Molokai in 11 Snaps: An Instagram Session.

Vacant postcard beaches–Check. Rich Hawaiian culture–Check. Sea cliffs the size of skyscrapers and mules to navigate them with–Check and Check.

Molokai was everything Beth and I had hoped it would be and more. I had an idea what to expect. But it wasn’t until we actually stepped out onto the asphalt from the Cessna and into the island’s atmosphere that things began to click.

Related: Molokai: The Most Hawaiian Place?

It’s hard to imagine that Molokai is part of the same archipelago as Oahu, the Big Island and, even, Maui. I can say with brutal honesty that is one of the most unique places in the world, and a lot of that has to do with the spirit that’s transferred between the island and its people.

We were fortunate to have four days on Molokai. We drove to the farthest ends of Hawaii’s fifth largest island and met a lot of special people in between. So, when it was time for our flight out, Beth and I both felt we were leaving a little piece of us behind.

We’ve got a lot of fantastic stories and photographs that we’re going to be sharing in the coming weeks and months from our trip to Molokai, but I thought I’d lead with a collection of our favorite Instagram photos from our trip. So if a picture is truly worth a 1,000 words, then here are 11,000 about an American paradise found.

The golden sands of Papohaku Beach, one of Hawaii’s biggest beaches.

Beth captured this rainbow on the way to the airport. Upon our arrival on Molokai, we had seen three rainbows within several minutes.

Molokai Plumerias is without a doubt one of the sweetest smelling places on earth.

Renowned mule skinner Buzzy Sproat of the thrilling Kalaupapa Mule Ride.

Riding a mule on the trail to Kalaupapa.

1,700 feet above Kalaupapa on a mule. It doesn’t really get any better than this!

Kalaupapa and the road to somewhere.

Green is the new black in Halawa Valley on Molokai’s east end.

Anakala Pilipo Solatorio talking story about the fabled Halawa Valley and his family’s history there.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow a.k.a. the Mooula Falls in Hawala Valley.

Which snapshot is your favorite?

Disclosure: Our stay on the island was hosted by the Destination Molokai Visitors Bureau; however, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own. And, as always, we maintain complete editorial control over our content.

For more photos from our travels, join us on Instagram!