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Olivia: My Life of Exile in Kalaupapa
Book by Breitha, Olivia R.
104 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 12, 2009
There are 26 switchbacks to the bottom of the Kalaupapa trail on the Hawaiian island of Moloka’i. As one descends into the trees, wild goats peek out, leaping from boulder to boulder, and sunlight drifts and scatters onto the gnarled roots lining a narrow but well-worn path. Mule packets litter the steep steps and beads of moisture from the air soak through cotton tanks and fabric visors, such that visitors are recommended to carry two well-stocked bottles of water or Gatorade. It’s only when one reaches the bottom, where the path opens to a deserted beach, completely void of footprints or trash, that the intense loneliness of the place can be felt.
The first “shipment” of Hansen’s patients arrived in Kalaupapa, Moloka’i in 1866. At the time, little was known about leprosy and its transmission. Quarantine of afflicted patients on the isolated peninsula was a protective measure by the state demanding extreme personal costs. The first years of settlement were brutal and often, a sentence to Kalaupapa meant an early death, either in the rocky undertow near the coastal drop-off point or in the vicious struggle to survive on land. Eventually, missionaries brought faith and a sense of community to the island, many of them like Father Damien (recently canonized by the Catholic Church) contracted the disease during their stay, but the stigma attached to Kalaupapa continued to painfully affect the lives of its residents for decades.
Olivia Robello Breitha recalls a part of Hawaii’s history which threatens to be forgotten as the old residents pass away and Kalaupapa’s population dwindles. In her memoir, Olivia charts her life of exile from the day she discovered blisters on her legs and the embarrassing “monkey show” (where patients were asked to strip and then poked and prodded by physicians) to her mother’s death, her love for a fellow patient, and her continuing battle for justice. Although dealing with extreme prejudice and a disease that would eventually cripple her, Ms. Breitha makes it clear that the memoir is not written with revenge or pity in mind. She chooses to focus on the good and inspiring individuals who made her experience in Kalaupapa extraordinary and bearable. With occasional self-deprecating humor, Olivia adopts a no-nonsense tone with sly asides, offering petty commentary of town officials and fellow patients. Always practical, she relays the day-to-day economic and social triumphs an ordinary historian might miss.
Though a brief 104 pages (including “frequently asked questions about leprosy” and several black and white photos) and employing extremely plain diction, there are moments when Olivia’s compassion and hard honesty make one wonder at the depth of reflection she’s able to convey in such short space. In addition, she inspires, in her own very down-to-earth way, by sharing a story of exile full of persistence and forgiveness. For those looking for an extensive history of Kalaupapa, this memoir would undoubtedly disappoint, but for those interested in the anthropological and cultural viewpoints of one of Hawaii’s most disastrous errors in healthcare, this is a must-read.
The first “shipment” of Hansen’s patients arrived in Kalaupapa, Moloka’i in 1866. At the time, little was known about leprosy and its transmission. Quarantine of afflicted patients on the isolated peninsula was a protective measure by the state demanding extreme personal costs. The first years of settlement were brutal and often, a sentence to Kalaupapa meant an early death, either in the rocky undertow near the coastal drop-off point or in the vicious struggle to survive on land. Eventually, missionaries brought faith and a sense of community to the island, many of them like Father Damien (recently canonized by the Catholic Church) contracted the disease during their stay, but the stigma attached to Kalaupapa continued to painfully affect the lives of its residents for decades.
Olivia Robello Breitha recalls a part of Hawaii’s history which threatens to be forgotten as the old residents pass away and Kalaupapa’s population dwindles. In her memoir, Olivia charts her life of exile from the day she discovered blisters on her legs and the embarrassing “monkey show” (where patients were asked to strip and then poked and prodded by physicians) to her mother’s death, her love for a fellow patient, and her continuing battle for justice. Although dealing with extreme prejudice and a disease that would eventually cripple her, Ms. Breitha makes it clear that the memoir is not written with revenge or pity in mind. She chooses to focus on the good and inspiring individuals who made her experience in Kalaupapa extraordinary and bearable. With occasional self-deprecating humor, Olivia adopts a no-nonsense tone with sly asides, offering petty commentary of town officials and fellow patients. Always practical, she relays the day-to-day economic and social triumphs an ordinary historian might miss.
