Kalaupapa National Historical Park
Kalaupapa National Historical Park
4.5
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This historical park was a former leper colony run by Father Damien in the 1930s.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
206 reviews
Excellent
150
Very good
37
Average
11
Poor
5
Terrible
3
Stevie
10 contributions
Feb 2020
This was the highlight of my recent month long vacation in Molokai! Our guide, booked thru the mule ride co., was so friendly. Only 3 people on my tour. I don’t know why so few. It is a little expensive, $250.00 per person to fly in & to take the tour, but so worth the price! I read the book “Molokai” before I came so I could relate to all of the stops we made. The sea cliffs are magnificent! If you do go & are susceptible to bug bites don’t forget insect spray!
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
box534
Red Deer, Canada40 contributions
Jan 2020
A bucket wish list - so emotional seeing the graves and thinking of all the people discarded like worthless human beings. Spending the day in this beautiful but sad historical place was a privilege. Our guide was so enthusiastic and had a singing voice that was beautiful to listen to.Can't say enough about this tour. Totally awesome!!
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pepper
Seattle, WA1,574 contributions
Dec 2020
Gorgeous area- many twists and blind turns on the highway to get to a place that we could look down on it. That park was deserted when we got there, but there was no way to get to the colony at that time so this was the best we could do. The lookout had many useful historical explanations along the walk way where the view was. Wish we could have visited but you can read the other reviews to see that it is not so easy to do that. So, if you just want a look down, go to the park that will let you get a glimpse of what was, and what is.
Written January 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MN Sand Seeker
Minnesota848 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
My husband and I spent 3 days on the island of Molokai. We had planned to hike the cliff trail down to the Kalaupapa Peninsula. I looked into all the options for getting there.
I had a bad experience with a horse as a child and am fearful of riding, so trusting my life to a mule was not something I was comfortable with. A person can fly round trip from Oahu, Maui or topside Molokai, but I wanted to experience the scenery of the hike.
If you've read any info on Kalaupapa, you know reservations must be made to enter the peninsula - they refer to this as having a "permit" but do not expect to receive a permit like a state park pass or camping permit - this permit is a reservation so they can approve you to enter the historical park. Arrangements can be made with several places. When we arrived on the island we simply contacted Molokai Outdoors and made arrangements to go down the next day. That night however it rained the entire night and into the morning. We did not want to hike the trail in the rain so called before 7:30am and left a message we would reschedule for the next day.
If hiking down, they/we recommend you leave the trail entrance at about 7:30am. That will give you time to get down to the bottom before the riders saddle up on the mules and head down the trail. Since it had rained for 24 hours the day before the trail was slick and muddy in spots. The terrain of the trail changes from top to bottom. The first part is through the woods and dirt ground; then some of the trail had grid like blocks put in place for steps; then after reaching the nice bridge that was constructed in 2010, the trail stairway is made mostly of large rocks set in the dirt (since the trail was slippery, we only tried to walk on the rocks to keep from sliding/falling down). Most of the switchbacks (zigzags) cut into the hill are steep. To help with balance, grab a large walking stick at the beginning of the trail - several branches are sitting there to be used. We stopped several times on the way down to take photos. The air up top is cool and damp in the morning, so a light rain jacket came in handle. Once you descend further down the trail, out of the trees it warms up. Dress in layers you can peel off for comfort. It took us 1.5 hours to hike the 3 miles down to where the tour bus sits by the bleachers.
If you hike down, the cost of the entrance fee/permit is $50 per person. After hiking down the trail we paid the tour guide and signed in on the tour bus before the tour began. The flyers, mule riders and hikers all ride the same bus to tour Kalaupapa and Kalawao, which is the original leper colony settlement about 5 miles west on the opposite side of the peninsula. The tour is very informational and several times you will have the opportunity to get off the bus. We were told 17 patients with Hansen's disease still live on the peninsula; the other 100 people who live down there work in the hospital, care center, stores, post office, or for park service. Do not expect to see or talk with any patients (the youngest we were told was 80.) or go into any homes. The tour will take you into a couple churches, a building used as a gift shop, and other pertinent sites, including a couple cemeteries. The bus stopped for lunch by Kalawao. If you hike down, carry lunch and plenty of water for the hike down and up in your backpack. (Those who booked mule or air transportation, a box lunch will be waiting on the bus.) The tour itself is about 2.5-3 hours. After the tour is completed, the bus will stop by a restroom near the stables. If you are hiking, be the first in the bathroom and hit the trail - the earlier start you get, the higher up the trail you will be before the mules pass you. (After that you will be dodging mule crap on the trail...)
