Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Walked out to the viewpoint. The peninsula colony is still closed to visitors so this is as close as we could get. Made the little jaunt to see the sacred rock as well.

The Kalaupapa leper colony was a great opportunity to see self-sacrifice in action by both Saint's Damien and Marianne Cope. Although, you must be sponsored to visit Kalaupapa, it is well worth it. Father Patrick is a excellent guide. Also Sister Barbara Gene is a fantastic guide too.

Super fun hike, regardless if you enjoy the history of Father Damien, which you will. Setting-up entry into the park is difficult and some hikers were turned around because they did not get a sponsor to enter Kalaupapa.

NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AS OF DECEMBER 2025. Must book a private tour with extremely limited dates and cost of over $600/person. AVOID.

Serene, peaceful, and beautiful. If you ever get the opportunity to go here, go at least once. The history of all who lived here as their residence and those who came selflessly to serve them is incredible. Pray for the handful of patients remaining and for all those who keep this place Kalaupapa.

For anyone who is visiting Hawaii or from Hawaii it's a must-see. Take the tour if you're not able to hike fly-in. It is worth it. Unbelievable views, humbling history, a place with a lot of power or as we say in Hawaii "Mana

This is Sacred Ground! If you stop and quiet yourself, you can feel the earth cry out the anguish of the 103 years of exiled people banished from family and friends. Then there are the rays of light shining through the darkness of people who came to help. Among whom are St. Damien and St. Marianne Cope. The two Hawaiian saints who spent their life to bring hope in the midst of what seemed hopeless. There is history here that needs never be forgotten.

Kalaupapa National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in Kalaupapa, Hawaiʻi, on the island of Molokaʻi.......soo beautiful place in world I loved it soo clean greenery place in world 🤗

Such a beautiful place and I highly encourage everyone to visit if youre allowed to! Flying directly into Kalaupapa is unlikely so riding down from Kaunakakai is your better option. The whole island is full of breath-taking views and picturesque moments, but the trail to Kalaupapa will show you mauka to makai (mountain to ocean). Kalaupapa itself is an incredibly sacred place. You can feel the land when you arrive. The history itself is long and there are only a handful of its original occupants still living here so stop by and say hello! Residents and park workers (who maintain the history) are all friendly! Small souvenir shop, goods shop, but mostly everything you need should be brought with you. Accomodities are scarce but thats the appeal, to spend time in mostly untouched lands and waters. The stars shine bright as the skies are free from city lights and the water is crystal clear, saw monk seals on the shore sleeping. Its also quiet so the group you go with should be a good one -- Lifelong friendships could be formed out there. The church is beautiful and the pier is fun to jump off of. Again, its very humbling to come here and immerse yourself. Its a break from the civilization of the other outer islands. I had a wonderful time here and the memories made there are precious and worth more than most things. Spent 10 days here on a mission trip so I got a chance to know all the locals, play volleyball in their main park area, and attend church in the chapel. Book a trip down there if you can!

My book club read Molokai by Alan Brennart recently, a novel about a woman's experience being yanked from her family on Oahu and living out the rest of her days on isolated Kalaupapa. Most of us hadn't been over here but wanted to. Next thing we knew, we had booked a charter flight and signed up for a tour! The mana here was something else. The air was thick with the tragedy of the lives spent here, however long they spent (I don't think it was just the vog). This is a place, however, where you really have to do some work BEFORE you come. You can't expect to show up and be told the entire story of what happened here in a few hours and understand it. Take the time to do some research and reading ahead of time and you will have a much richer experience. No real park services - the day we visited, no services were open (bookstore, Fuesaina's bar, Kalaupapa store) beyond our tour operator (Damien Tours, separate review). It's a community, after all, with a few patient-residents and a lot of research staff. Your only way in is the hiking or mule trail down the pali (closed due to a landslide the weekend we were there) or flight. We chartered a flight from Honolulu (Pacific Air Charters, separate review).

