Kalaupapa National Historic Park

Kalaupapa National Historic Park spans a total area of about 10,780 acres of land that is located on the central northern coast of the Island of Molokai in Hawaii. The historic site is contiguous with the borders of the Kalawao County that is primarily on Kalaupapa Peninsula. This historic site was established by an act of Congress in 1980 to expand upon an earlier National Historic Landmark (NHL) site of the Kalaupapa Leper Settlement. 

The original historic landmark of Kalaupapa National Historic Park was the site of the Molokai Island Hansen's disease (leprosy) settlement (1866-1969) as well as other areas relating to early Hawaiian settlement. The land also preserved the habitats for rare and endangered species as well as several scenic and geological resources at the site. 

Another attraction to this part of the protected land in Kalaupapa National Historic Park are the churches of Siloama which were established around 1866. One of these churches was the parish of Father Damien whose life and death among his people focused the world’s attention to the plight of the local people against leprosy. 

The land was declared a National Historic Park on December 22, 1980, and is governed jointly by the National Park Service and several Hawaii state agencies. The National Park Service does not offer any regularly scheduled activities or interpretive programs mainly because the park is heavily restricted to protect and preserve the environment and the park’s resources. 

That said, there are some tours of the park that are offered through a private commercial service that is owned and operated by a Kalaupapa resident. Before you can take your dog into the historic park, be sure to make inquiries to avoid any inconvenience. If you visit the park, remember to maintain immediate control of your tail-wagger and make sure that you clean up after your dog to avoid any inconvenience to other visitors or to the habitat and wildlife around you.