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Welcome to the audio-described version of Kalaupapa National Historical Park's official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that Kalaupapa National Historical Park visitors receive. The brochure explores the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is administered by the National Park Service in cooperation with several Hawaii state agencies. One of the park's primary missions is to protect the lifestyle and privacy of the aging resident community. In accordance with residents wishes and State of Hawaii Department of Health regulations, Kalaupapa is a closed community.
Use of the Kalaupapa overlook on “topside” Moloka‘i is unrestricted. However, public access to the peninsula is limited. Entry by the general public requires a reservation with the locally owned and operated Damien Tours (808-567-6171). Your reservation includes the mandatory Department of Health access permit required of all outside visitors and guests of residents. Moloka‘i Mule Ride, Inc. (1-800-567-7550 or www.muleride.com) also offers tours by reservation only. Space on the 3- to 4-hour tours is limited. Days of operation may vary. A maximum of 100 visitors to the peninsula per day is allowed.
With a confirmed reservation, you can also hike down the Kalaupapa Trail and join the tour at the bottom. The trail is accessed off Hawaii 470 near Pālā‘au State Park and the Kalaupapa overlook. The 3-mile trail down the cliff face has a 1,600-foot elevation change with 26 switchbacks. Attempt the hike only if you are in very good physical condition, carry plenty of water, and have sun protection and sturdy footwear.
No medical services are available to the public at Kalaupapa. The peninsula cannot be accessed by private vehicle. No overnight stays. Camping in Kalawao County is strictly prohibited. For further information on visiting Kalaupapa, including access by plane, visit www.nps.gov/kala.
The front side of the brochure orients visitors to the history of Kalaupapa National Historical Park. It features the scenic panorama with the Kalapaupa settlement on the flat peninsula and backdrop of towering sea cliffs, historic images of the late 1800’s, and how it now is revered as a peaceful and sacred place today.
Images pull you into the historic era long-known worldwide for its astounding story. Through the establishment of isolation settlements, first at Kalawao and later at Kalaupapa, this period tore apart Hawaiian society as the kingdom of Hawaii tried to control a feared and largely misunderstood disease.
The text and associated photo descriptions are presented under their own sections. These sections provide many descriptive details about what the areas look like and information about the site's history and cultural understandings – Kalaupapa is truly a land of “beauty springing from the breast of pain.”
DESCRIBING: Color photograph of Kalaupapa peninsula on a bright, sunny day
SYNOPSIS: The Panoramic aerial color photograph taken from offshore, shows the lush, green Kalaupapa peninsula in the center forefront on a sunny day and extends back to a mountain range across the brochure from left to right with Topside Molokai at the peak with blue skies above. Shown on the peninsula include an airstrip, Molokai Light Station, the Kalawao Settlement with St. Philomena Church and Siloama Church, Kauhako Crater, and the Kalaupapa Settlement.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The focal point of the image in the foreground is the broad, flat, leaf-like shaped peninsula, wide and expansive and rimmed with black lava rock. The peninsula has shades of green as well as some barren spots of brown. Dark blue ocean surrounds the peninsula on the left, right, and bottom, with waves breaking on the mostly black lava rock coastline creating whitewash.
On the bottom of the peninsula is a small, single airstrip dwarfed by the peninsula’s overall size. The airstrip runs parallel to the ocean. Just beyond the left-hand side of the airstrip is the Molokai Light Station (lighthouse)—a white tower on a slightly elevated hill.
The Kauhako Crater sits at a slightly elevated position, dividing the peninsula with the Kalawao Settlement on the left and the Kalaupapa Settlement on the right. The crater itself is flattened out, with faint edges, sloping gradually to the settlements and the airstrip to the bottom.
On the left side of the peninsula is the Kalawao Settlement with St. Philomena Church and Siloama Church. The settlement and churches are not clearly visible with only a few dirt roads running through the peninsula’s shades of green and brown.
On the right side of the peninsula is the Kalaupapa Settlement which is more developed, with manicured green grass, trees, and buildings, especially along the coastline.
