paradise with azure waters and soft sand that is hardly visited, making it an excellent spot for a relaxed beach day. There are restrooms, picnic tables, and BBQ spots, and you can even camp here if you get a permit from the Kaunakakai Department of Parks.

There is no lifeguard on duty here, so never go swimming or snorkeling if the ocean conditions are dangerous, especially in fall and winter. When on vacation in Hawaii, we recommend monitoring the oceansafety.hawaii.gov website to get an up-to-date surf and wind report.

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