Kalaupapa National Historical Park

There are two ways to enter Kalaupapa peninsula -- the treacherous winding trail from the steep cliffs that mark the settlement's inland boundary, or via small propeller plane on its tiny airstrip. The handful of remaining residents in this former leper colony stay voluntarily, and the sign below reminds visitors that entry is restricted without their prior permission.

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The road from the airport into Kalaupapa National Historical Park and the settlement itself.

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The sleepy town of Kalaupapa.

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The wind-swept eastern shore of the peninsula is littered with flotsam; there are simply not enough residents to keep the beaches cleared.

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Dramatic seascape view from the windward coast, just down the road from the church built by Father Damien.

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Self portrait with the lighthouse on Kalaupapa (thank God for tripods!). Completed in 1909 and operating automatically since 1966, the Molokai Light is the tallest and brightest in the Pacific, casting a visible beam more than 20 miles offshore.

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This lighthouse is featured on the QSL card below from the rarest US county, Kalawao. Only Kalaupapa and the surrounding mountains make up tiny Kalawao County, and the community contains no active resident ham radio operators. A group of 15 hams, myself included, was invited to the settlement in November 1992 for 3 days of guest operation, and the lucky Deserving who worked us received this special card to commemorate the event.