The mountain range of interlocking ridges extends from left to right in the distance with a smooth horizontal profile. Several thick ridges protrude toward the peninsula and ocean forming steep narrow valleys. The two central mountain ridges are sheared off, providing a triangular pyramid-like mountain face. Light frosty, greenish-gray salt-air mist is trapped in the valleys creating a hazy view. Several small offshore islands with surf breaking sit on the left of the peninsula. Beyond, the mountain range extends to Topside Molokai. Blue skies with sparse tufts of clouds are over the mountains.
CAPTION: A cataclysmic landslide and subsequent offshore volcanic eruption formed the stunning geologic and scenic panorama we see today—the flat, leaf-like peninsula against towering sea cliffs.
CREDIT: NPS / RICHARD A. COOKE III
QUOTE: Don’t desecrate what happened here, not because of my lifetime, but because of those who came before me … I would really like to see this place stay sacred … sacred in honor of those who died here because of the disease, those who fought for allowances, fought for their clothing, fought for their medication, fought for their freedom.
—Henry Nalaielua, Kalaupapa resident
IMAGE 1 of 4: Mountains, settlement, and ocean - Kalawao settlement
DESCRIBING: Black and white photo of landscape
SYNOPSIS: Image of original Kalawao settlement, rows of houses on a flat plain in the foreground, tall, steep mountains at the back yielding to clouded skies and ocean on the left.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The flat plain of the peninsula in the foreground shows rugged rocky land, a horizontal row of house roofs are visible. Just beyond it is another row of houses, smaller in scale showing depth and distance. A third straight row of even smaller appearing houses runs in a perpendicular direction away from the foreground houses. That third row cuts through an open field area and leads you to the base of a flat mountain face protruding straight up almost 2,000 feet. To its left, the vague silhouette of several more cliff faces step backwards towards the left forming the coastline. The lighting has an effect that it is cloudy out of frame, with a band of light streaking at a 45 degree angle across the photo from the top left to bottom right corner, highlighting the houses in its path.
The image is not very sharp, consistent with early 1900s era black and white photography.
CAPTION: Kalawao Settlement ca. 1900; original Baldwin Home for Boys is at lower right.
CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII—MANOA
IMAGE 2 of 4: Group of people
DESCRIBING: A small, rectangular sepia photo of a group of people
SYNOPSIS: Father Damien posing for a photograph with girls sitting in the field in front of him with horses in the background
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This is a posed, slightly fuzzy sepia photo, taken on a bright day, of Fr. Damien, with several individuals sitting on a dried grass field in front of him, and four horses behind them.
Fr. Damien has his hands clasped and is kneeling, and the girls are sitting on the ground in two rows of six. Fr. Damien is wearing a dark robe and a dark wide-brimmed hat. Eleven girls are dressed in white long-sleeved clothes, while the third girl from the left in the front row, is wearing dark clothing. The girl in dark clothes is smiling broadly, while everyone else appears serious.
In the center and the right of the background are four dark horses, saddled and waiting in front of a tall white picket fence. Barely visible behind the fence are two other horses.
CAPTION: Father Damien (center) with young girls, probably members of the choir, 1870s.
CREDIT: BISHOP MUSEUM
IMAGE 3 of 4: Close up image of settlement
DESCRIBING: A small, rectangular sepia photo of a landscape
SYNOPSIS: The Kalaupapa Settlement in the early 1900s with a man walking in front of the settlement and mountain range in the backdrop taken on a bright day.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This slightly fuzzy sepia picture of the Kalaupapa Settlement was taken on a bright day. The view appears to be a low elevation aerial shot. There are several (a dozen or more) very small, single story white cottages, clustered behind a continuous wooden stick fence. The roofs are all grey, with the exception of the one front-right, which is white. There is a door through the fence on the left hand side. In the middle of the settlement is a one-story church with a tall steeple. In the background loom two steep mountain ridges, converging on the right. There is a hint of a valley between the mountains and the settlement. In the foreground on the left corner are some small palm branches, and on the right foreground is a lone individual standing, the only person visible in the picture.
CAPTION: Kalaupapa Settlement, early 1900s.
CREDIT: BISHOP MUSEUM
IMAGE 4 of 4: Circular image of building
DESCRIBING: Oval color photograph of a church
SYNOPSIS: Image of a white church and steeple surrounded by lush green trees in the background and flowering reddish buds in the foreground taken on a bright, cloudy day.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The oval image is fuzzy around the edges with the focus on the church. The small, single-story white church stands with a triangle arched roof with a small triangle arched roof over the entrance. The church steeple rests at the front of the church roof. The steeple doubles the height of the church with a rectangular box on the front part of the roof peak leading up to a 6-sided window structure and up to the steep, brown, 6-sided pointed peak.
