Description
Located high in the mountains of East Molokai, Kamakou Preserve is a magnificent natural treasure and a lush rainforest like no other. Named for Molokai’s tallest peak, the preserve is part of the Kawela watershed, and is one of the island’s largest sources of fresh water, providing 7 million gallons of water every day to Molokai residents.
In the depths of its damp, moss-covered forest, towering ferns overlook miniature flowering plants, spiders catch prey in net-like horizontal webs, and multi-colored snails perch on the undersides of dark green leaves. The striped snails were once so plentiful the wind passing along their shells sounded like a melody to accompany the magnificent songs of dozens of native forest birds. Four thousand feet below at the waters’ edge, the largest continuous fringing reef in the U.S. skims the coastline, providing sustenance to the people of Molokai.
To learn about the connection between Kamakou and the coral reefs below, as well as see the results of a collaborative effort to transform Kawela from barren dirt to healthy native shrubland, watch I Ola Ka ʻĀina|That The Land Be Healed.
