Memories of Molokai, Hawaii

Molokai is the island in red in the Hawaiian chain.

***

David and I visited Molokai in 2003. It’s really laid back and mellow, rarely in the news.

We stayed at the now-defunct Sheraton Lodge:

***

We took a Cessna to Kalaupapa, which is a peninsula of Molokai. It’s where the lepers lived, when they were ostracized by the Hawaiians. A few lepers still remain. However, leprosy (aka Hansen’s Disease) is curable with medication, so no new patients are sent there. Kalaupapa is now a U.S. National Park.

Cessna:

Father Damien and Mother Marianne Cope have been canonized saints by the Roman Catholic Church. During the 1800s, they came to Kalaupapa and cared for the lepers, built churches, and taught them about Jesus Christ.

Father Damien’s tomb:

St. Philomena Church, which Father Damien built:

He helped bury the dead:

Mother Marianne Cope’s image is on the left. St. Francis’s image is on the right:

Mother Marianne Cope’s tomb:

St. Francis Church, Mother Marianne’s church:

***

The next day, we kayaked in beautiful Palaau Bay. This is the only time we have ever kayaked. We got sunburned, but it was exhilarating to paddle the clear waters of the bay:

***

More photos of Molokai (Photographers unknown):

***

Molokai is truly beautiful and not very populated. There is very little traffic.

Tours to Kalaupapa have not resumed since the pandemic, which is unfortunate, because tourists are not allowed in Kalaupapa without a tour guide. I’m glad we visited in 2003. An experience of a lifetime! A former leper, Richard Marks, was our tour guide. He later was an invited guest at Father Damien’s canonization ceremony at the Vatican.

On the other hand, the rest of Molokai is open to tourists.

***

Father Damien had such a huge impact on the people of Hawaii that the State commissioned his statue. This statue, sculpted by Marisol Escobar, stands in front of the State Capitol, quite an honor for this humble priest from Belgium.

If you look closely, you will see how leprosy ravaged his face. Leprosy eventually killed Father Damien in 1889. He was only 49 years old.

Isn’t this statue beautiful?