The hike down was more strenuous for my husband - he is not use to balancing on his legs that way. The hike up was more strenuous for me - as the afternoon humidity really hit me hard. The walking stick will come in handy for climbing! In total, it took us about 3 hours to hike up - we took our time and stopped to rest and enjoy the view around switchbacks 17-14 (can't remember exactly). The mules eventually caught up with us around switchback 15. The trail is not wide, but we had to try and step aside to give them all room to pass.
I should note, we are not avid hikers - so those who are more experienced or more active may take less time to hike up than we did. I was orignially interested in hiking down and flying out - in order to see the seacliffs from the air - but could not find a company offering that; although a woman I talked to on the peninsula said that could be arranged. She did not mention how or with who. (For those interested in air or mule transportation, the cost is between $149-199 per person. There was a guy who hiked down but had concerns he could not hike back up; they were able to arrange a mule up for him. )
All considered, I thought the hike was one of those once in a lifetime experiences. I'm not a history buff but my husband and I (in our early 40's) both enjoyed the tour.
I had a bad experience with a horse as a child and am fearful of riding, so trusting my life to a mule was not something I was comfortable with. A person can fly round trip from Oahu, Maui or topside Molokai, but I wanted to experience the scenery of the hike.
If you've read any info on Kalaupapa, you know reservations must be made to enter the peninsula - they refer to this as having a "permit" but do not expect to receive a permit like a state park pass or camping permit - this permit is a reservation so they can approve you to enter the historical park. Arrangements can be made with several places. When we arrived on the island we simply contacted Molokai Outdoors and made arrangements to go down the next day. That night however it rained the entire night and into the morning. We did not want to hike the trail in the rain so called before 7:30am and left a message we would reschedule for the next day.
If hiking down, they/we recommend you leave the trail entrance at about 7:30am. That will give you time to get down to the bottom before the riders saddle up on the mules and head down the trail. Since it had rained for 24 hours the day before the trail was slick and muddy in spots. The terrain of the trail changes from top to bottom. The first part is through the woods and dirt ground; then some of the trail had grid like blocks put in place for steps; then after reaching the nice bridge that was constructed in 2010, the trail stairway is made mostly of large rocks set in the dirt (since the trail was slippery, we only tried to walk on the rocks to keep from sliding/falling down). Most of the switchbacks (zigzags) cut into the hill are steep. To help with balance, grab a large walking stick at the beginning of the trail - several branches are sitting there to be used. We stopped several times on the way down to take photos. The air up top is cool and damp in the morning, so a light rain jacket came in handle. Once you descend further down the trail, out of the trees it warms up. Dress in layers you can peel off for comfort. It took us 1.5 hours to hike the 3 miles down to where the tour bus sits by the bleachers.
If you hike down, the cost of the entrance fee/permit is $50 per person. After hiking down the trail we paid the tour guide and signed in on the tour bus before the tour began. The flyers, mule riders and hikers all ride the same bus to tour Kalaupapa and Kalawao, which is the original leper colony settlement about 5 miles west on the opposite side of the peninsula. The tour is very informational and several times you will have the opportunity to get off the bus. We were told 17 patients with Hansen's disease still live on the peninsula; the other 100 people who live down there work in the hospital, care center, stores, post office, or for park service. Do not expect to see or talk with any patients (the youngest we were told was 80.) or go into any homes. The tour will take you into a couple churches, a building used as a gift shop, and other pertinent sites, including a couple cemeteries. The bus stopped for lunch by Kalawao. If you hike down, carry lunch and plenty of water for the hike down and up in your backpack. (Those who booked mule or air transportation, a box lunch will be waiting on the bus.) The tour itself is about 2.5-3 hours. After the tour is completed, the bus will stop by a restroom near the stables. If you are hiking, be the first in the bathroom and hit the trail - the earlier start you get, the higher up the trail you will be before the mules pass you. (After that you will be dodging mule crap on the trail...)
The hike down was more strenuous for my husband - he is not use to balancing on his legs that way. The hike up was more strenuous for me - as the afternoon humidity really hit me hard. The walking stick will come in handy for climbing! In total, it took us about 3 hours to hike up - we took our time and stopped to rest and enjoy the view around switchbacks 17-14 (can't remember exactly). The mules eventually caught up with us around switchback 15. The trail is not wide, but we had to try and step aside to give them all room to pass.