Driving to the top of Kalaupapa lookout was an experience all of itself. Since we were there in August and it was extremely hot and dry. As we began the climb to the top it began to rain. The wind, and fog accompanied it. It was amazing and welcomed. The wind at the top of the mountain had blown the the rain away, leaving fast moving clouds. All around the air and trees were clean and fresh-smelling. There are 2 paths. One is the look out pt. Make sure you hold on to your hats! The wind is fierce but the view is spectacular. The views are of the settlement below, cliffs, mountains, the ocean. All really brought the book Molokai by Alan Brennert to life. There are a few photos along the wall but they are old and weathered. I wish they would be replaced as we all need to remember this did happen and is still happening. Hansen's disease is curable but it still exists. There are still people in 3rd world countries who shame and outcast ones who get this disease when they could be given treatment. The other trail leads to the phallic rock. It is funny to see but more than just the rock the walk takes you on an incredible path through dense and the moss-grown woods. The mosses range in color and dangle on trees or are growing on rocks that almost give the area a mystical feeling. Be careful to treat the area with respect. It is native land. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

Living in Hawaii my entire life, hiking into Kalaupapa has always been on my bucket list. We decided to opt out of the mule and plane rides and took the chance of hiking in AND out. I suggest prior to going, ask the locals where the entrance is as it is literally on the side of a road just past the mule barn. You park your vehicle on the grassy areas and begin your trek. Also, bring your passport as there is an opportunity for you to obtain a stamp from this remote location. The trail has 26 switchbacks and you descend 1,700 feet, which means, you guessed it, we will be ascending later in the day 1,700 feet. We were armed with a ton of water, food, sunscreen and bandages just in case. The views are spectacular! Having a selfie stick helped with us create some of the most breathtaking photos. Our bus driver passed us along the way. I cannot believe she hikes down and up six days a week, WOW!! After the switchbacks, you walk along the beach for about a mile or so until you reach a small parking lot and some buildings. The bus driver was warming up the tour (school) bus and told us to wait there as she left to pick up those from the airport. The mules slowly strode into the area and riders dismounted one by one. When the bus returned, there was a pretty good size group of us, probably around 30. During the tour, we were provided with the rich history of this small town, met the priest, and some of the residents who still live here by choice. We were provided lunch. Do not forget to bring cash as they have a small gift shop and grocery store as well. I strongly suggest buying more water especially if you are hiking out of the valley. We bought two bottles. We enjoyed visiting the churches and learning about how the residents lived. Father Damien was a genius when it came to water irrigation systems. Truly an impressive feat in his day. After an entire day of learning and meeting new people, it was time for the trek up the hill. We started off before the mules. They ended up passing us along the way. No biggie as it allowed us to slow the pace just a bit. We ran out of water...should have bought 4 bottles, and the last half mile was a struggle. We did it and got to experience something not many will. We walked funny for a few days, but it was totally worth it. Note to Self: bring more water as it can get pretty hot and muggy and hiking sticks to save the calves. Happy Hiking

Cool park with an interesting history. Stop by its worth the view. If u have ever read a book about kalaupapa- its amazing to view it from above

fantastic place! i went there with my wife and she loved it! definitely would buy a ticket to hawaii and come back again.

UPDATE! I CURRENTLY LIVE ON OAHU - I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE ARRANGE VISITS ANYMORE. feel free to message me if you want some advise. Okay guys so here's the deal. I work and live in Kalaupapa, Kalaupapa has a very strict visiting policy. (NO 15 year olds and younger, must have notice 3-4 business days in advanced of visit date, must show Identification with birthdate. . Driver's License, passport. exc. ) I receive phone calls at work fairly often from people wanting to visit but can't because they do not know anybody from here (Kalaupapa). This place has a strict policy for a reason. . our patients are still around and this is their home. We want to keep them comfortable and not overwhelm them with too many strangers. Personally, I also feel that we keep too many people out that would really enjoy and respect this place for what it is. If you would like to do a day hike and not feel like doing the tour ( which, by the way - I strongly recommend you do!) send me a message and I'll see what I can do to get you in for a day hike.