The church is surrounded by lush green trees in the background with pure white of clouds covering across the sky. The manicured lawn gives way to a path leading to the church entrance on the right of the image with flowering reddish buds on a tree to the left of the image. Gray lava-like rocks sit at the bottom of the image.
CAPTION: Siloama Church, old Kalawao Settlement
CREDIT: NPS / JENNIFER CERNY
RELATED TEXT:
Surrounded mostly by ocean and cut off from the rest of Moloka‘i by 1,600-foot cliffs, the Kalaupapa Peninsula has always been one of the most remote places in Hawaii. Native Hawaiians lived here for many centuries, but in the mid-1800s Kalaupapa’s remoteness secured its role as the setting for two powerful—and tragic—human sagas.
The first was the displacement of well-established indigenous Hawaiian communities in 1865 and again in the mid-1890s. This cleared the way for another tragic set of events—the forced exile of those afflicted with or suspected of having leprosy. The Hawaiian government’s removal of people from where their ancestors had lived severed 500 years’ worth of cultural ties to the ‘āina (land). The establishment of isolation settlements, first at Kalawao and later at Kalaupapa, tore apart Hawaiian society as the kingdom (and later territory) of Hawaii tried to control a feared and largely misunderstood disease.
The broken connections with the ‘āina and the impact of nearly 8,000 family members “lost” to Kalaupapa are still felt in Hawaii today. And yet a remarkable sense of community endures through the countless stories of love, compassion, support, faith, and perseverance among the afflicted as well as those kōkua (helpers) who came to serve.
Long-known worldwide for its astounding story, Kalaupapa achieved formal recognition in 1976 when it was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1980 Kalaupapa National Historical Park was established to preserve the natural and cultural aspects of the peninsula and to maintain the home of the remaining residents.
Occupied by former patients who wish to live out the rest of their lives in peace and quiet, Kalaupapa’s residential community lies within the Moloka‘i North Shore National Natural Landmark. There are spectacular north shore sea cliffs, narrow lush valleys and vital watersheds, a volcanic crater, remnant verdant rainforest, and lonely offshore islands. This forms diverse habitat for native flora and fauna, some found nowhere else in the world. These lands are also home to one of the richest intact archeological landscapes in the Hawaiian Islands.
Blanketed in natural splendor from mauka to makai (mountain to the sea), Kalaupapa today is revered as a peaceful and sacred place. People come here for education, quiet contemplation, and spiritual renewal. In this setting you can learn about the strength of treasured kupuna (elders) who, in the face of adversity and stigmatization by a disease society did not understand, had the courage and will to survive, make the most of what little they had, and lead happy, productive lives. In the words of author Robert Louis Stevenson, Kalaupapa is truly a land of “beauty springing from the breast of pain.”
The back side of the brochure orientates visitors to the Kalaupapa settlement, the enduring spirit of the sacred ground, and how to plan your visit along with a map and points of interest.
It features images of the settlements in the late 1800s a map of the Kalaupapa settlement, things to see, and info for more information. About half of the images are black and white and the others images are color.
The text, associated maps and photo descriptions are presented under their own sections. In addition to the map and photo descriptions, the text sections provide many descriptive details about what the areas look like and information about getting there and what trails and amenities are available.
IMAGE 1 of 7: Two people standing side-by-side
DESCRIBING: A small, black-and-white oval photograph
SYNOPSIS: The black and white photograph depicts a poignant moment frozen in time. The composition centers around a woman and child standing with a railing directly behind and several palms across the background. Both figures are elegantly dressed. The woman has short hair, holds her hands together at the side, and wears a long-sleeved black dress that is fitted at her neck with white beads at the top. The girl stands with arms at her side, has long dark hair, and wears a delicate long-sleeved light-colored dress that is fitted at her neck with white beads at the top along with shoulder flaps and two white stripes across the bottom. The image is imbued with a nostalgic atmosphere, highlighted by the monochromatic tones that emphasize the emotional depth of the relationship portrayed.