I should note, we are not avid hikers - so those who are more experienced or more active may take less time to hike up than we did. I was orignially interested in hiking down and flying out - in order to see the seacliffs from the air - but could not find a company offering that; although a woman I talked to on the peninsula said that could be arranged. She did not mention how or with who. (For those interested in air or mule transportation, the cost is between $149-199 per person. There was a guy who hiked down but had concerns he could not hike back up; they were able to arrange a mule up for him. )
All considered, I thought the hike was one of those once in a lifetime experiences. I'm not a history buff but my husband and I (in our early 40's) both enjoyed the tour.
Written March 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HawaiiKaiGail
Las Vegas, NV949 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
I had wanted to go to Kalaupapa for 10 years. This is what we found when we recently went to the settlement. Land tour is advertised as 3-4 hours.
Only 3 ways down...hike, mule ride or by air with Makani Air. Only 100 people a day can visit. Must be 16. We opted to go with Makani Air and bought a package from them. You can fly over from HNL or Topside Molokai. Half hour flight from HNL and about 10 minutes from Topside. Plane is a twin propellar type. Flights were on time and enjoyable.
We landed at the Kalaupapa Airport and there we sat until the tour guide from Damien Tours picked us up. The wait can be as short as 25 minutes or an hour, depending on the flight you take over.
You are picked up in an old yellow school bus that has no a/c. Some of the bus windows work...some do not. I would advise to sit in the front, right behind the driver/tour guide so you can hear. Our guide was Norman and he is full of knowledge and one can tell, he really likes his job. He narrates during the driving and at the stops.
You drive over to the area where the hikers and mule riders are to pick them up. Quite a bit of time is spent there, not sure why. Restrooms are there. Everyone boards. The folks who came by plane receive their bag lunch at the airport. The mule riders get tickets to turn in for the lunch bags. Hikers need to bring down their own food.
So, off the tour starts! Just 3 minutes down the road and you stop at a small store/bar. You can buy water, drinks, snacks, ice cream, etc. Restrooms are there. Bar part is only open after 4PM so no tourist can buy beer, etc. This small store is owned by a person named Gloria, who runs or owns Damien Tours. In my opinion, this stop is for the sole purpose of generating revenue for this person. It's a waste of time. 15 minutes or so here. Everyone boards and off you go again. About 5 minutes later, you are getting off the tour bus again to stop at the Bookstore. Now, the bookstore has some items you can purchase...t-shirts, books on Molokai, magnets, book markers, CD's, etc. Everything about Molokai & Kalaupapa. There are plaques and pictures on the walls to read. If you are a holder of the National Park Service passport, you can stamp your book. Or, you can even stamp your country passport...or for that matter, anything you like. That's nice. You can leave your mail with postage, or money for it, and it will be postmarked Kalaupapa. There is a large mango tree next door and MANY folks go over and pick some up. Again, about 15 minutes here.
Back on the bus...around the corner and you stop again. This is at Saint Marianne's grave. About 20 minutes. Norman told us a lot of info here. Next to the grave, is a monument to honor Father Damien. You see the ruins of the old hospital and the new hospital, as well. Back on the bus, and you will see some homes and buildings, such as the National Park Headquarters, Bishop Home for Girls. Last stop in Kalaupapa, is at St. Frances Church. Across the street, is the main grocery store and US post office but you are not allowed to go into either. Father Patrick's residence is by the church, and there is a lovely shrine out back. He was present the day we went. He talked a bit in the church. You can walk down to the pier/wharf, where the barge from HNL comes into Kalaupapa just once a year. About 20 minutes or so at this stop.
Then, you are driven to the penisula's East Side to Kalawao, where you will have lunch. You may see wild boar and axel deer...we did. Along the way and back, you will see St. Philomena Church(stop), Siloama Church, the site of the old Baldwin Home for Boys and the remains of the US Leprosy Investigation Station. You reach the lunch pavillion/picnic tables. The area is really scenic and you see 2 offshore islands and where the patients were brought in. Very sad but very beautiful.
Lunch consists of a small bottle of water, a small meat(?) and colby cheese sandwich in plastic wrap, mustard/mayonnaise pacs, small bag of chips, a granola bar and a bite size candy bar. No napkins. My advise is to bring your own food, and hand wipes. The food was pretty bad...I could not each the sandwich. Restrooms. ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES FOR LUNCH. On the way back, you stop at St. Philomeana Church. 15 minutes. Father Damien's grave is outside. His body was taken back to his native Belgium. His right hand is in the grave you see and his right ankle/bone is on Oahu. Entire tour is done before 2PM and folks are dropped at the airport or the area where the mules/ hikers meet.
