卡劳帕帕国家历史公园

Molokai was, in the past, used as a place to quarantine people who were suspected of having Hansen's Disease, more commonly known as leprosy. It was thought to be very contagious and not curable and anyone suspected of having the disease was sent by boat to the eastern peninsula of Molokai to be segregated from both family members and other healthy people. There are no roads from accessible parts of Molokai to the site of the original leper colony. There are only three main ways to do a tour of the town of Kalaupapa and the Leper Colony on Molokai. The first two are by taking a commercial airline to the Molokai airport in Kualapuu, known as "Topside" and then either hike down trails to Kalaupapa or ride mules down the trails to Kalaupapa. The third way is to take a flight with Makani Kai Charter Airlines and landing at the unmanned airstrip in Kalaupapa. The price of the tour varies depending on which option you select with hiking being the cheapest and the private flight through Makani Kai Charter Airlines being the most expensive. Since we opted for the Private Charter and tour through Viator (Kalaupapa and Molokai Day Trip from Oahu), I will discuss this option. We were picked up at our hotel by a courtesy shuttle at 7:00 am. Several people at various Waikiki Hotels were picked up so we made several stops before heading to the airport. The Charter Airline operates out of a separate hangar and so there is no TSA security to process through. Once checked in we waited for the staff to get things organized before we boarded an 8 passenger single engine Cesna. We were given sack lunches which contained a ham and cheese sandwich, a granola bar, a brownie, a bag of chips, a piece of chocolate and a bottle of water. Seats were assigned to balance the weight in the cabin but couples were seated across from each other with everyone getting a window seat (4 rows of seats with an aisle between the seats). Take off was quick and efficient with great views of Oahu and the Waikiki Beach area (the left side has the best views) as we headed to Molokai. The flight was about 35 minutes and since it was an unmanned local airport, we landed and taxied right to the small open air terminal (several rows of seats in a waiting area, bathrooms, a radio playing music and a water jug). We then had to wait for the plane to go "Topside" and pick up passengers from the Molokai airport and return (about 25 minutes). About the time they landed, the tour guide (Norman) appeared with an old yellow school bus. Many of the windows did not open so if you want to take pictures try to get a seat where the windows are down (if the windows are up, they most likely will not go down). Our total wait time once we landed was about an hour so bring some reading material, a game on your cell phone or something else to do to occupy your time or you will become bored (do not eat your lunch while you are waiting for the tour to begin unless you brought additional food to eat later as you will be hungry later and there is no where to buy another lunch). After we boarded the bus we took a short ride to pick up the hikers who hiked down the trail from Topside and then met up with the people who rode mules down the trail. After everyone got checked in we were ready for the tour to begin. We had a few too many people on the tour so we had to pick up a second "old school bus" and put have of the people on the second bus. We still toured as one group but just had two buses going to each site.You are allowed to take as many pictures as you want with the exception of photographing any former patients who still live in Kalaupapa. Also the General Store and Post Office are off limits to visitors. The only people allowed to live on the peninsula are former patients, State of Hawaii employees who work there and Federal Parks employees (there are about 100 people living in the area with only about 15 being former patients (most of the patients are in their 80's and 90's). Our first stop was the local bar, which does not start serving drinks until 4:00 pm but where you could buy limited snacks (chips, candy, gum, ice cream) and nonalcoholic beverages. We then toured many locations grave sites and memorial monuments for Father Damien (now a Saint) and Sister Marianne Cope's (now also a Saint) grave site, the various sites of the old hospital, the home for girls and the original site of Father Damien's settlement and the St. Philomena Catholic Church and grave sites. (The church is now closed but our tour guide opened it for us to go in and look around). We had lunch while in the original settlement area.After about an hour, we left the settlement area and headed back to drop off the hikers and mule riders (we did not envy them, especially the hikers). We then headed back to the airport where the "topsiders" were flown back to the Molokai Airport and then we were picked up to fly back to Honolulu. If you are on the right side of the plane there are some great photo opportunities of the island and cliffs as you take off. When we landed in Honolulu we had an opportunity to take pictures with the pilot and the plane. The shuttle then took us back to our hotels. We got back to our hotel about 4:30 pm so this is an all day trip. If you go knowing you will have considerable down time both at the beginning and end of the tour and you bring something to keep you occupied this is an enjoyable and interesting tour. It would be nice if we didn't have to wait for the "Topsiders", hikers and mule riders but it would not be financially feasible for the tour operator to provide this tour without them. So be forewarned and prepared and I'm sure you will enjoy this educational and interesting tour of Molokai.

