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Kalaupapa |
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Kalaupapa is a very special town. People affected by leprosy were forced to go there to live, so that other people wouldn't catch the disease. Imagine all the families that were torn apart because you were forced to move, no matter what age you were. Kalaupapa has a well-known reputation as a leprosy colony. In 1866, the first people affected by leprosy were sent to Kalaupapa, and were there for 7 years until Father Damien came. |
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Father Damien was a priest who helped the leper colony. He had a church there to minister the people affected leprosy. He went there knowing he would probably catch the disease himself because there were people that needed help. He built homes, churches and coffins, had medical services arranged, but most of all, he became a parent to the big leper family. |
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Kalaupapa National Historical Park established in 1980, which contains the peninsula. It also contains the historic leprosy settlements made famous by the work of Father Damien. It is managed by the National Park Service and by the Hawai'i State Department of Health.
In Kalaupapa, there are the adminitration building, post office, book store, fire station, a never used jail and a hospital. The small amount of cars go at a top speed of five miles per hour, since there is really nowhere to go, and no rush to go anywhere. |
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