Molokai Airport — Local services in Molokai

I have we Ted to maximize my adventure in an isolated place by going to the most isolated sport within the state. The adventure began when I arrived at Mokeke Airline (which is listed as Southwest on the travel info.) Going to Molokai was what you wish travel could be like but is only possible when there are 14 or so people on the tiny plane. No xray, no lines, no long distances through look alike corridors with no end in sight. Just a small building, without walls on opposite sides. There's the little patch if grass where the plane lands, there's the crop duster-ish plane.Ni hint that your in the international travel hub of the region when you're heading to Molokai. I nervously anticipated the bumpy nature of the flight but I reminded myself that these pilots were better trained than anyone driving a car and they did this all the time. My pilot looked so young, a frequent occurrence as I age, that I couldn't resist asking his age, with his permission. At age 27 the young man flies up to 14 hours a day round trip between Honolulu and Molokai or Maui and Molokai, and has been doing this for 6 years already!. They take attendance at the gate, a chain link fence and each row is a seat, the aisle, another seat. Window seats for everyone! The pilots were so gentle I was not sure when the plane touched down until I opened my tightly shut eyes at the end of the half hour journey. The fear was all in my head. I fumbled so much with my phone to produce the results of my COVID test the unsmiling nurse took my phone and did it herself. Good thing I was the only one in line. No delays relating to COVID. As for the return trip, Molokai airport staff was a bit disappointing in that they questioned my expired identification and said I should never have been allowed to fly out of Honolulu. Water under the bridge now, I would think. Obviously I am here in Molokai and I need to return to Honolulu. The person at the counter said he would have to clear me to fly home, letting me believe there was a big problem. No reassuring words. I was worried about missing my flight BC although the flights appear to be every 45 mins, the plane only holds 11 passengers, and they stop flying around 2 pm. Flights fill up fast. When the flight was called the same guy from the ticket counter turned me away at the chain link fence with a curt "not yet," and a smirk on his face. He said nothing more. When I went to the bathroom my name came over the intercom, as if I was holding everyone up. The airport is small enough to see when I entered the bathroom. Was I paranoid to think they waited for me to go in, then page?. My host had explained there's bitterness on the island over Hawaiian airlines pulling out and taking their modern jets with them. He also told me the 8000 or so locals are pretty aloof to outsiders and unlikely to offer great customer service in pursuit of the tourist dollar. Molokai couldn't have a thriving tourist market because it is so hard to get there and back. For example you can waste an hour trying to set up a round trip ticket. You have to get two one way tix. I was lucky to guess the answer to the riddle of why the Travelocity app kept saying, enigmatically, "function not allowed." On this outer island wifi is spotty, sometimes in one location signal strength is excellent, then it's gone, then it comes back as "fair." And by the way, I was probably the only black person on the island. Is that why no one smiled at the airport or little store or park? Who knows? I do know that people who knew each other by name were warm with each other while they looked at me with frank surprise and never offered any extra courtesy than the minimum. Who cares? I would totally go back to step into a world where there's no police force or station, just three guys with rotating shifts, so it's a good thing you can leave your keys in your unlocked car in long term airport parking (on the grass!). Just get your tickets at the airport if you must and do not wait till the day of your desired departure from Molokai and all...

Bathrooms have had toilets and sinks out of order for the entirety of Covid-19.... Also, for some reason they have an entire area blocked off for TSA. They block out every window facing out with TSA screening and have people (when the holding area is open) crammed into an area with tiny windows, and half of it is cordoned off because presumably security can't see into it. So instead of making THAT area the area you get screened, and the windowes area where you sit and wait, it suffers the same thing every place on Molokai suffers and just keeps doing it because "that's the way it's always been done". Never mind it hasn't been used in two years and is prime for remodeling. That traffic was basically non existent for a year and perfect for repairs.

Current waiting area is where you check in since you can't go anywhere else. And since the only airline is BASELINE late, it's always full.

Say "it's a small island airport" all you want. I've lived here my whole life and it's never been worse. Bring a snack and a book.. No stores. Long delays, and only half...

The Molokai Airport at Ho'olehua (view panorama) is the island's main airport, where inter-island planes take off and land. It is located about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Kaunakakai, Molokai's main town.

The airport has one main building where both arrivals and departures take place. You won't have to worry about getting lost here. Even going through security is easy and fast compared to many other airports.

When you arrive on Molokai, you exit the plane right next to the runway and proceed to the building. Your luggage will be brought on a small cart and be dropped off right at the entrance. The car rental counter is also located there. If you need...