Kamakou, Volcanic summit in Maui County, Hawaii.

Kamakou is the 1,512-metre summit of the extinct East Molokai shield volcano, which forms the east side of Molokai. The summit and its surroundings lie within the 2,774-acre Molokai Forest Reserve, a forested upland holding more than 250 rare native Hawaiian plants. The Nature Conservancy also manages the Kamakou Preserve here and leads monthly tours.

The Kamakou formed millions of years ago through volcanic activity that shaped the Hawaiian Islands. Over time the volcano became extinct, and in recent decades the area was set aside as a protected reserve.

For Native Hawaiians, this summit held spiritual importance and guided how they used the land around it. You can sense this connection when walking through the reserve and learning from local guides about traditional practices.

Access to the summit is through monthly tours run by The Nature Conservancy, which require booking ahead. The reserve covers 2,774 acres of the East Molokai shield volcano, and the climb reaches 4,961 feet, so bring sturdy shoes and rain gear for changing weather.

The area holds more than 250 plant species found nowhere else in the world, many of them rare and specially adapted to mountain conditions. It also serves as a refuge for endangered birds such as the Molokai thrush.