Flew from Kapalua (Maui) on a Mokolele Airways tour to Kalaupapa on Molokai. Met there by Yeayin Saepae of Hawaii Expedition & Adventures who gave us a very informative tour, answering "all" of our questions. The school bus could use some paint & the windows need repair & or oil/grease but our guide was fun & entertaining. We will send people there for this tour.

This was the highlight of our four days on Moloka’i. One gets to Kalaupapa by mule, plane or foot. We hiked down and back. More on that later. No matter how you get there, it’s worth it! The tour is good and the story of the place compelling. You travel around the peninsula on which the park is located in an old yellow school bus. Our driver (Norman) was also our tour guide. He was quite informative and a really nice, gentle soul. You go from one noteworthy site to another on the bus – sometimes only a minute or so between stops -- since you’re not free to roam the area on your own. You’ll learn a lot about the heroic, selfless work of Father Damien, Mother Marianne Cope and others, as well as the rather sad story of those afflicted with Hansen’s disease and how they came to arrive at Kalaupapa. Lunch is at a beautiful area overlooking the ocean on the east side of the peninsula, which was the original site of the colony.Back to the hike. The trail head says No Trespassing. Ignore it! It’s the only access point. (Actually, the “official” trail head is a little bit beyond the No Trespassing sign.) The trail is along the highest sea cliffs in the world so it’s very steep. The trail can be muddy, especially in the morning. Much of the trail – between 2.5 and 3 miles one way depending on what guidebook you read -- is made up of “steps” but it’s also pretty rocky. If you decide to hike to Kalaupapa we strongly recommend hiking boots and a walking stick. (If you don’t have a hiking stick, there may be one left at the trail head by previous hikers. But that’s a crap shoot.) We’re pretty decent day hikers and the hike down took us about 1 ½ hours. Much to our surprise, it only took us 10 minutes longer to get back. We hit the trail by 8:00a.m. in order to beat the mules down. We got back shortly before 4:00p.m.The mule barn is a short distance from the trail. Although we were hiking, and not taking the mules, we decided to check things out at the barn. Glad we did. J.R., who leads the mule rides and manages the barn is the embodiment of the “aloha spirit.” Friendly, kind, full of love.

Kalaupapa is such a sad but beautiful place all at once. History of what Father Damien did for the people is a must see for visitors. You can feel the spirit of Father Damien and others still here.

We knew it was listed several times in the top ten, the mules, the overlook, the town, we had to do it. Two couples decided to walk down and back. We are of average ability. No training other than normal life. We hiked down in 75 min and back less than 90. This incorporated brief stops for pictures, drinks and a rest on the bench at the halfway mark. The tour was excellent starting at 10 and ending at 1:30. With so little time on the island we were concerned about committing so much time to one activity. We were not at all doubtful after the tour was done. Call Damien tours to pick the best option for you. If the costs for the mule seems too much, walk it and bring your own water and snacks. I think most could do it without some kind of impairment of who could not normally walk a few miles at a time. Kudos to those who built and maintain the trial. Your shoes will be dirty at the end but you can do it in a good pair of runnig shoes. As a tip, it will help to have tread on your shoes.

This area was a leper colony run by Father Damien and Catholic church. In order to get this secluded site, you either hike or ride on mule, then take a tour in an old school bus to visit various places. There are several patients still living at the site. that's why visitors are not allowed to roam around on her own. It is almost all day outing. It's a beautiful, beautiful area and full of sad, difficult and heroic stories. It's well worth the trip. And the mule ride is not to be missed. It's an once in a life time trip.

If you decide to hike down, book with Father Damien Tours website directly to pay $50+tax. If you book with Mule Ride (aka Kalaupapa Guided Mule Tour) for the hike, they charger you $69, take their cut and still send you to Father Damien Tours. Nevertheless, the Mule Ride will send you to their coffee shop first to waste your time and try to generate some business.The hike is moderately strenuous but we still managed to beat the mules while climbing back up. The view is magnificent. The history is very moving.Hiking down without a permit is illegal, as this area is protected by Hawaiian law. Father Damien Tours is the only company that can issue permit. It is compulsory to take the tour after hiking down, but the tour is very worth it. Magic John the driver will tell you lots of history and drive you to interesting places.