CAPTION: Girls at Bishop Home
CREDIT: FROM YESTERDAY AT KALAUPAPA BY EMMETT CAHILL
IMAGE 2 of 7: Table with benches
DESCRIBING: small, black-and-white rectangular photograph
SYNOPSIS: This photo depicts a sunny longhouse room with a long table dividing it down the center. Shown in the image include the table, benches, and the interior of the longhouse room. The image conveys an eerie, sterile atmosphere that reflects the isolation and confinement felt by former patients.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A long and narrow whitewashed room is divided down the center by a long, white, and narrow table that extends fully from the front of the room to the back. Two white slatted wooden benches with backs and armrests are located against the wall on the right side of the photo and two benches are on the wall against the left side. The left side bench closest to the bottom of the photo is dark and the far one is white. There are seven opaque windows along the left wall and some windows barely visible on the right wall. There is a doorway on the end wall, slightly left of center. The room is brightly sunlit with three square patches of sunlight illuminating the right side of the table.
CAPTION: Long House, the visitor-patient meeting hall
CREDIT: HABS / HAER
IMAGE 3 of 7: Church building with people standing outside
DESCRIBING: Black and white historical photograph
SYNOPSIS: This photo depicts two men with a group of young children posing for a photo in front of the St. Philomena Church building. The photograph shows the mostly complete renovation process of the church during the Kalawao settlement. Shown in the photograph include the church building, a group of children, two older men (presumably priests), and the Pali, or sea cliffs, in the background.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
The light gray church stretches horizontally from the far left side of the photo to the right side and has a white, gable roof. Four narrow, arched bullet-shaped windows line the church, on the right side of the photo, with wooden scaffolding between the third and fourth windows. A belltower rises above the roofline on the far right side. Slightly left of center, a porte cochere with ornate trim, other relief carvings, and topped with a cross, frame a double door entry. The right church door is open with a gentleman in a suit standing on the step in front of it, another man in dark clothing stands on the step in front of the closed left side door. To the right of the door, children pose for the photo in two rows, six seated in the front row and ten standing in the back row, with the last child in the back row offset to the right. The children are standing with their arms crossed. In the background of the church, a dark mountain rises with fog just beyond the far left mountain ridge. In the lower right foreground, the top part of a light colored picket fence is visible.
CAPTION: St. Philomena Church, ca. 1890.
CREDIT: DAMIEN MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES
IMAGE 4 of 7: Physician's Residence
DESCRIBING: Small black and white historical photograph
SYNOPSIS: This photo shows the front of the Physician’s Residence. Shown in the photo include a wooden gate with dense greenery on either side of it, the roof of the house, and some tropical trees in the background. The house sits in the background of the photograph, and it is barely visible behind the thick vegetation that wraps up next to the gate.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows the Physician’s Residence in the center of the photo behind dense vegetation with a prominent entry gate with pillars and walkway leading to the residence. The entry is flanked by square top pillars with a wooden picket fence gate spanning between. A wooden brace extends from bottom left to top right of the gate. Attached by hinges on the left post and a slide latch on the right. A tall panax hedge extends on both sides from the gateway to the edge. They consist of multiple thick woody branch like stalks topped with hand-sized leaves. Beyond the gate a face of a low pitched gable end of a roof is visible on a light colored cottage. A small overhanging roof extends forward with extensive vines covering a porch with a window in the center. A cement walkway extends from beneath the gate to a small set of stairs leading up to the porch. In the background behind the house is a Norfolk pine tree, a few coconut trees and on the right of those is a loulu palm tree and other vegetation. The foreground appears to be packed dirt.
