Molokai - Fr. Damien

The Leper Colony at Kalaupapa seen from topside. Priests at St. Joseph Church

February 14th - Valentine's day, the priests in the Maui Vicariate which includes the Islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai, rode the ferry from Lahaina, Maui to Kanaukakai, Molokai at 7:30am. It was a lovely and beautiful day with humback whales leaping out of the water as we made our way to Molokai. We were on a day of pilgrimage to the sites when Fr. Damien built four churches during his time there in 1873. He lived on Molokai ministering to the lepers at Kalawao, and builded churches on the Island, besides establishing the leper colony at Kalaupapa. He contacted leprosy and died there on May 10, 1889 after 16 years on the Island. This is a statue of Fr. Damien located at St. Joseph parish which he established at Kamola.