The remote peninsula of Kalaupapa on Molokaʻi’s north shore is facing a big change. Kalawao County will soon be dissolving — and Maui County is weighing whether it will take on its jurisdiction.
After thousands of Hansen’s disease patients were exiled to Kalaupapa between 1866 and 1969, many have chosen to remain and call it home. In a delicate and emotional balance, the transition timeline now rests on the lifespan of the few remaining patient residents, who are in their 80s.
HPR's Catherine Cluett Pactol looked into what the future could hold.
A full text version of this story will be available later today.
Find more HPR stories about the Kalaupapa community:
- Hawaiʻi celebrates the life and legacy of Kalaupapa community leader Gloria Marks (December 2025)
- National Park superintendent of Kalaupapa shares what to expect as tours reopen (September 2025)
- Kalaupapa plans for a possible future without patients for the first time (February 2022)
- Remembering Makia Malo, celebrated storyteller and one of the last remaining residents of Kalaupapa (October 2021)