I booked the "Kalaupapa Experience" package with Makani Kai Air which includes round-trip flights from Honolulu plus the Damien Tour in Kalaupapa National Historical Park.My fellow travelers included Christians inspired by the life of Father Damien, a student writing her dissertation on a doctor who had served here and a physician interested in Hanson's disease (a.k.a. leprosy). However most, like myself, were just tourists looking for something different.The flight from Honolulu was an experience in itself. The airplane was tiny, just 10 seats including the pilot. The airport at Kalaupapa is also tiny, really just an airstrip with a small seating area and restrooms.After about 30 minutes our guide arrived and we boarded an ancient school bus. En route to the meeting place he gave us a mini-tour including the dock where the annual barge was being unloaded. Large items that can't be transported by the small plane or on the back of a mule are carried across from Honolulu just once a year on Barge Day!At 10am we were joined by other travelers who had hiked down the trail on foot or on a mule.The Damien tour itself visited various places of interest in the history of the colony and in the life and work of Father Damien and Sister Marianne. A number of aspects stick in the mind. The cruelty of the banishment - children as young as 4 were torn from their families. Father Damien's devotion to the patients and respect for Hawaiian culture. He was a true humanitarian. The extraordinary beauty and tranquility of the place today. Kalaupapa is like a time capsule barely touched by the modern world. No cell phone signal, no wi-fi, no fast food restaurants.The stop for lunch was memorable for the serenity of the location, which was the site of the first settlement at Kalawao on the windward side of the peninsular. We sat beneath the trees overlooking the ocean.We were dropped off at the "airport" more than an hour before our return flight. So it's a good idea to bring some reading material to pass the time.

Mokulele Air on its route from Kahului Maui to Molokai Airport flies over Kalaupapa and along the steep cliffs surrounding the peninsula. Kalaupapa is both a Leprosy Settlement (Hansen's Disease) and a USA National Historic Park. These sea cliffs are some of the tallest in the world, and drop precipitously to the ocean. These views can only be seen from the air, and Mokulele flies low enough to make the views spectacular. If you ask, the pilots will tell you which route they are flying that day, so you can choose the seat to give you the best views of Molokai's North or South Shores.

I have been wanting to visit Kalaupapa for several years. I chose to hike down and fly out. The hike was about 3 miles. It was not too strenuous but would not recommend for anyone with knee problems. The views were one of kind. The settlement was so interesting that I wished I could have stayed. It was the most peaceful place that I have visited in a long time. The history-both of the people and the island was fascinating. As a nurse, the medical history was captivating. I would recommend this experience for anyone.

We took a great airflight from Topside Molokai; to get here-the view of the cliffs and the whole Molokai ., from the plane, was terrific and worth the money! Once we landed; we were met promptly by the Father Damien Tour bus(an old schoolbus) operated on our time, by a female descendent of RIchard...( I think the whole tour group is a relative of his)...it was so informative. Unreal to see how a whole town was created "downside" to contain Hawaiians problemed by leprosy...It leaves you speechless to hear the story told by the driver...visits to the church where the nuns and Father Damien cared for the ill, were awe inspiring..Gorgeous scenery...The ocean views are spectacular. We were wisely advised to bring drinks and snacks; although some were available at a little shanty bar that was part of the bus trip...Our bus picked up hikers and mule riders; their stories ,while interesting, left us in particular, glad that we took the flight to and from topside Molokai, to Kalaupapa(hot weather would have made me miserable to hike or ride down the coast)...Don't miss this fantastic historical tour!

We hiked to Kalaupapa and were extremely pleased with this day trip. The hike down is easy and absolutely beautiful views. The park is incredible. The story, tour by Hawaii Department of Health very meaningful. You leave in awe of Father Damien, Sister Marian, the residents stories and the employees. A wonderful experience. Now the hike out at the end of the day was strenuous, tiring but well worth it. We highly recommend the experience.