Though a brief 104 pages (including “frequently asked questions about leprosy” and several black and white photos) and employing extremely plain diction, there are moments when Olivia’s compassion and hard honesty make one wonder at the depth of reflection she’s able to convey in such short space. In addition, she inspires, in her own very down-to-earth way, by sharing a story of exile full of persistence and forgiveness. For those looking for an extensive history of Kalaupapa, this memoir would undoubtedly disappoint, but for those interested in the anthropological and cultural viewpoints of one of Hawaii’s most disastrous errors in healthcare, this is a must-read.
February 19, 2013
My friend gave this to me to read in preparation for our visit to Kalaupapa. This is Olivia R. Breitha's personal account of her diagnosis and life with what is now known as Hansens disease (leprosy).
Breitha would be the first to tell you, she wasn't well educated (in fact she threatens to 'bop' the reader for making fun of her lack of education) but she is obviously a brave and sassy woman. Her writing can be difficult to follow at times, but it should not go unappreciated that as a person with leprosy she was feared by everyone for most of her life. This book tells her story from her view point, and she makes no bones about it. She calls people out for their wrongs, and praises the people who helped her along the way. I can only imagine how scary it must have been for her to write her thoughts down and present them to the world when she had been feared and looked down upon for her entire life. For what Breitha lacks in writing ability, she makes up for in courage.
Breitha's book is not up lifting, and I had more questions when I finished it than when I began it. It is clear that the powers which controlled Breitha's life, from the doctors who diagnosed her, to the state that exiled her, to the administrators that ran her daily life, never took the time to explain why things were being done the way they were. As a result, the reader is left with a rather scrambled view of Breitha's life on Kalaupapa, O'ahu, and in Carville. The reader doesn't always understand why things are happening, because Breitha didn't either.
I wouldn't recommend this book as a insight into the exact workings of the political climate and daily goings on in Kalaupapa during its heyday as a exile for Hansens disease patients. Rather, Breitha's work is a great look into the details which made life bearable and unbearable for a person with leprosy in the 1930s in Hawaii.
This book humanizes those suffering from a disease which was easy for those unaffected by it to dehumanize. Breitha herself talks of the shock of seeing the leprosy patients for the first time upon her arrival at Kalaupapa. Breitha then goes to show the reader that she, and all the other Hansen disease patients, despite their withered hands and distorted faces, were people, just like the rest of us.
While I think that most people would benefit from reading Breitha's work, her work will probably be found most interesting by those who are curious about Hawaii, Kalaupapa, and Hansen's disease.
Breitha would be the first to tell you, she wasn't well educated (in fact she threatens to 'bop' the reader for making fun of her lack of education) but she is obviously a brave and sassy woman. Her writing can be difficult to follow at times, but it should not go unappreciated that as a person with leprosy she was feared by everyone for most of her life. This book tells her story from her view point, and she makes no bones about it. She calls people out for their wrongs, and praises the people who helped her along the way. I can only imagine how scary it must have been for her to write her thoughts down and present them to the world when she had been feared and looked down upon for her entire life. For what Breitha lacks in writing ability, she makes up for in courage.
Breitha's book is not up lifting, and I had more questions when I finished it than when I began it. It is clear that the powers which controlled Breitha's life, from the doctors who diagnosed her, to the state that exiled her, to the administrators that ran her daily life, never took the time to explain why things were being done the way they were. As a result, the reader is left with a rather scrambled view of Breitha's life on Kalaupapa, O'ahu, and in Carville. The reader doesn't always understand why things are happening, because Breitha didn't either.
I wouldn't recommend this book as a insight into the exact workings of the political climate and daily goings on in Kalaupapa during its heyday as a exile for Hansens disease patients. Rather, Breitha's work is a great look into the details which made life bearable and unbearable for a person with leprosy in the 1930s in Hawaii.
This book humanizes those suffering from a disease which was easy for those unaffected by it to dehumanize. Breitha herself talks of the shock of seeing the leprosy patients for the first time upon her arrival at Kalaupapa. Breitha then goes to show the reader that she, and all the other Hansen disease patients, despite their withered hands and distorted faces, were people, just like the rest of us.
While I think that most people would benefit from reading Breitha's work, her work will probably be found most interesting by those who are curious about Hawaii, Kalaupapa, and Hansen's disease.
August 3, 2023
What an interesting and amazing lady Olivia Breitha must have been! This is very literally her own story, told exclusively in her own words, with her own take on the events that shaped her life. She was clearly intelligent, though only had a sixth-grade education, and her writing is not polished or professional, yet the word-pictures she draws are vivid and fascinating.
