Kalaupapa History Presentation at Molokai Library

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa will present narrated slide shows about “Forgotten Chapters of Kalaupapa History” and “Bernard K. Punikaiʻa: Hawaiian Warrior,” on Thursday, March 19, 9-11 a.m. at the Molokai Library. The public is welcome. 

The event is being sponsored by the Molokai Museum & Cultural Center as part of its Road Scholars program. There is no charge. 

The presentations will be given by Valerie Monson, Executive Director of Ka ‘Ohana. “The Forgotten Chapters of Kalaupapa” will focus on people and events often left out of the history of Kalaupapa, including the many little-known contributions made by the aliʻi, the effects of the Bayonet Constitution and how many of the people of Kalaupapa themselves played such an important part in making life better for the community throughout the history. 

The slide show about Bernard K. Punikaiʻa will recall the life of the great human rights activist who led a protest of Kalaupapa residents against the State government that lasted from 1978-1983 and who later had the vision to establish Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa as a way to reach out to family members, descendants and friends of Kalaupapa.

The Molokai Museum and Cultural Center is home to an award-winning exhibit created by Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, “Kalaupapa: Past, Present and Future,” which features 100 historical and modern-day photographs of the people of Kalaupapa, their family members and landscapes of the peninsula. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.