So, you are easily on the peninsula for 4 hours, maybe even more, if you hiked down. But, THE TOUR IS NOT 3-4 HOURS LONG. It is truly about a ONE HOUR TOUR...deceptive in their wording, to say the least. This is more about where you are than what you are seeing or hearing.
I would recommend reading the book Molokai(the fiction one) prior to your visit here to understand and appreciate what you are seeing.
So, 4 STARS to Makani Air Charters. 4 STARS for Kalaupapa/Kalawao. 2 STARS for Damien Tours.
Please give me head's up vote if this review helped you or yours. Aloha.
Only 3 ways down...hike, mule ride or by air with Makani Air. Only 100 people a day can visit. Must be 16. We opted to go with Makani Air and bought a package from them. You can fly over from HNL or Topside Molokai. Half hour flight from HNL and about 10 minutes from Topside. Plane is a twin propellar type. Flights were on time and enjoyable.
We landed at the Kalaupapa Airport and there we sat until the tour guide from Damien Tours picked us up. The wait can be as short as 25 minutes or an hour, depending on the flight you take over.
You are picked up in an old yellow school bus that has no a/c. Some of the bus windows work...some do not. I would advise to sit in the front, right behind the driver/tour guide so you can hear. Our guide was Norman and he is full of knowledge and one can tell, he really likes his job. He narrates during the driving and at the stops.
You drive over to the area where the hikers and mule riders are to pick them up. Quite a bit of time is spent there, not sure why. Restrooms are there. Everyone boards. The folks who came by plane receive their bag lunch at the airport. The mule riders get tickets to turn in for the lunch bags. Hikers need to bring down their own food.
So, off the tour starts! Just 3 minutes down the road and you stop at a small store/bar. You can buy water, drinks, snacks, ice cream, etc. Restrooms are there. Bar part is only open after 4PM so no tourist can buy beer, etc. This small store is owned by a person named Gloria, who runs or owns Damien Tours. In my opinion, this stop is for the sole purpose of generating revenue for this person. It's a waste of time. 15 minutes or so here. Everyone boards and off you go again. About 5 minutes later, you are getting off the tour bus again to stop at the Bookstore. Now, the bookstore has some items you can purchase...t-shirts, books on Molokai, magnets, book markers, CD's, etc. Everything about Molokai & Kalaupapa. There are plaques and pictures on the walls to read. If you are a holder of the National Park Service passport, you can stamp your book. Or, you can even stamp your country passport...or for that matter, anything you like. That's nice. You can leave your mail with postage, or money for it, and it will be postmarked Kalaupapa. There is a large mango tree next door and MANY folks go over and pick some up. Again, about 15 minutes here.
Back on the bus...around the corner and you stop again. This is at Saint Marianne's grave. About 20 minutes. Norman told us a lot of info here. Next to the grave, is a monument to honor Father Damien. You see the ruins of the old hospital and the new hospital, as well. Back on the bus, and you will see some homes and buildings, such as the National Park Headquarters, Bishop Home for Girls. Last stop in Kalaupapa, is at St. Frances Church. Across the street, is the main grocery store and US post office but you are not allowed to go into either. Father Patrick's residence is by the church, and there is a lovely shrine out back. He was present the day we went. He talked a bit in the church. You can walk down to the pier/wharf, where the barge from HNL comes into Kalaupapa just once a year. About 20 minutes or so at this stop.
Then, you are driven to the penisula's East Side to Kalawao, where you will have lunch. You may see wild boar and axel deer...we did. Along the way and back, you will see St. Philomena Church(stop), Siloama Church, the site of the old Baldwin Home for Boys and the remains of the US Leprosy Investigation Station. You reach the lunch pavillion/picnic tables. The area is really scenic and you see 2 offshore islands and where the patients were brought in. Very sad but very beautiful.
Lunch consists of a small bottle of water, a small meat(?) and colby cheese sandwich in plastic wrap, mustard/mayonnaise pacs, small bag of chips, a granola bar and a bite size candy bar. No napkins. My advise is to bring your own food, and hand wipes. The food was pretty bad...I could not each the sandwich. Restrooms. ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES FOR LUNCH. On the way back, you stop at St. Philomeana Church. 15 minutes. Father Damien's grave is outside. His body was taken back to his native Belgium. His right hand is in the grave you see and his right ankle/bone is on Oahu. Entire tour is done before 2PM and folks are dropped at the airport or the area where the mules/ hikers meet.
