Maunaloa

Hawaii's ghost towns are sugar plantation villages — company towns that emptied when the mills closed.

Maunaloa (Hawaiian pronunciation: [mɐwnəˈlowə]) or Mauna Loa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, Hawaiʻi, United States, in the western part of the island of Molokai. The population was 435 at the 2020 census.

The on-the-ground condition of Maunaloa is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Maunaloa is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Maunaloa is roughly 21.1364, -157.2142 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.