As you round the corner of Kamehameha Highway on Oahu’s Windward side, the statuesque Mokolii islet comes into prominent view in the calm waters of Kaneohe Bay.
In Hawaiian, moko lii means “little lizard.”
According to Hawaiian mythology, when Pele’s sister, Hiiaka slayed the lizard, all that remained were one of its tail flukes, the islet. The islet is also known as Chinaman’s Hat, for its rice picker hat like shape.
You can explore Mokolii via kayak, or for the Olympian-fit, by stand up paddleboard, just make sure it’s low tide.
Park at the Kualoa Regional Park; it’s from where you’ll launch.
Once on Mokolii, you can see stunning views of Windward Oahu, and the island’s emerald Koolau Mountains. From the backside of the islet you can see Oahu’s Mokapu peninsula, separating Kaneohe and Kailua bays.
There are two beaches on Mokolii. (Head to Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, located just before Kailua Beach Park for rentals. There, you can rent single and double kayaks for a half-day—four hours—full day, or even one week. Guided tours are also available.
Note that Oahu commercial vendors don’t rent kayaks on Sundays.