Olivia was just a teenager when she was diagnosed with Hansen's disease, more familiar to most of us as leprosy. At the time, the disease was barely understood and deeply feared, and patients were considered highly contagious and were quarantined in so-called "leper colonies." Breitha was sent to remote Kalaupapa, which, contrary to my own assumption, was not a locked hospital (there was a hospital building) but more like a very isolated small town. Due to the POV and writing style, some things are left unclear, such as just it was determined when patients were free to leave the place and why so many of them chose to stay there even after they were cleared as no longer contagious.
But Olivia's own experiences are laid out in detail. She suffered much hardship, but also managed to lead a full and interesting life, both inside and outside Kalaupapa. She isn't motivated by a desire for revenge (she makes a point of not naming names of the guilty) nor pity. She calls out those who wronged her and her fellow patients, but she spends more time enumerating the many, many good people who touched her life over the years, and it's clear that she found great joy in spite of her situation.
This is not an authoritative history of Kalaupapa or of Hansen's disease, but it is a truly interesting and important slice of one ordinary woman's extraordinary experiences.
Olivia was just a teenager when she was diagnosed with Hansen's disease, more familiar to most of us as leprosy. At the time, the disease was barely understood and deeply feared, and patients were considered highly contagious and were quarantined in so-called "leper colonies." Breitha was sent to remote Kalaupapa, which, contrary to my own assumption, was not a locked hospital (there was a hospital building) but more like a very isolated small town. Due to the POV and writing style, some things are left unclear, such as just it was determined when patients were free to leave the place and why so many of them chose to stay there even after they were cleared as no longer contagious.
But Olivia's own experiences are laid out in detail. She suffered much hardship, but also managed to lead a full and interesting life, both inside and outside Kalaupapa. She isn't motivated by a desire for revenge (she makes a point of not naming names of the guilty) nor pity. She calls out those who wronged her and her fellow patients, but she spends more time enumerating the many, many good people who touched her life over the years, and it's clear that she found great joy in spite of her situation.
This is not an authoritative history of Kalaupapa or of Hansen's disease, but it is a truly interesting and important slice of one ordinary woman's extraordinary experiences.
July 30, 2022
As someone born and raised in Hawai’i, I was thirty-seven before I learned I had a cousin with Hansen’s disease, known to the world as leprosy. By the time I met Olivia Robello Breitha in 1989, the antiquated rules surrounding “the separation sickness” had largely vanished. In the seventeen years that we were able to share, this tough, razor-witted lady taught me more about humanity than any university degree on the subject. She was a woman for whom truth was an emotion and candor an essential card in her deck. She doled out both in ample amounts.
It was through Olivia’s powerful memoir, “Olivia-My Life of Exile in Kalaupapa”, that I and thousands of others began to finally appreciate the reality of people used to being disdained, avoided and scorned as “lepers”. Olivia realized that this word will never completely disappear from use. She also knew that it was extremely important to draw attention to the historical attitudes
that have caused hurtful words and attitudes to be accepted in common parlance for far too long.
Like so many other labels whose purpose is to exclude people by invoking their color, religion, sexual orientation or, in this case, their medical condition, the word “leper” perpetuates harmful stereotypes and robs people of their rights as individuals.
Olivia’s slim but highly influential book, still in print after nearly 35 years, chronicles her childhood in Hawai’i’, her medical history, and her life as a social activist on behalf of the much-misunderstood disease. She writes with passion of her struggle and, by extension, the struggles of thousands of others against centuries of stigma and fear.
Before her death in 2006 at the age of 90, I got to know the circumstances of Olivia's life, her struggles and her quiet achievements. Meeting this singularly unforgettable person changed my life. Reading her book might just change yours as well.
It was through Olivia’s powerful memoir, “Olivia-My Life of Exile in Kalaupapa”, that I and thousands of others began to finally appreciate the reality of people used to being disdained, avoided and scorned as “lepers”. Olivia realized that this word will never completely disappear from use. She also knew that it was extremely important to draw attention to the historical attitudes
that have caused hurtful words and attitudes to be accepted in common parlance for far too long.
Like so many other labels whose purpose is to exclude people by invoking their color, religion, sexual orientation or, in this case, their medical condition, the word “leper” perpetuates harmful stereotypes and robs people of their rights as individuals.
Olivia’s slim but highly influential book, still in print after nearly 35 years, chronicles her childhood in Hawai’i’, her medical history, and her life as a social activist on behalf of the much-misunderstood disease. She writes with passion of her struggle and, by extension, the struggles of thousands of others against centuries of stigma and fear.
Before her death in 2006 at the age of 90, I got to know the circumstances of Olivia's life, her struggles and her quiet achievements. Meeting this singularly unforgettable person changed my life. Reading her book might just change yours as well.
