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Molokai History The Friendly Isle of Molokai was once known as the Lonely Isle due to the power of its kahuna (priests), who were feared throughout the islands for their supposedly supernatural powers. Generally, warring island kings gave Molokai a wide berth. Persecuted natives and those seeking protection often fled there for refuge. The nobility of Moloka`i was as princely as any in Hawaii. Kamehameha the Great journeyed to Molokai in 1790 to arrange for the hand of his queen, the high chiefess Keopuolani. In 1795, Kamehameha conquered the island in his westward offensive toward Oahu. It was from Molokai that Kamehameha launched his final assault on Oahu, which culminated in the unification of the islands under one kingdom. Molokai, being small and relatively insignificant, fell into relative obscurity. It wasn't until the 1860s that Molokai once again became important. This was when the government of Hawaii established a Hansen's Disease (leprosy) treatment settlement at Kalaupapa on the isolated northern peninsula of Makanalua. Actually, it was more like a penal colony, as the unfortunate victims of the disease were unceremoniously dragged from their homes and families all over the islands and shipped off to Kalaupapa. Once there, the "patients" were never allowed to leave. Kalaupapa became a hell-hole of despair and hopelessness for those who contracted the feared disease and were sent there to live out their days. It was onto this scene that Father Damien de Veuster, a Belgian priest, happened in 1873. The good priest chose to go to Kalaupapa and minister to the sick and dying lepers. For the next several years he did so until he himself caught the horrible disfiguring disease and died. Father Damien is one of the true heroes of Hawaii. Today, the old settlement is known as the Kalaupapa National Historical Park. |
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