So, you are easily on the peninsula for 4 hours, maybe even more, if you hiked down. But, THE TOUR IS NOT 3-4 HOURS LONG. It is truly about a ONE HOUR TOUR...deceptive in their wording, to say the least. This is more about where you are than what you are seeing or hearing.
I would recommend reading the book Molokai(the fiction one) prior to your visit here to understand and appreciate what you are seeing.
So, 4 STARS to Makani Air Charters. 4 STARS for Kalaupapa/Kalawao. 2 STARS for Damien Tours.
Please give me head's up vote if this review helped you or yours. Aloha.
Written August 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
martink2010
Parker, CO26 contributions
Jan 2012 • Solo
I've been to Moloka'i last year, and have seen Kalaupapa from the overlook. This year I decided to hike it. We love Moloka'i- the old Hawai'i feel, friendly people and simplicity without crowds.
Three ways to get to the Pennisula: hike, mule or fly. Everyone must have a permit issued by Damien Tours; the mule company can do it for you and provide a lunch if you wish. No one over 16 allowed, in order to maintain the peace for the handful of aging residents remaining.
The mules head out around 8:30 AM; I left at 8. It's 1600+' high; the trail hugs the Pali or cliff; it's made up of concrete steps and rocks, 26 switchbacks which are numbered(nice to know where you are); the width of the path varies between 2-4 feet; there's a few spots where they fence the narrow path at steep drop-offs, and there's one bridge, new, since the old one washed out. It's a nice secured structure, and allows for great shots looking straight down, and it's fairly near the top.
It took me about 1 hour to get down. If one stays on the trail, it's safe and you won't fall off a precipice by foot or mule. Largely, there's the mountain on one side and brush on the other. It's high up for sure, but you can do it. One does have to watch every step because it's uneven and slippery from dirt on the rocks. Again, one is unlikely to fall off, but more likely to trip and fall on the rocky, hard trail or turn an ankle. So, take you're time.
I'm mid 50's and in pretty good shape. I use a foldable, hiking stick which really helps- the mules have 4 legs might as well have three. I saw leftover real sticks to use along the trail. I carry a small pack with water, lunch, rain jacket, bug spray and sun lotion plus camera and sunglasses.
Cellular reception is intermittant and poor. I met a park worker coming up- the only person I saw on the trail- who packs up and down the pali and carries a laptop and a heavy pack, who said, "take your time and enjoy the walk". I got reception down at the waitng area.
It's 2.4 miles down to the base where you walk along a black sand beach with a thundering surf for another 1 mile to an open area with a school bus, corral, old monk seal station, and bleachers. Here you wait. The mule riders showed up in about 1/2 hour with the guides, one playing the ukulele, and the rest of the hikers.
Talking to the mule riders, they were jazzed about the view down. The mules are fairly big, and I noticed tracks, mostly near the bottom, where they had slid on rocks like me. Per record, none have ever fallen off the cliff. I had also notice goats and deer.
On this trip, Buzzy, the head mule guide and co-owner of the mule company and the coffee house at the plantation upside( I later met the other owner eating at Moloka'i Burger- great burgers, and Buzzy's daughter at the coffeehouse, where she works; yes, it's a small island.) took over as tour guide and bus driver for our tour. He's a great gentleman with lots of aloha spirit and knowledge of Kalaupapa and the islands.
We first stopped at the local "bar"- no booze, just water, pop and snacks. We later visited the Catholic church, met the priest, currently from Indonesia, view the different structures in town, burnt down hospital, new hopsital, Natioanl Park library- where I bought a t-shirt, Sister Marianne's site and so forth. Buzzy made it a great tour!
We also, picked up a few folks flying in on that short runway. Later, we drove out to the other side of the park, the original Father Damien settlement to first have lunch in a beautiful setting, chat with the guide and use the very modern and clean restrooms!
There are only about 8 resdents with Hansens's Disease that remain. The bulk of the population are park and government workers keeping the place up. They park their cars on top, you'll see them before you head down, and hike back up every week.
After lunch, we visited Father Damien's church and the graveyard where his hand is buried along with others including Brother Dutton. Read up on the history and see the excellent movie that was filmed here before touring.
Next Buzzy drove us back, past the old volcano crater, and it was time to say "aloha". The hike up, I think is easier. It took me an hour, less stress on the knees, but more cardio challenging. Take your time, stop at the switchbacks to catch your breath, take a drink of water, get some pictures and reflect, pray.