Kalaupapa National Historic Park is a really amazing park. First, it's ridiculously beautiful on the Kalaupapa peninsula! Then there is the crazy fact that it is not an easy place to get to. You will either hike down a 1700 foot drop by hitting 26 switchbacks for 3.4 miles or you're flying in. Last, its history has tragedy & seclusion, but also hope and a demonstration of some people's compassion & selflessness. The peninsula had flat, fertile land and fresh water. When King Kamehameha V decided in 1865 that they needed an isolated place to send people who had contracted Hansen's Disease (leprosy), this was thought to be the perfect place. They moved the current residents and bought up the land and forced patients with leprosy to move there; sometimes forcibly dumped off of boats. It seems Hawaiians had a predisposition to contracting the disease when contact from Europeans essentially created an epidemic. Later when a cure was found, the patients had the right to leave Kalaupapa if they wanted, but many stayed and the US government supports them until death. There are currently 17 patients left along with some family, 40 National Park workers and 40 Health Service workers. Other than that, daily tours are allowed in to learn about the site itself and Saint Damien & Saint Marianne who cared for the people who lived here. It can be very moving. When you make it down the side of the cliff, whether by hiking or by taking the mule ride down, you wait in a clearing for the old school bus to come and pick you up. If anyone flew down, they'll be on the bus. No one is allowed in without having a permit. What I had found was you are supposed to get your permit from a tour company, but when my tour company jacked up my tour, we walked down and paid for our tour at the bottom of the cliff as did another guy without a reservation, so it seems like they don't enforce getting the permit in advance. It may be a good idea to call Damien tours just to pre-arrange that you'll be on the tour and will pay when you get there, but if you're willing to take the chance, its $50 per person to go on the tour - note that this is NOT a National Park fee, this is a tour fee, but it's required. It is illegal to enter the site without being on a tour, hence waiting in the clearing. It is free to hike down and then back up, if you pay for your tour at the bottom. Children under 16 are NOT permitted. If you go through a tour company, it will likely cost more than the $50. The hiking tour through the mule ride company is $69 and includes lunch. If you go on your own, bring your own lunch - especially if you are hiking. You can also hike in and fly out. That's what we did and I highly recommend it for people who aren't in that great of shape. I'm in my mid 40s and not in the greatest shape, but like to do active things like hiking. The hike DOWN kicked my butt and took us just under two hours. It was awesome and I wouldn't have wanted to do it any other way and I completely recommend that you hike in, but hiking in and flying out was PERFECT for us... plus you get the killer views from the plane! The tour was a little disappointing for me. I do a lot of National Parks and truth is you win some and you lose some. This was in the middle for me. The tour guide was fine. He was knowledgeable, but we basically went on a bus to a stop, got off, he talked, we stood around and then repeated several times. What I found strange was I saw a LOT of National Park information signs around that we drove right past. Why have them if we don't even get to see them? It was beautiful, well, except for the town, which was run down and just a small town. So, the tour was okay, but not what I had hoped for. The highlights for me on the tour were the churches and the area where we had lunch which was the original colony site. There is a small bookstore that has a National Park's Passport stamp available for all you National Park geeks like me. What I would love would be more of the park presence as a part of the tour. I'd love to have an audio-visual presentation at an NPS center there and a museum. That would make this five star for me! For those booking through the mule ride company, the lunches were basically a sandwich, a bag of chips and a bottle of water. Overall, I'm glad I did this. If you can't do the hike and have no desire to ride down on a mule... I DIDN'T! Take the flight! This is worth learning about and seeing. With only 17 patients left on the peninsula, who knows what will happen when they die? There is talk of developers trying to buy the land for resorts. I think that would be a really bad idea. There is also talk of creating a memorial like the Vietnam memorial with the names of all of the patients who died there... and there were many thousands. I hope they keep it a National Park and don't let big business spoil this piece of history.