CAPTION: Physician’s residence, with gate and hedge to control patient access
CREDIT: HABS / HAER
IMAGE 5 of 7: Person with fishing rod
DESCRIBING: Small print of a color painting
SYNOPSIS: This is a painting of a person holding a fishing rod walking along a shoreline. The painting is monochromatic using different hues of the color orange. Shown in the photo include a person holding a fishing rod, a bright sun, a reflective ocean shoreline, and some rolling hills in the background.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A pale yellow sun is positioned in the upper left, first quadrant and sunken into a light, tangerine-orange hued sky. Paint streaks of light yellow, dark orange, and white softly run through the sky near the sun, almost as clouds, creating the illusion of a bright, overcast day. The landscape below is flat with a tawny brown hue, reflecting the orange hues of the sky. Cutting across the painting, dark brown rolling hills run horizontally, separating the boundary between land and sky. The hills start tall on the right side of the painting and taper to an indistinguishable line on the left side. Horizontal paint strokes of white and yellow begin wide at the bottom center of the painting and taper off of the middle left edge of the painting creating the sun sheen on the water. The center focal point of the painting is a dark silhouette of a person standing along the shoreline in the distance. They are facing forward and standing in shallow water with the sea on their right side and the land to their left. The sea is calm and the same tawny brown color as the land, only distinguishable by the accentuated shoreline and some delicate strokes of white paint creating the illusion of ripples in the water. The person is wearing a dark overcoat, pants, and a flat brimmed hat. They are holding a fishing pole in their left hand and a small basket in their right. Their left knee is slightly bent outwards. The reflection of the person can be seen in the white tide-line directly in front of them. In the bottom right quadrant of the painting there is a cluster of rocks, and the artist has signed her name “Elaine Remigio” in fine yellow print.
CAPTION: Painting by resident Elaine Remigio
CREDIT: COURTESY MARY CARMACK
IMAGE 6 of 7: Group of people standing and sitting
DESCRIBING: Small black and white historical photograph
SYNOPSIS: This photo shows a group of men with Hansen’s Disease near the shoreline of the ocean. The men, of various ages, are standing and sitting along the ocean swell and facing the camera. The photo is candid and does not appear to be posed. A rugged, mountainous terrain is positioned behind the men.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In the background of the photo, dark and arid sea cliffs are layered at various heights and slope downward left toward the ocean. Large rocks and patches of grass are scattered randomly throughout the cliffs. In the bottom left quadrant of the photo, a white-washed ocean swell surges against the shoreline creating sea foam. In the center of the foreground, there is a tall man standing, body facing toward the ocean, while looking over his left shoulder at the camera. A young boy stands directly to the right side of him, mostly blocked by the tall man with only his head, shoulder, and leg visible to the camera. Both display disdainful expressions. In the bottom right quadrant of the photo, six young men sit clustered at varying heights near the shore. Four of the six men sit closest to the ocean and the other two men sit behind them. All of the men in the photo are wearing white long-sleeved shirts with dark pants, except for the first boy in the second row. He is wearing a dark gray horizontal striped long-sleeved shirt and holding a white-colored object in his left hand. All of the men are wearing wide-brimmed hats with textured bands wrapped around the crown of the hat. The men are facing the camera with neutral expressions, except for the two young boys at the end of the front row who are turned and distracted looking at a footlong object in the farthest boy’s hand.
CAPTION: Men at Kalawao.
CREDIT: BISHOP MUSEUM
IMAGE 7 of 7: Settlement with buildings, people, and horses
DESCRIBING: A large, rectangular black-and-white panorama of a settlement with cottages, people, and horses
SYNOPSIS: This photo shows the Kalawao Settlement. This is a landscape photograph that shows the bustle of the early settlement. It is set on a bright day with many people moving about their daily activities. Shown in the image include clusters of people, horses, cottages, and farm lands that encapsulate the energy of the settlement.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A barren dirt road separates the picture in half vertically. On the left half of the photo, there are multiple white cottages with A-frame roofs and covered front porches with people on them. A white wooden picket fence surrounds the cottages. In the bottom left quadrant in front of the fence, there is a small white barn and a white shed with a slanted roof on the left side. A dark stone wall with a horizontal wooden gate runs in front of the barn and shed. On the ride side of the dirt road, there are more cottages with hoards of people congregating in front. There are both men and women standing around with some people sitting on horses. There are some men on the slightly elevated front porch of the cottage talking to the people congregating below. There is a horse-drawn wagon on the right side of the dirt road with people moving toward the commotion. On the right side, next to the cottages, there is a grassy field with large boulders and multiple horses grazing. of a barn are visible in the far right side of the field. In the upper right quadrant, behind the cottages, there are smaller barn areas with a few more horses grazing. Two men sit facing left, in the grassy foreground of the bottom right quadrant. They are wearing dark flat brimmed hats, suit coats, pants, loafers, and sitting with their legs stretched straight-out in front of them. The man closest to the camera is looking neutrally into the camera while the other man looks across the dirt road at a group of women. Across the road, five women wearing long dress overcoats and sun hats are facing toward the men. A small spotted dog sits in front of the women, with its back to the camera. The background of the photo is barren land with some scattered shrubbery and a few more white cottages off in the distance.