Back by 3PM, wife and kids waiting for me topside after a day of shopping and their own adventures;a cab waiting for others, the driver yelled at me, "Hey man, you beat the mules!" No biggie. Just enjoy the journey at your own pace.
Three ways to get to the Pennisula: hike, mule or fly. Everyone must have a permit issued by Damien Tours; the mule company can do it for you and provide a lunch if you wish. No one over 16 allowed, in order to maintain the peace for the handful of aging residents remaining.
The mules head out around 8:30 AM; I left at 8. It's 1600+' high; the trail hugs the Pali or cliff; it's made up of concrete steps and rocks, 26 switchbacks which are numbered(nice to know where you are); the width of the path varies between 2-4 feet; there's a few spots where they fence the narrow path at steep drop-offs, and there's one bridge, new, since the old one washed out. It's a nice secured structure, and allows for great shots looking straight down, and it's fairly near the top.
It took me about 1 hour to get down. If one stays on the trail, it's safe and you won't fall off a precipice by foot or mule. Largely, there's the mountain on one side and brush on the other. It's high up for sure, but you can do it. One does have to watch every step because it's uneven and slippery from dirt on the rocks. Again, one is unlikely to fall off, but more likely to trip and fall on the rocky, hard trail or turn an ankle. So, take you're time.
I'm mid 50's and in pretty good shape. I use a foldable, hiking stick which really helps- the mules have 4 legs might as well have three. I saw leftover real sticks to use along the trail. I carry a small pack with water, lunch, rain jacket, bug spray and sun lotion plus camera and sunglasses.
Cellular reception is intermittant and poor. I met a park worker coming up- the only person I saw on the trail- who packs up and down the pali and carries a laptop and a heavy pack, who said, "take your time and enjoy the walk". I got reception down at the waitng area.
It's 2.4 miles down to the base where you walk along a black sand beach with a thundering surf for another 1 mile to an open area with a school bus, corral, old monk seal station, and bleachers. Here you wait. The mule riders showed up in about 1/2 hour with the guides, one playing the ukulele, and the rest of the hikers.
Talking to the mule riders, they were jazzed about the view down. The mules are fairly big, and I noticed tracks, mostly near the bottom, where they had slid on rocks like me. Per record, none have ever fallen off the cliff. I had also notice goats and deer.
On this trip, Buzzy, the head mule guide and co-owner of the mule company and the coffee house at the plantation upside( I later met the other owner eating at Moloka'i Burger- great burgers, and Buzzy's daughter at the coffeehouse, where she works; yes, it's a small island.) took over as tour guide and bus driver for our tour. He's a great gentleman with lots of aloha spirit and knowledge of Kalaupapa and the islands.
We first stopped at the local "bar"- no booze, just water, pop and snacks. We later visited the Catholic church, met the priest, currently from Indonesia, view the different structures in town, burnt down hospital, new hopsital, Natioanl Park library- where I bought a t-shirt, Sister Marianne's site and so forth. Buzzy made it a great tour!
We also, picked up a few folks flying in on that short runway. Later, we drove out to the other side of the park, the original Father Damien settlement to first have lunch in a beautiful setting, chat with the guide and use the very modern and clean restrooms!
There are only about 8 resdents with Hansens's Disease that remain. The bulk of the population are park and government workers keeping the place up. They park their cars on top, you'll see them before you head down, and hike back up every week.
After lunch, we visited Father Damien's church and the graveyard where his hand is buried along with others including Brother Dutton. Read up on the history and see the excellent movie that was filmed here before touring.
Next Buzzy drove us back, past the old volcano crater, and it was time to say "aloha". The hike up, I think is easier. It took me an hour, less stress on the knees, but more cardio challenging. Take your time, stop at the switchbacks to catch your breath, take a drink of water, get some pictures and reflect, pray.
Back by 3PM, wife and kids waiting for me topside after a day of shopping and their own adventures;a cab waiting for others, the driver yelled at me, "Hey man, you beat the mules!" No biggie. Just enjoy the journey at your own pace.