December 26, 2017
This wasn't quite what I expected. It was interesting to read a first hand account of life circumstances leading up to life in Kalaupapa, but I was a little distracted by the writing style and some of the info included that didn't really seem to add to the story. I picked this up in the small visitors center gift shop in Kalaupapa when I visited in 2012. I'm glad to have finally read the book, but I was left wanting more detail in general. I am impressed with Olivia's ability and willingness to share her story.
July 2, 2020
Olivia Robello Breitha was diagnosed with Hansen's disease (leprosy) when she was a young woman in the 1930s. At the time, there was no treatment for the disease, in Hawaii, many people with leprosy were exiled to Kalaupapa, a community on the island of Molokai.
Breitha, who had a 6th grade education, wrote her powerful story about living with the disease. At times they were treated inhumanely, mostly by doctors and medical professionals, and Breitha was unafraid to fight for patient rights and reducing stigma.
Breitha, who had a 6th grade education, wrote her powerful story about living with the disease. At times they were treated inhumanely, mostly by doctors and medical professionals, and Breitha was unafraid to fight for patient rights and reducing stigma.
April 7, 2026
I picked up this book visiting Kalaupapa. Olivia’s story is so purely told, mistakes, grievances, and emotions all jumbled into a cohesive story that leaves out lots of details, but tells of a great life, despite how she suffered.
April 27, 2026
Having visited Kalaupapa in the 1990’s, I found this account of Olivia’s life there compelling.
September 15, 2013
A first hand account of living with Hanson's disease from 1937 through 1988. This was one plucky woman! Though she has no more than a 6th grade education, she recounts in simple powerful words the fear and humiliation associated with the disease and its early treatment; the emotional affects of the exile and isolation on the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokai; the condescension and ill treatment by some of the staff and the care and compassion by others. Her tale includes her 29 year marriage with a rancher/farmer on the island who also had leprosy, and her parent's purchase of the settlement's bakery so they could live near their daughter. And the endless surgeries to correct the feet and hand problems that afflict many with this disease. In the end, in the early 80's with the outbreak of AIDs making the news, she was incensed with their treatment as it reminded her of her own experiences. Now, 25 years later, it carries a poignancy and sadness. Do we never learn?
Recommended for those with an interest in the history of the area, and for medical personnel.
Recommended for those with an interest in the history of the area, and for medical personnel.
August 17, 2010
This is a fascinating account of one woman's real life story of having leprosy (aka Hansen's Disease) and being sent to Kalaupapa. Apparently she was motivated to write her memoir by a comment made on the tv show mash. She sent a letter along with her stories, her journal, on to Alan Alda. At the end of the book it shows a letter from Alan Alda saying he didn't have time to read her journal. I wonder if he's made the time in the last 20 years. If not, he should.
From the pictures in the book and the personal way in which she wrote I felt as if I could hear her voice in my head as I read.
Very short and lovely read.
From the pictures in the book and the personal way in which she wrote I felt as if I could hear her voice in my head as I read.
Very short and lovely read.
February 7, 2008
A ture story fo a young woman who was sent to colony for having Hansen's disease. It is also known as leprosy but thie term is not considered polite. SHe left home at 13 or 15 and never left until she was in middle age. All this occurred not so long ago and the toll of the disease with the seperation and treatment of these patients. SOme patients still live at the colony because they are so used to the lifestyle. Very sad but enlightening.
April 20, 2016
Olivia is quite a character, and I guess she deserves to be so outspoken for all she endured in her life. Her writing is simple but sometimes difficult to follow. Mostly I appreciated the raw humanity of this book, and her passion that every person deserves dignity, especially as they die. Amazing that she had much that she could have complained about but chose to focus on what is good in this life.
July 21, 2016
Personal account of treatment by the powers-that-be that should horrify any compassionate person. So personal it was like reading a diary or a family letter from an unsophisticated small town girl. I would like to hear from the administrative side of the history of the site because Olivia gives them a very hard time!
July 31, 2009
Just went to Molokai and saw Kalaupapa from afar....I read this to understand a bit more. Not wonderfully written, but it is a first person account of her life in Kalaupapa. Very interesting topic about Leprosy.
May 14, 2015
This small book says so much about a life that most of us could never imagine. I have been through my share of health challenges, and nothing could prepare me for the emotional and physical journey described here.
October 2, 2011
Completely and utterly moving in all respects. A real life story of one of the residents of Kalaupapa.
June 1, 2014
Personal account of life in Kalaupapa. powerful story!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews