Kanemitsu Bakery & Coffee Shop.

Operating in Kaunakakai since 1922, this family-owned institution is a cornerstone of Molokai life. By day, it functions as a straightforward diner where locals gather in orange booths for loco moco, taro pancakes, and saimin. While the glass cases are filled with taro donuts and sweet bread during business hours, the bakery’s true claim to fame occurs after dark. Starting around 7:30 PM, a "secret" nighttime service begins in the back alley. Visitors line up at a sliding window to buy oversized loaves of "hot bread" straight from the oven, which are sliced open and slathered with fillings like cream cheese, strawberry jam, and cinnamon sugar. It is a singular island ritual—part late-night snack, part social gathering—that has remained largely unchanged for decades.