Submitted by Ka ʻOhana o Kalaupapa
January is Kalaupapa Month, a time to shine a light on the lives of the nearly 8,000 men, women and children who were taken from their families and sent to Kalaupapa because of government policies regarding leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease.
Most never saw their loved ones again; 90% were Native Hawaiian.
“Kalaupapa Month is a time to think about our kūpuna, how they were forced to leave their ʻohana when they needed them most – and how so many of them overcame those circumstances,” said Charmaine Kahaunani Woodward, president of Ka ʻOhana o Kalaupapa (Ka ʻOhana), the nonprofit organization behind the establishment of Kalaupapa Month and a descendant of Kalaupapa.
Leaders of Ka ʻOhana wanted to find a permanent way for the public to focus on the people and history of Kalaupapa. It is hoped that January will be a time for families to talk about their Kalaupapa ancestors with younger generations, when teachers will include chapters of Kalaupapa history in their classrooms, and when churches will pay tribute to the congregations of Kalaupapa where so many residents found hope and fellowship.
Ka ʻOhana selected January because of the many significant dates in history that took place at Kalaupapa during that month.
“January 6 is the day in 1866 when the first 12 people affected by leprosy arrived at Kalaupapa,” said Executive Director Valerie Monson. “We quickly realized that January had many other dates that were inclusive in this history, events that not only recognized the people of Kalaupapa, but the aliʻi who are often forgotten for their efforts to help, and the religious leaders who served the community.”
To help the public better understand Kalaupapa’s history and people, Ka ʻOhana will present two free webinars in January (registration information below):
- January 10 – “Kalaupapa Month: A Deeper Look at Why January is So Significant,” a narrated slide show about key events in history that occurred in January with stories of the people who made these dates important (10:00-11:30 a.m.).
- January 24 – “Bernard K. Punikaiʻa, Kalaupapa Warrior,” a presentation about the amazing life of one of Kalaupapa’s greatest leaders and defenders (10:00-11:30 a.m.).
Additionally, essays about historic January events – and the people who made them significant – are available on our website. Because 2026 marks noteworthy anniversaries of key historical events, Ka ʻOhana will be issuing essays on those dates throughout the year.
An ongoing photo exhibit featuring the people, family members and landscapes of Kalaupapa is on display at the Molokaʻi Museum & Cultural Center in Kalaʻe. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Text 808-349-2236 for more information.
To register for the free January webinars, or to receive Kalaupapa essays via email, sign-up at info.kalaupapa@gmail.com. For more information about Kalaupapa, visit Ka ʻOhana’s website at kalaupapaohana.org.