On my recent trip to the island of Molokai, the most important item on my agenda to sightsee is the Kalaupapa National Park. Located on the north Central side of the island, it's a good piece of Peninsula is home to the former leper colony that father Damien presided over in the late 1800's. He himself subsequently contracted the disease and died on the island as well. In 2012, Father Damien was proclaimed a saint by the Vatican, so that was awesome. Kalaupapa National Park has so much historical significance that it showcases Hawaii in an unique light, offering views that is unparalleled for your delight. This place is a must see and do on any trip to the island of Molokai. There is even an airport here, but there's limited flights out of Kalaupapa and often enough it is expensive. Kalaupapa is basically a small small town with the hospital, general store, post office, and a bar, among other buildings in the area. This place is almost like a town lost in time. Small enough to know everyone within a day. Very much like a small town everybody knows everybody and yeah sometimes it's weird. Since I was here, we all took the mule ride into Kalaupapa. It was a surreal and amazing experience. There was three ways of getting into Kalaupapa: mule ride, hiking, or charter airplane. We all hopped in for the mule ride just because it was an experience to remember. There are guides helping us along the wicked trail in and out of the valley. They say you have to make advance reservations to enter Kalaupapa, like nine months in advance, so it's best to plan your trip here and come to this magical place. You won't regret it. The meal ride was actually pretty good and I enjoyed it. It actually took about an hour and a half. Just being here was well worth the airfare, accommodations, and other expenses. There is also a bus tour, which helps you understand the history and everything a bit better. There are some areas around the settlement that you can access but everything else is very beautifulto enjoy. Such a timeless piece of real estate that you would not try not to miss. Very happy to be here and hope to come again soon. It was great to ring in 2013, with a quick trip toMolokai. You don't have to be a history buff to come here and enjoyed the magnificence of this great island. Overall, I recommend this place to anyone who just wants to be here and enjoy the splendor of God's creations. You'll be glad you did! Support local! A++

What a beautiful place to see , the scenic overlook only suggests the magnificence of this location . When we next return , we expect to take the donkey trail to the reserve . It's a beautiful place to visit . I would recommend this for anyone to visit.

Absolutely stunning!!!! We hiked down and I am glad we did! The hike down wasn't bad, a little hard on the knees, but pretty easy. The Damien Tour was outstanding! What an experience!! To learn about the history, see so much of it and hear what it used to be, and just all the beauty! Definitely worth the money and something that you won't forget. The hike back up was a bit rough, but doable. We hike a lot so it wasn't too bad but I could see some people finding it a bit difficult. Stunning views! A little side note, the gate says so trespassing, so we got worried. Just park and go through. The trail head is through there about a quarter mile. As long as you have your permit or booked the tour, you're good to go

Kalaupapa trail has been reopened as of Nov. 5, 2010! Repairs are now pau and I'm assuming (and hoping!) that the mule rides will start up again soon. If you ever vacation on the island of Moloka'i, a mule ride to Kalaupapa is a must-see, must-do, must-go type of thing! It's one of the few ways you'll get to visit this tiny settlement. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13456150 ---------------------------------- After 1969, the remaining Hansen's Disease patients were finally allowed the opportunity to travel and live outside of the settlement, if they so wished. I don't know the numbers, but I'm sure that there were some who had 'ohana (family) on the outer islands/mainland and permanently left here. The rest just decided to live out the rest of their lives here. This is all that they've ever known. This is what they grew up with. This is home. And for that, the patients' needs are all taken care of by the state of Hawai'i --- free housing, medical, food, etc. They have a small general store where they pick up their food and general supplies, a barge comes in once a year (used to be twice a year, but they cut back) to bring in necessary supplies and bulky items, there's a small hospital on the settlement, and they even have 2-3 churches of different denominations have services every Sunday (Christian, Catholic & I forgot da oddah). There's a certain number of state employees who help keep the hospital, other buildings, and common grounds running. Some of the patients are even employed to help run the general store, post office, bar, and airport. It's a weird place because it's like a microcosm of what a small town would be in the olden days. Kinda like the Andy Griffith show if it were shrunk to less than a tenth of its small town size. Less than 150 or so people reside here. Everyone knows everyone else's business about whose dating and doing what and whom and Buddha knows what else. ---------------------------------- Further into the settlement are the ruins of the original girls' and boys' home, the original church that Saint Damien helped to build (along with a grave/memorial that houses one of his fingers), a small picnic area, and a view of the world's highest sea cliffs. ---------------------------------- Now, if I can only find my damn pictures I took of dis place, I can post 'em up and you can see what da hell I'm talking about! :(

