Kalaupapa: A Collective Memory

by Anwei Skinsnes Law

Between 1866 and 1969, an estimated 8,000 individuals―at least 90 percent of whom were Native Hawaiians―were sent to Molokai’s remote Kalaupapa peninsula because they were believed to have leprosy. Unwilling to accept the loss of their families, homes, and citizenship, these individuals ensured they would be accorded their rightful place in history. They left a powerful testimony of their lives in the form of letters, petitions, music, memoirs, and oral history interviews. Kalaupapa combines more than 200 hours of interviews with archival documents, including over 300 letters and petitions written by the earliest residents translated from Hawaiian.

It has long been assumed that those sent to Kalaupapa were unconcerned with the world they were forced to leave behind. The present work shows that residents remained actively interested and involved in life beyond Kalaupapa. They petitioned the Hawaii Legislative Assembly in 1874, seeking justice. They fervently supported Queen Liliuokalani and the Hawaiian Kingdom prior to annexation and contributed to the relief effort in Europe following World War I. In 1997 Kalaupapa residents advocated at the United Nations together with people affected by leprosy from around the world.

This book presents at long last the story of Kalaupapa as told by its people.

Genres: History, Reference, Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir

576 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2012

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read most if not all non-fiction books about Kalaupapa: this is clearly the best. The book focuses on individual experiences and brings you into the lives of those who lived there. Laid out in largely chronological order, the reading becomes more interesting as it progresses in time due to more available sources.

Why not five stars? In between excellent first person quotes, the author injects personal editorials and casts opinions which are blatantly racist and presentist. I have no idea of how this could get past the editors at an academic press, but it certainly discredits the publisher.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving and tragic. Illustrated stories by many people.

[Samantha Boroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautifully written capturing the strength and spirit of the people of Kalaupapa and Makawao not to be erased from or forgotten by history.

[Cindy]

This is a very interesting book, it is a fascinating part of history to me. Unforntunately I didn't have enough time to read much of the book, so I'll have to pick it up another time. It seemed more textbook style rather than personal accounts.

[Bev Morey]

On the side burner until after SD trip.