Kalaupapa National Historical Park

national park, Hawaii, United States

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July 16, 2026

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Kalaupapa National Historical Park is located on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the northern shore of Molokai island in Hawaii, United States. This peninsula, formed by lava flows, is isolated by sheer cliffs and was historically an agricultural village.1

From 1866, it served as a quarantine colony for individuals with leprosy (Hansen disease), a practice that led to the forced relocation of native Hawaiians from the area. Belgian missionary Father Damien famously ministered to the lepers there from 1873 to 1889. The entire peninsula was a state leprosarium until 1969 when isolation laws were abolished, though it remains home to surviving leprosy victims and access is restricted. Kalaupapa was designated a national historical park in 1980.12

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Molokai
Notable attractions include Kalaupapa National Historical Park (1980), on the site of the former leprosy colony, and Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge, which protects a large pond and several Hawaiian birds, including the endangered stilt.
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Notable attractions include Kalaupapa National Historical Park (1980), on the site of the former leprosy colony, and Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge, which protects a large pond and several Hawaiian birds, including the endangered stilt.
Read More