Kalaupapa National Historical Park is the only National Park Service unit on the Island of Moloka‘i. It is isolated, beautiful, and one of the most compelling human stories in the National Park Serivce. Use the park's Plan Your Visit page for the best information on how to visit Kalaupapa.
When Hansen's disease (leprosy) was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha V banished all afflicted to the isolated Kalaupapa peninsula on the north shore of Molokai.
Since 1866, more than 8,000 people, mostly Hawaiians, have died at Kalaupapa. Once a prison, Kalaupapa is now refuge for the few remaining residents who are now cured but were forced to live their lives in isolation. Kalaupapa serves as a reminder of a nation in crisis when Hawaiian people were exposed to diseases for which they had no immunities. Options for preventing the spread of contagious diseases were few. Isolation for leprosy seemed like the best solution but came at a high personal price.
Last updated: August 19, 2019