Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Address:Kalaupapa, Hawaii
Tel: (808) 567-6802

Visit the remnants of an isolated settlement at the Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Kalaupapa, Hawaii. The Kalaupapa National Historical Park, located on the island of Molokai, is the site of two former leper colonies from the 19th century. Today, the park is a place for education and contemplation.

In 1865 and 1895, the indigenous people of the Kalaupapa Peninsula were forcibly removed, severing their 900-year-old ties to the land. From 1866 until 1869, the leper colonies at the cities of Kalawao and Kalaupapa were established as isolation settlements for those Hawaiians who were infected with leprosy. To this day, the broken connections with the land and the family members "lost" to Kalaupapa are still felt in Hawaiian society. In 1980, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park was established to preserve the physical setting of these events.

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park is home to fascinating guided tours and exhibits. The guided tours are offered daily through a private firm owned by a Kalaupapa resident. Mule rides through the Kalaupapa National Historical Park are also available. The American of Japanese Ancestry Buddhist Hall in the Kalaupapa National Historical Park offers visitors interesting artifact exhibits and interpretive materials. Visitors can purchase box lunches from the concession mule ride operator, and snacks and beverages are available for purchase at a local bar.

To get to the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, visitors should fly in from Honolulu, Oahu, or Hoolehua, as there is no vehicular access to the park.

Visit the Kalaupapa National Historical Park and experience the beauty of this isolated area.