Kalaupapa, Hawaii

The village is the site of a former settlement for people with leprosy. At its peak, about 1,200 men, women, and children were exiled to Kalaupapa Peninsula. The isolation law was enacted by King Kamehameha V and remained in effect until its repeal in 1969. Today, about four people who formerly had leprosy continue to live there. The colony is now included within Kalaupapa National Historical Park. The original leper colony was first established in Kalawao in the east, opposite to the village corner of the peninsula. It was there where Father Damien settled in 1873. Later it was moved to the location of the current village, which was originally a Native Hawaiian fishing village. The settlement was also attended by Mother Marianne Cope and physician Arthur Albert St. Mouritz, among others. In 1893–1894, the Board of Health tried to remove the last fishing village inhabitants in order to expand the colony to encompass the entire Kalaupapa peninsula, including Kalawao. == Geography ==

The Kalaupapa Peninsula remains one of the most remote locations in Hawaii due to unique volcanic and geologic activity over millions of years. Specifically, Molokai's famous sea cliffs, which reach up to three thousand feet above sea level and are among the tallest in the world, are most responsible for restricting access. Geologists thought that these cliffs were carved by wind and water erosion, but it is now believed that they formed after a third of the northern portion of the island collapsed into the sea. The offshore islands—'Ōkala, Mōkapu, and Huelo—support this theory, housing original plant species found on Molokai over two thousand years ago such as the rare native loulu palm. An interest in the Kalaupapa coastal aquifer was captured by conflicting early accounts of visitors Jules Remy (1893) and Nakuino (1878) who described Kauhako Crater lake, a central geomorphic feature of the Kalaupapa peninsula as containing salt or freshwater, respectively. Kauhako lake, a freshwater resource during certain times in Kalaupapa's history, has largest depth-to-area ratio for any lake on earth. The lake has a weak tidal connection to the ocean and the Kalaupapa peninsula is underlain by only a thin freshwater lens. ==Access to the Peninsula==

Until the construction of the Kalaupapa Airport in 1935, the only way into the peninsula was by boat or descending down the Kalaupapa Pali trail. Nowadays, accessing the peninsula via boat requires a special use permit. It is prohibited to come within of the Kalaupapa shoreline. The Kalaupapa Trail The Kalaupapa Pali Trail is the only land access into Kalaupapa. The trail consists of 26 switchbacks with a elevation change over the course of the trail. The National Park Service describes the hike as extremely strenuous due to the steep, uneven surfaces and varied trail conditions. Trail access Use of the trail is restricted since it lies within Kalawao County, which is administered by the Hawaii State Department of Health. For the general public, permits to enter Kalawao County can only be obtained by purchasing a tour from a tour operator. Historically, tour operators have offered both mule ride and hiking options. However, mule rides were interrupted in 2018 due to a lease dispute between the trailhead landowner and the tour operator. The trail was closed later that year due to a landslide, and before the trail reopened in 2020, all tours were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tours have not yet resumed, so the trail has effectively been closed to the general public since 2018, although it is still being used by residents and workers. Trail damage The trail has been closed on multiple occasions due to rockfall and landslides. Historically, the second switchback of the trail has been the most prone to landslides and washouts. A bridge on that section has been damaged on 2 recent occasions, resulting in lengthy trail closures. A landslide caused bridge damage in 2010, and the trail was reopened 8 months later after a new aluminum bridge was installed. The new bridge was subsequently destroyed by a landslide in December 2018, and the trail was reopened in March 2020 after the installation of a bridge made of composite material. ==Kalaupapa National Historical Park==

The Kalaupapa National Historical park, established December 22, 1980, is located on the location of two leper colonies that operated from 1866 to 1969. The park only allows 100 visitors a day, and each visitor must have a sponsor, either a resident or through one of the tour companies. ==See also==