Kalaupapa National Historical Park
National Historic Landmark

Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Kalaupapa, Kalawao County, Hawaii
Listed
January 7, 1976
Type
District
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
76002145

About this property

Kalaupapa National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in Kalaupapa, Hawaiʻi, on the island of Molokaʻi. Nearly coterminous with the boundaries of Kalawao County, and primarily on Kalaupapa peninsula, it was established by Congress in 1980 to expand upon the earlier National Historic Landmark site of the Kalaupapa Leper Settlement. It is administered by the National Park Service. Its goal is to preserve the cultural and physical settings of the two leper colonies on the island of Molokaʻi, which operated from 1866 to 1969 and had a total of 8500 residents over the decades. The only way for the general public to visit the settlement is by booking a guided tour. Tours were suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed in September 2025 after the selection of a new tour operator. Tours included a round-trip flight from Honolulu. The Kalaupapa Trail also provides access to the settlement; it was closed in 2018 due to trailhead access issues and reopened in July 2026. The Peninsula Overlook, situated high above the settlement within Palaʻau State Park, is currently the only other publicly accessible part of the park More than 7300 people live on the remainder of the island, which was a site of cattle ranching and pineapple production for decades. Much of these lands were purchased and controlled by the owners and developers of Molokai Ranch. This part of the island is also a tourist destination.

Location

Kalaupapa, Kalawao County, Hawaii
21.16088, -156.94988

Categories

PACIFIC-ISLANDERCOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTHISTORIC - ABORIGINALHISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALHEALTH/MEDICINEARCHITECTURERELIGIONSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Kalaupapa National Historical Park

This page lists Kalaupapa National Historical Park. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

U.S. Coast Guard Molokai Light
Industrial
3.6 mi
Meyer, R. W., Sugar Mill
Industrial
3.8 mi
Hokukano-Ualapue Complex
Listed
10.1 mi
Wo Hing Society Building
Industrial
26.2 mi
Hale Pa'i
Early Republic
26.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kalaupapa National Historical Park listed on the National Register?

Kalaupapa National Historical Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Kalaupapa National Historical Park?

Kalaupapa National Historical Park is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Kalaupapa National Historical Park a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Kalaupapa National Historical Park has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Kalaupapa National Historical Park?

The period of significance for Kalaupapa National Historical Park is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1866.

Can I research the history near Kalaupapa National Historical Park?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Kalaupapa National Historical Park will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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