I did the Molokai Mule Ride almost a decade ago on assignment for a travel publication (This video gives you a great flavor for it). The ride was spectacular. The views from the trail as it zigzags down the steep cliff towards the Kalaupapa Peninsula are nothing short of jaw-dropping. The ride is a it bone-jarring (and not for those suffering from vertigo or fear of heights) but its a rare chance in Hawaii to see untouched vistas at a stately pace in the quiet of a truly natural surrounding. The commentary from the guides on the way down is worthy and pithy. I'll deal with Kalaupapa in another post -- it's very interesting and tragic but not as cool as the mule ride. I plan to take my children over to do that ride in the next five years and everyone who goes to Maui should come over and do it. The ride is not cheap but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than other activities that are far less rewarding.

Previous Posts: Steep Cliffs Worth the Ride, Molokai Travel for Families

—Alex, 12/27/08