Written February 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trippinz
Bremerton, WA139 contributions
Jan 2011 • Couples
We flew into Molokai from Maui very early in the morning. Rented a car and drove to a bed & breakfast we found that was about 1/2 mile from the Mule Ride base. Nita Bogart rents her home once in a while (drnitab@yahoo.com). She had hot scones and coffee waiting for us and we unloaded our luggage. Then drove on to the Mule Ride base where we had booked our permit and tour reservations. It had rained for several days prior and tours had not been running - we lucked out with beautiful weather and clear skies. My husband and I had done a lot of reading about Kalaupapa history and the trail is such a featured piece of it all so I was determined to walk the trail and relive the stories. We are in our mid-sixties and my husband had heart by-pass surgery 2 years prior. There were about 8 people in our group and most of us stayed pretty well together . The hike down was muddy but it's possible to avoid the big squishy spots. It was a very easy hike down but after the last switchback, when we thought we were about done, there was still a good distance to go. It took about 1 1/2 hours. We waited for the mules to come and then the tour bus. Yes, it's an old school bus, but you're in and out of it all the time. We were very fortunate to have Clare of Molokai Outdoors as our tour guide and you can book directly with her (http://www.molokai-outdoors.com/). She loves sharing Kalaupapa and is very knowledgeable of it. The tour was great - I highly recommend doing some reading first , maybe the Novel, Moloka'i by Alan Brennart, to get some understanding and to bring it to life. Lunch was included in our tour, nothing fancy, sandwiches, fruit, water. We enjoyed the scenery - some of the best in Hawaii. Now it's time for the hike up. We took it really slow and weren't the only stragglers. Probably took us 2 hours. We did wish we had more water. Once topside, we drove back to the B&B, hosed off our shoes and went out for dinner with our hostess and music in town. This was on my bucket list and it greatly surpassed my expectations. We regrettably had to leave for Oahu the next afternoon.
Written July 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kuokoa
Quaker Hill, CT1 contribution
Mar 2014 • Solo
Kalaupapa has been a national park since the 1980's. It is funded and paid for by tax dollars and the trail was recently built by tax dollars (nearly half a million). However, one resident has cashed in and in order to view what your tax dollars are funding, you are required to pay $50 in cash to a resident who holds a monopoly on a "tour". While the tour is very interesting and could be worth the money, the requirement to pay $50 cash - which ironically is probably being under-reported and NOT being taxed - to enjoy what you are already paying for is very disheartening. I have been to over 100 national parks, historic places, and sites and this one is disgustingly run. Whereas there is certainly a beautiful history to this place, these residents are no longer "banished" here and they are being WELL taken care of by the government (our tax dollars are paying over 80 employees to benefit 8 people). The sense of entitlement is unreal.
Written April 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
committedmacysfan
San Francisco, CA118 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
If you decide to hike down, book with Father Damien Tours website directly to pay $50+tax. If you book with Mule Ride (aka Kalaupapa Guided Mule Tour) for the hike, they charger you $69, take their cut and still send you to Father Damien Tours. Nevertheless, the Mule Ride will send you to their coffee shop first to waste your time and try to generate some business.
The hike is moderately strenuous but we still managed to beat the mules while climbing back up. The view is magnificent. The history is very moving.
Hiking down without a permit is illegal, as this area is protected by Hawaiian law. Father Damien Tours is the only company that can issue permit. It is compulsory to take the tour after hiking down, but the tour is very worth it. Magic John the driver will tell you lots of history and drive you to interesting places.
The hike is moderately strenuous but we still managed to beat the mules while climbing back up. The view is magnificent. The history is very moving.
Hiking down without a permit is illegal, as this area is protected by Hawaiian law. Father Damien Tours is the only company that can issue permit. It is compulsory to take the tour after hiking down, but the tour is very worth it. Magic John the driver will tell you lots of history and drive you to interesting places.
Written November 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1960 Corvette
Fernandina Beach, FL172 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
I went to Moloka'i primarily to visit this National Park. I was not disappointed.
It is tough to get to. First off, getting to Moloka'i can be a challenge. I believe flights only come in from O'ahu now. You can take a boat from Lahaina, Maui, that offers great whale-watching in winter months.
Once on Moloka'i, you have three options for getting to Kalaupapa: Plane, Mule or Hike. You will want to make a reservation for any of these as they limit the number of people that can visit this park each day. Without a reservation you will likely NOT be able to visit, so I cannot recommend this enough. It's probably best to arrange everything through Damien Tours, to insure you are able to visit.
Once in Kalaupapa, you will have a guided tour of the grounds. Those flying down will get to see a little more, as hiking down will take a hour or more and the mules take 90 minutes. The tour is done on a school bus that stops at multiple places and allows the riders to get out and experience the various historical places.
