Kalaupapa Exhibit One-Day Free Showing

Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

Molokai residents will be offered free admission to the Kalaupapa Photo Exhibit showing at the Molokai Museum and Cultural Center on Sunday, March 15, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The exhibit, titled “A Reflection of Kalaupapa: Past, Present and Future,” was developed by Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa. It features 100 framed photographs of the people of Kalaupapa and their family members from as early as 1884 through current times.

The museum is normally closed on Sundays, but Noelani Keliikipi, Executive Director of the museum, the Board of Directors and museum volunteers all wanted to make sure Molokai residents had the opportunity to visit. It was decided to also waive the $5 admission fee for anyone living on Molokai.

“We believe this exhibit has special meaning to our Molokai people and so many of them work during the week or on Saturday when we are usually open,” said Keliikipi. “We are hoping they will take advantage of free admission on a Sunday afternoon to learn about the people of Kalaupapa. It’s a beautiful exhibit and we are fortunate to have it here.”

Acclaimed photographer Wayne Levin took most of the pictures. Levin began photographing the people of Kalaupapa in 1984 and began photographing family members through his work with Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa.

The exhibit has traveled to every island in Hawai`i except Ni`ihau and Kaho`olawe. It was displayed at Kalaupapa last summer before opening at the Molokai Museum and Cultural Center last September.

Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the needs of the people of Kalaupapa, helping families reconnect to their Kalaupapa ancestors, developing educational programs and working with others to preserve the history. For more information on the `Ohana see the website www.kalaupapaohana.org

For information about the Molokai Museum and Cultural Center, phone 567-6436.