Day 88: Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Moloka’i, Hawai’i
📌APIA Every Day (88) - Kalaupapa National Historical Park, located on the island of Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi, was established in 1980 to safeguard the histories of two leper colonies that operated from 1866 to 1969 in the Kalaupapa peninsula. In 1865, as a response to the spread of leprosy, the Hawaiian government implemented laws to segregate individuals with the disease. Native Hawaiians were forcibly displaced from Kalaupapa to make room for the isolation settlement, leading to the disruption of cultural bonds and family connections, profoundly impacting Hawaiian society. The settlements, initially in Kalawao later expanded to Kalaupapa overseen by the Board of Health. In January 1866, the first group of nine men and three women were dropped off at the mouth of Waikolu Valley, the nearest accessible point to Kalawao on the southeast side of the peninsula. By October of the same year, 101 men and 41 women had been left to perish at Kalawao. The settlements, initially in Kalawao later expanded to Kalaupapa overseen by the Board of Health
Initially, the government expected patients to inhabit the houses vacated by the Hawaiians and sustain themselves by tending crops. However, it soon became evident that most patients were too debilitated or disheartened to be self-sufficient. Notable figures such as Father Damien and Mother Marianne Cope played significant roles in caring for the residents of Kalaupapa. Father Damien, a Belgian missionary, served from 1873 until his death in 1889, while Mother Marianne Cope, a nun from New York, led medical efforts on the island until her death in 1918. Their endeavors, along with those of other caregivers, contributed to improving conditions for those afflicted with leprosy. Despite the challenges faced by the residents, including the stigma associated with leprosy, quarantine laws were subsequently abolished in 1969 once a vaccine was discovered.
Former patients have chosen to remain on the island, preserving the settlement's history. Moreover, younger generations of Hawaiians have made efforts to commemorate the displaced Hawaiian people who once inhabited the island for centuries before they were forced to leave. Access to Kalaupapa is restricted to residents and visitors with approved permits, according to the National Park Service website.
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: A Brief History of Kalaupapa
History: Quarantined for Life: The Tragic History of US Leprosy Colonies
CNN: Taken from their families: The dark history of Hawaii’s leprosy colony
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