Franko’s Molokai Reef Creatures Guide

Side 1 shows a mini-map of Molokai, with a some of it’s best diving and snorkeling spots. The map is a taken from Franko’s Map of Maui, side 2, which shows all of Maui County. Molokai appears like a green shark against the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. The ocean has humpback whales, spinner dolphins and Hawaiian monk seals, and thus they are depicted on the blue ocean. Molokai’s main towns and its roads and trails (dirt roads) can be seen. Molokai is not a commonly visited snorkeling destination for tour boats, so those who are lucky enough to explore it’s waters are undergoing a rare experience. This map is representative of Molokai’s beauty, from its dry, desert-like western half, to it’s steep and rugged eastern half, which is prone to support jungles and waterfalls.

Side 2 shows the wonderful reef life of Molokai. Even though Molokai is less visited, it has such great snorkeling and scuba diving that it must have it’s own quality fish card too. This fish card, which measure 6" x 9", is printed on plastic and then laminated so that it is stiff, shiny and waterproof. It has a hole for a lanyard, so you can actually take it diving or snorkeling. I use a thick sea-green rubber band from a one-use underwater camera as an effective lanyard for mine. The reef creatures depicted on these cards are taken from my own artwork on Franko’s Maps of the Hawaiian Islands. The fish shown include over 80 species, including a dozen or so that are found nowhere else on earth. The Hawaiian fish shown are selected from about 435 species that exist in Hawaii, and are based on Franko’s personal exploration. The colors and the means of showing them are based on personal observation. The naming of the fish in Hawaiian as well as English is helped by the experts at the Maui Ocean Center, The Pacific Whale Foundation, Hanauma Bay rangers, The Waikiki Aquarium, and local knowledge. My favorite is the Humuhumu Nukunuku Apua’a, the Hawaii State Fish. I also love to see green sea turtles. Molokai is both fabulous and friendly. It is called Molokai, The Friendly Isle.