CAPTION: Kalawao Settlement, after 1886. By 1932, the entire residential settlement had shifted from the chilly, windward location of Kalawao to the calmer, leeward side of the peninsula at Kalaupapa.
CREDIT: BISHOP MUSEUM
QUOTE:
They took my family away one step at a time, leaving my mother at home. One by one, she lost almost everybody close to her. As a little girl, her mother, brother and sister were sent to Kalaupapa. Then her husband got sent away. Then she lost every one of her kids in just a few years. Thank God, one of them got to come home. She just experienced all this loss, and still, the love was there.
—Richard M. Marks, Kalaupapa resident
RELATED TEXT:
Early in 1865 King Kamehameha V faced an agonizing decision. Leprosy was spreading throughout the islands and there seemed no way to stop it. Pressured by the western-influenced Hawaiian board of health, Kamehameha signed the “Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy.” In a desperate attempt to control the disease, the act authorized forced isolation of those who showed symptoms.
On January 6, 1866, 12 men and women became the first of thousands forced into exile on the Kalaupapa Peninsula. Over the years, many Hawaiians resisted the isolation policy by hiding. Others protested by making the journey with their loved ones as kōkua, or helpers. One of the most notable of these was Jonathan Napela, who accompanied his wife Kitty in 1873 and went on to become one of Kalaupapa’s most respected leaders. The plight of those exiled also drew the attention of religious communities. The most famous individual was Joseph DeVeuster, a 33-year-old Belgian priest who arrived in 1873. Known as Father Damien, he was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 2009. In promoting the dignity of those afflicted and improving conditions for the afflicted, Father Damien worked with Queen Kapiolani, Mother Marianne Cope, Joseph Dutton, the Catholic Brothers and Sisters, and many others.
Leprosy—Hansen’s disease—affects the nerves, skin, upper respiratory tract, and eyes, often causing changes in one’s physical appearance and permanent damage if left untreated. For centuries past and well into the early years of Kalaupapa, a leprosy diagnosis amounted to a death sentence. Today leprosy is easily curable with proper diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, about 95 percent of the world’s population has a natural immunity, making leprosy one of the least contagious of all modern-day communicable diseases.
With the advent of a cure in the 1940s, life at Kalaupapa changed dramatically. Patients could now hold jobs and attend sporting events, theater, dances, and arts and crafts programs. Organizations emerged like the local Lions Club, historical society, and scout troops for girls and boys. On holidays there were donkey races, parades, and apple-eating contests. Music was ever-present with bands and choirs. Kalaupapa’s people have always displayed generosity toward the outside world. During World War I they were praised for their exemplary contributions to Red Cross relief efforts in Europe.
Although Hawaii’s isolation policy was not officially abolished until 1969, forced isolation at Kalaupapa ended in 1949. Celebrities like Shirley Temple, John Wayne, and the von Trapp Family Singers came here to perform at the settlement, an acknowledgment that public attitudes about leprosy were changing. Patients began traveling to other islands, and in later years to other countries including Spain, Belgium, China, and Japan, where they have served as international human rights advocates and goodwill ambassadors.
Current residents have been free to leave Kalaupapa for decades, yet choose to remain. Once a prison, now a refuge, Kalaupapa is their home. As you tour the national historical park, please respect their privacy.
DESCRIBING:
This is a map of the Kalaupapa Settlement
SYNOPSIS:
The map shows the settlement's location near the ocean, the key points of interest and the roads connecting them
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
This is a map of the Kalaupapa Settlement, showing key points of interest, and all the roadways running through the small town. Roughly three-quarters of the map shows land in gray with the ocean in blue on the left edge. The icons and names of the key points of interest are shown in green, the roads in white, and other unnamed structures are gray. A small legend at the bottom shows a scale of 1.5 inches equals 1000 feet and a directional symbol pointing to the top of the map as north. The map is a grid of crisscrossing roads, roughly in the shape of a loosely clenched hand, with the wrist at lower right, and fingers at the top left. There are only three roads entering/leaving the settlement. One is to the bottom left, one to the upper left (which leads to the airstrip), and a third to the lower right. At the very far left bottom corner, indicated by hashmarks is the trail leading to the "top side" of Molokai.