My husband and I hiked up and down the Kalaupapa trail and would absolutely recommend it to those of moderate fitness. The trail is about 2.5 miles long each way with a 1600 feet change in gain so is moderately strenuous. The trail is made up of a series of switchbacks (numbered along the way to about 29) which meander along the coast. The views are amazing both on the way up and down. The path is of variable width and most sections are like a series of steps. Some sections are quite muddy with mule droppings mixed in and so can be a little bit smelly especially with the heat, some tropical rain and the flies. However the trail is reasonably well maintained. We set off at about 7.30 am to beat the mules down and arrived at the beach by about 8.30 with some quick stops on the way down for photos and water. We hiked back up in about 70 minutes, again with some stops for water and to admire the views. The trail is muddy so old well worn shoes are recommended. I hiked in running tights to protect my legs from the mud and would recommend this. There were some intermittent light rain showers so a light jacket or top may be helpful. We would recommend carrying at least 2 litres each depending on how much you drink and maybe a snack. If you go early you will be down before the mules and then can watch them meander past. We would definitely recommend!

Kalaupapa has been a national park since the 1980's. It is funded and paid for by tax dollars and the trail was recently built by tax dollars (nearly half a million). However, one resident has cashed in and in order to view what your tax dollars are funding, you are required to pay $50 in cash to a resident who holds a monopoly on a "tour". While the tour is very interesting and could be worth the money, the requirement to pay $50 cash - which ironically is probably being under-reported and NOT being taxed - to enjoy what you are already paying for is very disheartening. I have been to over 100 national parks, historic places, and sites and this one is disgustingly run. Whereas there is certainly a beautiful history to this place, these residents are no longer "banished" here and they are being WELL taken care of by the government (our tax dollars are paying over 80 employees to benefit 8 people). The sense of entitlement is unreal.

This is one of those unique places of the world that take a bit of doing to get to, but is definitely worth it. I'll never forget it. If you are in Hawaii, I recommend you take a day and come to Molokai for this experience. (If you are already on Molokai, it is a no-brainer, of course). You can fly, mule ride, or hike. I chose the hike and loved it. Mules would be fun, but I wanted the workout and to save some money. So, I flew in from Oahu on Mokulele Air (awesome views out the window), 30 minutes, and you're landing at the airport. Rented a car because for $60 I get much more flexibility than two $30 taxi rides to the trailhead. I had to stop at the mule place to get a tour and lunch pass ($69) -- it's pretty run down looking shack like structure, hardly a sign, and really had nothing for sale (some snacks and water would be welcome). Also, despite what they say on their website and instructions, it is NOT at mile marker 5. More like 4.5. You'll eventually find it because there isn't anything else out there, but how hard would it be to put out a visible sign and say it is "between mile marker 4 and 5". Oh well, whatever. The trailhead starts at a metal gate that says "no trespassing, private property" which threw me for a bit, but some other folks came by and said we were supposed to ignore that. Okay. . . You immediately get some fantastic views from the top and I could tell this was going to be awesome. The trail was quite muddy and wet and I was so glad I had my hiking boots instead of running shoes or whatever. Most other people had regular shoes and they were pretty much ruined from the continuous mud puddles, etc. (small price to pay however). Even going down, it is strenuous and your calves will probably be quivering after a while. It was lovely to get closer and closer to the ocean and finally end alongside the beach. What a beautiful place and this was just the beginning. After a 45 minute wait, the tour school bus pulled up, but the mule riders hadn't quite arrived yet. They finally made it and about 30 mule people, hikers, and fly in folks were on the bus. The Tour. It is at least two hours. 45 min. would have been fine with me. I don't need to know what every single little structure is. However, I did get the Kalaupapa NP passport stamp, so that was awesome. Tough one to get. The payoff for all of those tour stops is a lunch on the other side of the peninsula with views that will just knock your socks off. Wow. One of the most beautiful spots I've seen in the world. Several of us were eating lunch on the grass, overlooking the ocean and cliffs and we could all read each other's minds -- this is really extraordinary. Unforgettable. We piled back in the buses, drove back to the trailhead and everybody got out. I had taken 1:20 to hike down and wanted to see if I could beat that on the way up. I'm a pretty active cyclist and in decent shape, but I've seen better days. These 4 hot shot young yoga girls took off, half running, and I figured they would tire and I could bring them back with a hard, steady pace. I figured right, but just barely. It took until switchback 2 (out of 26) and I was going at my absolute max, having to stop once in a while to catch my breath. I didn't pass them, probably couldn't anyway, but we all hit the top close together and I done it an hour. Dang. Great hike, interesting story, and incredible beauty. (Oh, and don't miss Phallic Rock at the end of the road, just past mile marker 5. Trust me.)