Since 1866, more than 8,000 people, mostly Hawaiians, have died at Kalaupapa. Once a prison, Kalaupapa is now a refuge for the few remaining residents who are cured but were forced to live their lives in isolation.
Photo: Tylor Tanaka
Kalaupapa National Historical Park
When Hansen's disease (leprosy) was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha V banished all afflicted to the isolated Kalaupapa Peninsula on the north shore of Molokai.
- LocationKalaupapa, HI
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
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Weather now74°F Sunny
- Alerts 4 active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Asian American Heritage
- Incarceration
- Pacific Islander Heritage
- Science, Technology and Innovation
- Tragic Events
Alerts (4)
Park ClosureKalawao County Restrictions Access to the park, including Kalawao County, the Kalaupapa Trail, the settlement, and Waikolu Valley, is restricted to… Read more
Access to the park, including Kalawao County, the Kalaupapa Trail, the settlement, and Waikolu Valley, is restricted to residents and visitors with approved permits issued by Hawaii State Department of Health. Violations will result in arrest/fine.
InformationPhones Are Not Operational We continue to experience intermittent outages with our phone lines. If your call does not go through, please try again… Read more
We continue to experience intermittent outages with our phone lines. If your call does not go through, please try again later, or try to leave us a message and we will get back to you. Thank you for your understanding.
InformationArrival by Boat It is prohibited to come within 1/4 mile of the Kalaupapa shoreline. Access by boat within the quarter mile offshore par… Read more
It is prohibited to come within 1/4 mile of the Kalaupapa shoreline. Access by boat within the quarter mile offshore park boundary requires a special use permit.
InformationUnmanned Aircraft Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Serv… Read more
Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Kalaupapa National Historical Park is prohibited. This includes model airplanes, quadcopters, and drones.
Things to Do
3 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Facilities & Services
Find tours, tickets and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Tours & Tickets
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Kalaupapa National Historical Park Tours
Ticket Facility
Kalaupapa, once a place of forced isolation, is now a living community that supports the last remaining residents cured of Hansen’s Disease, as well as threatened and…
Book tickets on Recreation.gov 808-567-6802 Directions
Details
Kalaupapa, once a place of forced isolation, is now a living community that supports the last remaining residents cured of Hansen’s Disease, as well as threatened and endangered species and significant cultural sites. Visitor tours are carefully designed to protect resident privacy, safeguard natural resources, and preserve the cultural sites that make Kalaupapa unique. Access to Kalaupapa is limited to two methods: by airplane or by trail. The programs listed here provide trail only access and operate under a group permit issued to the National Park Service by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health. The trail is very tough. Plan for a half-day and check each tour description closely.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Open 24 hours, daily · Park Hours
Hours details
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Park HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is home to an active community of people, including patient-residents and State and Federal employees. Because of this, there are no park opening or closing hours, though tours are only given during daylight hours. Visitation is restricted in accordance with Hawai'i State Law. All visitors must have a permit.
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Weather
74°F
Sunny · feels like 76°
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Today
76° 73°
Patchy rain nearby37% rain -
Tomorrow
75° 72°
Patchy rain nearby47% rain
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Saturday
76° 72°
Sunny23% rain
Updated 4 hr ago
What to expect by season
Hawaii enjoys warm temperatures year-round, although site conditions at the park can vary depending on weather and time of year. The rainy season is in the winter with the more hot and humid days in the summer. Trade winds are fairly constant and typically blow from the northeast. Daytime temperatures range from 65–75° F in the winter to 80-90°F in the summer. Nighttime temperatures are often in the 60-70°F range.
Contact the park
Photos
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Kalawao with its rocky shoreline was the landing spot for the first Hansen's disease patients sent to Kalaupapa. — NPS Photo / T. Scott Williams -
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2 more photos
Getting There
Kalaupapa, HI 96742
Kalaupapa is an extremely isolated place, surrounded on three sides by ocean and two-thousand foot cliffs on the fourth. Consequently, there is no road access into the peninsula.
Full directions
Kalaupapa cannot be reached by automobile. To get to the park, visitors must travel by air or on foot. See the park's Direction and Transportation webpage for additional information.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2222, Kalaupapa, HI 96742
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