By B.A. Alexander
I heard a portion of the discussion on the “Future of Kalaupapa” on PBS’s KĀKOU: Hawaiʻi’s Townhall on May 28, 2026.
I live on Oʻahu so I do not fully understand the dynamics of Molokaʻi. However, I consider Kalaupapa to be a sacred place that must be preserved. Since it is designated a National Historical Park, why does anyone want that designation to change? And, with it, the government funding for such a site ought to remain in-place.
I understand that the peninsula consists of much more than Kalaupapa. Perhaps the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands ought to work with Mayor Bissen on how those lands can be utilized for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. It ought to be left to the county and Native Hawaiians to determine its fate.
Please do not fall into the ‘trap’ of looking to tourism as a revenue source for the area. My community of Kaʻōhao (Lanikai) in Kailua has become overrun by visitors in the last 20+ years. It is almost unrecognizable.
Kalaupapa ought not become a tourism destination. Ms. Mikiʻala Pescaia ought to be used as a resource to develop a non-invasive way to explore this area. It is not an absolute necessity for certain sacred places to be trod upon by humans.
The State of Hawaiʻi relies on most of its food and many other products from outside the state. It is beyond time to develop an economy that is more sustainable. The state has programs to assist small farmers. We must develop other models to create a reason for our young people to remain here, as well as to sustain the cultural uniqueness of our home.
In conclusion, I hope that the Maui County Council will resist the allure of tourism. It ought not to be looked upon as a means of advancing the lives of the residents of Molokaʻi.he lives of the residents of Molokaʻi.