The main road starts at the top of the map and is labeled "To airport." It follows a section of cemeteries on the coastline until it enters the settlement proper, continuing past the Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) on the right side of the road, then on the left is St. Francis Church followed by the State Department of Health Headquarters, the bar and the Park Headquarters also all on the left. Then next on the right is the Bishop Home complex and the monuments for Mother Marianne and Father Damien. The last stretch of road goes past Kenso Seki's house then Olivia Breitha's house on the right, til it exits the town and continues to the very bottom edge of the map ending at the New Baldwin Home for Boys Site (ruins). Just at the tail end of that road, a black dotted line veers off to the left corner and is labeled "Trail to 'Topside' Moloka'i".
Between this main road and the coastline runs a parallel road that begins at an intersection at the Church of Latter-Day Saints. It swings left then passes through some unlabeled buildings in gray icons, then runs past a finger of land on the left labeled "Kalaupapa Landing" with a Warehouse adjacent and the store across from it. Continuing down this road, are the Kanaana Hou United Church of Christ on the right then the Care Home. On the left are the Visitors' Quarters (historic), the Long House (historical) and the Wilcox Memorial Building (historic). The road starts to curve to the right, taking it past the Bay View Home complex on the left made up of several large buildings, before reconnecting with the first road near Kenso Seki's house.
In the middle of this second road, near the Kalaupapa landing, a perpendicular road begins and runs east to the right side edge of the map.CREDIT: NPS
DESCRIBING: A small color photograph oval in shape up and down
SYNOPSIS: The image features a Hawaiian-themed scene with a focus on the concept of "ALOHA KALAUPAPA." The main element is a carved coconut vase that is intricately designed with Hawaiian motifs and has the words "Aloha Kalaupapa" carved in it. The coconut is situated prominently in the center of the image. The coconut vase is surrounded by dense green leaf foliage and yellow flowers that are growing out from the coconut vase.
CAPTION: Coconut vase handcrafted by resident Kenso Seki.
CREDIT: NPS
RELATED TEXT:
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is administered by the National Park Service in cooperation with several Hawaii state agencies. One of the parks primary missions is to protect the lifestyle and privacy of the aging resident community. In accordance with residents wishes and State of Hawaii Department of Health regulations, Kalaupapa is a closed community.
Use of the Kalaupapa overlook on “topside” Moloka‘i is unrestricted. However, public access to the peninsula is limited. Entry by the general public requires a reservation with the locally owned and operated Damien Tours (808-567-6171). Your reservation includes the mandatory Department of Health access permit required of all outside visitors and guests of residents. Moloka‘i Mule Ride, Inc. (1-800-567-7550 or www.muleride.com) also offers tours by reservation only. Space on the 3- to 4-hour tours is limited. Days of operation may vary. A maximum of 100 visitors to the peninsula per day is allowed.
With a confirmed reservation, you can also hike down the Kalaupapa Trail and join the tour at the bottom. The trail is accessed off Hawaii 470 near Pālā‘au State Park and the Kalaupapa overlook. The 3-mile trail down the cliff face has a 1,600-foot elevation change with 26 switchbacks. Attempt the hike only if you are in very good physical condition, carry plenty of water, and have sun protection and sturdy footwear.
No medical services are available to the public at Kalaupapa. The peninsula cannot be accessed by private vehicle. No overnight stays. Camping in Kalawao County is strictly prohibited. For further information on visiting Kalaupapa, including access by plane, visit www.nps.gov/kala.
IMAGE 1 of 3: Aerial view of peninsula
DESCRIBING: A rectangular color photo of Kalaupapa peninsula on a bright, sunny day
SYNOPSIS: This is a rectangular color photo looking down on the Kalaupapa Settlement peninsula with the surrounding ocean, taken from a high ridge (referred to as “top side”) in the right foreground.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In the photo, the Kalaupapa Settlement peninsula juts out into the ocean, to the left. The photo at the top, far left, land lower left shows a calm, blue ocean. The ocean at the top is a dark indigo, and the ocean at the lower left is a bright lighter blue with cloud shadows in some areas. The shoreline is rimmed with foamy white breaking surf. There is a bright sky with a few light puffy clouds.