If you're going to Moloka'i, you're coming here. This is THE thing to do on Moloka'i as it provides so much history and you can see the northcoast of Moloka'i. You have to be invited by someone who lives there OR sign up with a sight seeing tour (like Father Damien Tours, 50 bucks cash as of this review). The history here is such an interesting and even inspirational part of Hawaiian history. The sights are beautiful and unreal. There are 3 ways to get to Kaulapapa depending on your abilities or income. 1 take a plane, 2 ride down on a mule, 3 hike down. I hiked down and in all honesty, it is not a hard hike. All the literature said it was hard and that it takes people 1.5-2 hours to make it down. I'm sure you've read that too and it scared me! I didn't know what to expect. Maybe that's true if you're old, completely out of shape, or have never walked on stairs. I'm in my 30s and I hike once a week and do some basic cardio. Definitely not ripped or in the cross-fit crowd. It took me 1 hour to make it down and 1 hour and 8 minutes to make it back up. So my point is, don't let it scare you if you do any kind of activity and are in okay shape. 26 switchbacks and 1700 feet of elevation sound intimidating, but really, the length and the 26 switchbacks make the elevation gain/descent EASIER to manage. I've gone up 1700 feet in 1 mile and THAT was a killer hike. Same elevation over 3.5 miles with stairs and concrete? You've got this. Just a tip: start early because you don't want to get stuck behind the mule group (they get right of way). Also, you need to be over 16.

ABSOLUTELY amazing! If you ever get to go to Moloka'i this is a MUST SEE!! Kalaupapa National Historical Park was beautiful, remote and urban than I could've ever expected!!! ABSOLUTELY majestic place!! Before you go, definitely read up on the history of Kalaupapa. It makes the experience even better! NOTE: If you can, do the hike! you get to see an amazing view all the way down (as well as up) and you'll walk in the footsteps of the Hawaiians who were sent there due to the spread of the disease leprosy. Our tour guide, Rick Schonely (check out his song "Molokai Cowboys"!!), told the history in an interesting way and shared his Hawaiian music with us at the various stops we made along our tour. Can't recommend going here enough. It was such a great experience and I am really hoping I'll be able to come back!! According to our tour guide, Rick, there are volunteer opportunities here. My boyfriend and I are sure to look closer into it because we were so smitten by the beauty of Kalaupapa.

