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two tragedies occurred on the Kalaupapa Peninsula
on the north shore of the island of Moloka`i; the first was the removal of
indigenous people in 1865 and 1895, the second was the forced isolation of sick
people to this remote place from 1866 until 1969. The removal of Hawaiians from
where they had lived for 900 years cut the cultural ties and associations of
generations of people with the `aina (land). The establishment of an isolation
settlement, first at Kalawao and then at Kalaupapa, tore apart Hawaiian society
as the kingdom, and subsequently, the territory of Hawai`i tried to control a
feared disease. The impact of broken connections with the `aina and of family
members "lost" to Kalaupapa are still felt in Hawai`i today. Kalaupapa National
Historical Park, established in 1980, contains the physical setting for these
stories. Within its boundaries are the historic Hansen's disease settlements of
Kalaupapa and Kalawao. The community of Kalaupapa, on the leeward side of
Kalaupapa Peninsula, is still home for many surviving Hansen's disease patients,
whose memories and experiences are cherished values. In Kalawao on the windward
side of the peninsula are the churches of Siloama, established in 1866, and
Saint Philomena, associated with the work of Father Damien (Joseph De Veuster). |
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