The bottom right foreground of the picture is not very distinguishable because of very dark shadows. There is a small streak of bright green cuts across the bottom right corner. The majority of peninsula is a light green, expanding across the middle of the picture. The settlement itself is located in the very center of the picture, with clusters of small buildings visible.
CAPTION: Kalaupapa Peninsula viewed from “topside” Moloka‘i. Kalaupapa Settlement.
CREDIT: JEFF GNASS
IMAGE 2 of 3: Teal building
DESCRIBING: A small, rectangular color photo of a large entertainment hall surrounded by coconut trees.
SYNOPSIS: The image depicts a symmetrical building with a prominent gabled roof and teal walls. It features a front porch spanning the entire width of the building, accessible via 2 step stairs in the center, flanked by narrow pillars and railings. The structure is surrounded by coconut trees, suggesting a tropical or subtropical setting. This building, known as Paschoal Social Hall, served as the hub of community life.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image depicts a charming building nestled in a tropical setting with coconut trees blowing in the breeze. The building features a symmetrical facade with a prominent double gabled dark shingle roof which extends across the entire width, creating an aesthetically balanced look.
T building has a faint light-green hue especially where shaded. White trim outlines the edges, windows, and doors. The building stands slightly elevated above ground level, accessible via central stairs flanked by white pillars and railings. Two white doors lead into the structure. A large open front porch is right outside the front doors with a stairway leading to the center of the second floor. The building only has two small porthole windows and one large rectangular window leading inside on the first floor. The doors and windows are secured with white wood except for one small porthole that is black as it looks to lead to the interior. One open rectangular window is on one side of the deck and the other is open and accessible by steps.
Surrounding the building, green grass and tall palm trees sway in the breeze, evoking a serene, subtropical ambiance. A dirt pathway leads to the main entry. A small building and vehicle sit in the distance.
CAPTION: The hub of community life, Paschoal Social Hall had movie nights, dances, theater, Lions Club banquets, Aloha Week celebrations, and performances by famous entertainers.
CREDIT: NPS
IMAGE 3 of 3: Crater
DESCRIBING: A small, rectangular color landscape photo
SYNOPSIS: The image showcases a vast area of lush greenery with a mountain range in the distance. At the center of the scene is a low-profile volcano with a large, circular depression filled with vegetation resembling an impact crater or sinkhole, standing out against the surrounding flat terrain.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image captures a vast expanse of lush greenery stretching out in all directions with mountains in the background. Dominating the center of the scene is a large, circular depression filled with dense vegetation, which stands out prominently against the surrounding flat terrain. This feature resembles an impact crater or sinkhole, with its edges gently sloping down into the center. The vegetation within the depression appears slightly different in texture and color compared to the surrounding forest, suggesting a unique microenvironment. Except for a couple of trails to the crater, the absence of visible structures, roads, or people indicates that this location is remote and undisturbed by human activity. The sun is shining on the landscape and leaves about half of the crater shaded while allowing the sunlight to illuminate the other half of the vibrant greenery in the crater.
CAPTION: An offshore volcanic eruption at Pu‘u ‘Uao, which resulted in the remnant Kauhakō Crater, created Kalaupapa Peninsula.
CREDIT: R. RATKOWSKI
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Bus tours, often over rough roads, include the Kalaupapa Settlement’s points of interest: the Bishop Home for Girls, the old hospital ruins, the boat landing and Visitors’ Quarters, St. Francis Church, and the bookstore. See, on the peninsula’s east side, the Kalawao Settlement area, St. Philomena Church, Siloama Church, the site of the old Baldwin Home for Boys, and the remains of the US Leprosy Investigation Station. Bus tours offer spectacular views of the coastline and valleys.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about the National Park Service, visit www.nps.gov.
ADDRESS: Kalaupapa National Historical Park, PO Box 2222, Kalaupapa, HI 96742
PHONE NUMBER: 808-567-6802
WEBSITE: www.nps.gov/kala