By Christina Garcia
02 October 2024
The Kalaupapa Peninsula on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, long closed to visitors, may soon reopen for tours, offering an exciting opportunity to explore one of Hawaii’s most historically significant and remote locations. According to Mikiala Pescaia, a park ranger at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, they are “closer than ever” to resuming commercial tours, sparking hope that visitors will soon be able to experience this deeply moving site.
Kalaupapa’s past is both somber and compelling. In the mid-1800s, the isolated peninsula was chosen as the place to exile more than 8,000 individuals diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. For over a century, they lived in forced isolation, and it wasn’t until 1969 that Hawaii’s quarantine law was finally abolished. Today, only a few residents, former patients, have chosen to remain, living quietly on the land that became their home.
This historical site, frozen in time, has been off-limits to visitors since March 2020, when the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) closed it to protect the vulnerable residents from Covid-19. Although restrictions were lifted in 2023, tours have not yet resumed due to the absence of a contracted tour operator for the National Park Service (NPS). The DOH continues to care for the residents, while the NPS oversees the management of Kalaupapa’s historical park and its programs.
What makes a visit to Kalaupapa so captivating is its poignant blend of natural beauty and human history. Towering sea cliffs surround the peninsula, offering breathtaking views, while the settlement itself tells the powerful story of survival, compassion, and the fight for dignity in the face of adversity. The site is a living reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.
Though the general public is still required to obtain a DOH permit to visit, access is only granted through authorized tours. Pescaia, while tight-lipped on specific details, shared optimism that tours could resume before the end of the year, making it possible for visitors to once again walk the hallowed grounds and learn from the stories preserved here.
For travelers seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience, Kalaupapa offers a rare opportunity to connect with Hawaii’s history in a way that is both intimate and profound. The prospect of these tours reopening is not just exciting—it’s a chance to witness a chapter of history that has shaped the islands and its people.