I was given one of the greatest opportunities to visit Kalaupapa when my classmates and I were invited to go and stay for two nights. If you didn't know already, to visit Kalaupapa, you must have been invited by one of the residents, sponsored by one of the workers of Kalaupapa, or have a pre-arranged tour, as well as be at least 16 years of age or older. Having learned about Hansen's disease earlier this semester, both the biological and medical aspects, as well as the myriad of psychosocial issues behind this disease, it was a great experience to see first hand the effects of this former leprosy colony. There is still great social stigma worldwide, despite the fact that the WHO has considered Hansen's disease an eliminated disease, and there is multi drug therapy available. In fact, 95% of people are actually "immune" to Hansen's disease. Given the option to hike or take the plane charter, I decided to hike both in and out of Kalaupapa. The trail is rocky and filled with poop from the mules that carry visitors in and out of Kalaupapa. Going into Kalaupapa, it was downhill, and we headed down at about 7 AM, prior to when the mules start heading down with visitors, so it was a lot easier to avoid fresh poop. Plus it hadn't been raining prior, and it was fairly easy. The hike back up topside was strenuous. It was uphill the whole way, slippery, because of the recent rain, and fresh poop was everywhere, since the mules had just arrived to Kalaupapa as we were starting the hike up. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the hike up, especially if you're out of shape like me. We missed our flight back to Honolulu, and got to the airport as our plane was leaving. While that was a funny story to tell, having to call the airlines for a new flight and waiting 6 hours for the next flight out is not the best situation. P.S. Molokai Airport has no restaurant or bar! However, I was glad I got to experience the hike. Kalaupapa is a beautiful place. After reading the required reading I had to do earlier this year (Holy Man by Gavan Dawes) about Father Damien, it was great to see the St. Philomena church, with the burial sites of Father Damien, Mother Marianne and Brother Dutton next to it, as they had helped the patients of Kalaupapa greatly. The chance to see the Kauhako Crater which was absolutely beautiful to see from the top with the cliffs on one side, the ocean on the other and the cross next to it. The most rewarding part was the chance to actually see some of the patients (which we actually saw talking about their experience in the movie, Kalaupapa Heaven) and be able to perform a few numbers for them. Kalaupapa is an amazing place, with a deep history behind it. I suggest you read up on Kalaupapa and Father Damien, if you have not heard of this before, as it really is an important part of the history of Hawaii. If given the chance to visit Kalaupapa, please do so, as this is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Kalaupapa is the reason I went to molokai. It was worth it. We hiked down to the site (1 1/2 hours down, and 1 hour back up), which was slippery from mud and had to dodge mule poop. The peninsula itself was beautiful. There are 9 patients left (2 of which we met) and they keep the stores running. It was full of history and I hope they continue to preserve this place as it currently is, after the remaining residents pass on.

this is a truly unique experience since there is nothing like it in the world. the history of how a great culture overcame an extremely difficult situation is something everybody should learn.

Totally agree with JENNIFER of ESCONDIDO. My Wife and I did the hiking trail down and up. AT the bottom we came to find out that WE didn't have to book the tour via the company that provides the MULE RIDE. THE people that set you up with the MULE ride charges you $69 dollars if you hike down..basically $50 for your hike, the tour of the peninsula by BUS ONLY and $19 dollars for a basic lunch. WHEN we got to the bottom (by hiking) a LOCAL will approach you to see if you need to buy a BUS TOUR TICKET or not. HE clarified what we could have done...basically you CAN hike down w/o purchasing a ticket in advance from the MULE RIDE COMPANY, THE MULE RIDE COMPANY failed to do that OBVIOUSLY caz the jack up the price!!! I'd much rather give my $$$$ 150% to the people that work and sleep in KALUAPAPA. YOU CANNOT walk the PENINSULA by yourself! ITS UNDERSTANDABLE, te locals want their privacy, they don't want hundreds of strangers snooping around their houses and land. THE TOUR BUS is interesting, a bit overrated nevertheless it'll give you a decent understanding of what these PEOPLE had to endure for years...I purchased a good book at the LOCAL BOOKSTORE so I was able to put real life stories with places I saw. **** IF you hike down, before you start to climb back up, you can stop at the beginning of the trail, go down to the lovely beach and take a swim in the lovely ocean waters.

Amazing and interesting experience. I'm an infectious disease physician so I have read a fair bit about Hansen's disease (leprosy) and Kalaupapa was on my must see list! In fact, it was the main reason we even ventured to Molokai on our recent Hawaii vacation. You can really only get there by mule ride, hiking the same trail the mules take, or by a charter airplane. I was terrified about the mule ride but it was actually an amazing experience and safer than I expected. So after your 90 minute or so mule ride, during which you can take gorgeous pictures of the peninsula, you get to sea level after which time you take a bus tour of the settlement. There are a few areas that are restricted for patients' privacy but learning about the history and seeing it first hand was fascinating and if nothing else, there is beautiful scenery to enjoy. There are less than 20 patients left in this settement (at this point they are free to leave since leprosy is treatable and they aren't contagious but most of them are quite elderly and this is their home). It will be interested to see what happens with this settlement once there are no longer any patients but hopefully it can continue to be preserved as a national historic park. With regard to the mule ride, book it early because they fill up! This was a unique life experience that I don't regret having the opportunity to take part in.