Kalaupapa National Historical Park: Remembering Isolation

Elaine's Place (The Bar)

Jim Kingwell NPS Gallery *Images credited to NPS without any copyright symbol are public domain.

Kalaupapa is a small community that was once home to about 1,000 people and one bar, Elaine’s Place. In 1865, King Kamehameha V passed an act intending to prevent the spread of leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease), a lethal and infectious disease that was incurable at the time. This law led to the segregation of thousands of leprosy patients who were sent to Kalaupapa, a designated isolation area on the northern coast of Moloka’i island in Hawaii. Those shipped off were forced to stay there for over 100 years, until a cure for leprosy was made available in 1982. Elaine’s Place, owned by Elaine Remigio, was where patients would gather to eat and drink together, as they would have back at home. The bar was exemplary of the community built on Kalaupapa during this time, despite the dispiriting circumstances.

Today, Kalaupapa is a National Historical Park, established in 1980, with a permanent population of 10 people. Some residents chose to stay after being forced to settle there in the late 1800s but are now mixed in with National Park staff and scientists. It has hardly developed since being converted to a national park, as there are still no businesses or access roads. Park visitors must travel to the park via boat, plane, or hiking trail, and are advised to come prepared with everything they may need during their stay. Only 100 people, including staff, may visit Kalaupapa each day, leading to less than 3,650 visitors per year – a stark contrast to other national parks that welcome millions of people annually.

St. Philomena Cemetery

NPS Gallery *Images credited to NPS without any copyright symbol are public domain

Kalaupapa is a unique, lesser-known place to enjoy oceanic scenery and partake in place-based learning about this beautiful location and its haunting history. Permits must be secured from a guided tour agency before entering the park, but once you arrive, there is a lot to see. There are many historic buildings, from churches to homes, as well as memorial grounds. Research on coral reefs, climate change, and stream health is also ongoing at Kalaupapa, so be sure to ask a ranger about these projects while you are there. Equally important as educating yourself on troubling history, is respecting those who lived through it. Remember that residents still live in Kalaupapa, and please respect their privacy and humanity. We are privileged to have Kalaupapa as a place to remember and learn.

Click here to learn more about Kalaupapa National Historical Park's history and to plan your visit.

Article written by Jadyn Pando
for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow" Article Series
National Park Service - Workforce Management Fellow
in Partnership with Northwest Youth Corps (NYC)