Pelekunu Preserve protects one of Hawai‘i’s last remaining free-flowing streams. In 1986, TNC purchased Pelekunu Valley from Moloka‘i Ranch to create this spectacular preserve on Molokai’s rugged northern coast.

Dec 15, 2023 · Emory (1916) describes Pelekunu Valley as the “most densely populated area of the ahupuaʻa … where we found miles and miles of huge stone terraces, witnesses of a once thriving population that must have run into the thousands.”

Jul 4, 2011 · On our second day at Molokai, we hiked the Pēpēʻopae Boardwalk in Kamakou Preserve which leads to the Pelekunu Lookout that overlooks remote Pelekunu Valley on the northern coast of the island. We awoke at the crack of dawn to see the sunrise.

After about 1.0 miles (1.6 km) of hiking through the Pēpēʻōpae Bog, the boardwalk finally ends at Pēpēʻōpae, also called the Pelekunu Valley Overlook. This photo is exactly why I recommend making the journey up here on the best weather days only.

biologists consider Pelekunu’s stream system one of the top in the State of Hawai‘i. Because of its isolation, Pelekunu Valley has escaped modification from modern activities such as ranching, reforestation, agriculture, and tourism, all of which have transformed other parts of Moloka‘i.

Pelekunu Preserve encompasses the valley watershed of Pelekunu stream, its tributaries, and other smaller streams. At the coast, the preserve extends westward beyond Pelekunu Valley to include the smaller Waioho‘okalo Valley and its stream system.

At 3600ft, Waikolu Lookout provides a breathtaking view into the steep Waikolu Valley and out to the ocean beyond. After rains, the white strands of…