Children under 16 are not allowed at Kalaupapa. Teenagers 16 or above may not get much out of this without first getting them to understand about Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) and its history, both recent and ancient. Adults should get much out of this, especially Catholics (I'm Protestant) as much of the history has to do with Father Damien/Sister Marianne and their efforts with the patients/people of Kalaupapa.
It can be a moving experience to be in Kalaupapa. This history is incredible as is the scenery. While I would not put Kalapaua in the same vein as seeing one of the concentration camps, there are similarities, although not as graphic.
Visiting Kalaupapa was my idea on this vacation and I am very happy we visited. My wife was skeptical, but afterwards was moved by the experience and is also happy we visited. Sometimes history isn't a feel-good experience. Kalaupapa certainly isn't set up to be a feel-good time. But, the efforts of Father Damien, Sister Marianne and others does bring with it some satisfaction that many people did make an effort to treat the patients here with respect and care.
Here's the bottom line. If you're in Hawaii to lay in the sun and be carefree, you probably don't want to come here. I'm not being judgmental - different people want different things from vacations/trips. But if you're a history nut or love national parks, you'll probably get much from this trip.
It is tough to get to. First off, getting to Moloka'i can be a challenge. I believe flights only come in from O'ahu now. You can take a boat from Lahaina, Maui, that offers great whale-watching in winter months.
Once on Moloka'i, you have three options for getting to Kalaupapa: Plane, Mule or Hike. You will want to make a reservation for any of these as they limit the number of people that can visit this park each day. Without a reservation you will likely NOT be able to visit, so I cannot recommend this enough. It's probably best to arrange everything through Damien Tours, to insure you are able to visit.
Once in Kalaupapa, you will have a guided tour of the grounds. Those flying down will get to see a little more, as hiking down will take a hour or more and the mules take 90 minutes. The tour is done on a school bus that stops at multiple places and allows the riders to get out and experience the various historical places.
Children under 16 are not allowed at Kalaupapa. Teenagers 16 or above may not get much out of this without first getting them to understand about Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) and its history, both recent and ancient. Adults should get much out of this, especially Catholics (I'm Protestant) as much of the history has to do with Father Damien/Sister Marianne and their efforts with the patients/people of Kalaupapa.
It can be a moving experience to be in Kalaupapa. This history is incredible as is the scenery. While I would not put Kalapaua in the same vein as seeing one of the concentration camps, there are similarities, although not as graphic.
Visiting Kalaupapa was my idea on this vacation and I am very happy we visited. My wife was skeptical, but afterwards was moved by the experience and is also happy we visited. Sometimes history isn't a feel-good experience. Kalaupapa certainly isn't set up to be a feel-good time. But, the efforts of Father Damien, Sister Marianne and others does bring with it some satisfaction that many people did make an effort to treat the patients here with respect and care.
Here's the bottom line. If you're in Hawaii to lay in the sun and be carefree, you probably don't want to come here. I'm not being judgmental - different people want different things from vacations/trips. But if you're a history nut or love national parks, you'll probably get much from this trip.
Written February 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jet48148388472
Geel, Belgium
Beste
ik wil gewoon wat info: ik lees dat je een gids moet hebben om daar binnen te mogen gaan.
Is die gids in verschillende talen te volgen / boeken vb. Nederlands is dat mogelijk?
Hoeveel betaal je voor zo een vlucht met het vliegtuig, via welke reisorganisatie kunnen we dit dan het beste regelen?
Groetjes
Written November 19, 2023
Will be in Honolulu from Sept. 10-13, on either side of a day trip to Midway Island with a military tour group. Both of us (a retired public health nurse and a doctor) have had experience with Hansen's Disease patients and wish to visit Father Damien's historic site. We can do it either as a day trip from Honolulu, if possible, or could stay a night or two in Molokai if there are nice accommodations and perhaps other things to do. Cost and time are not a problem. Your recommendations? Thanks.,
Written August 29, 2020
I think Molokai is still on quarantine, you should check that out. The only way to go to Kalaupapa is if you book it thru a tour co. It is a day trip. The only motel on the island is Hotel Molokai. When I ate lunch there I did notice they had a tour co.Thru them.. I think this would be your best bet to contact them. . I know they can also provide transportation From airport if you don’t have rental car. There is also the church on topside Father Damien built. Good Luck❤️
Written August 30, 2020
Do you now book a tour through the Kalaupapa Historical national park? We're having a very difficult time figuring things out. We're flying to Maui in April and would like to tour the Park and spend a few days exploring Molokai. Any advice would be appreciated!
Written November 24, 2019
muleride. com is also offering flight packages to Kalaupapa. I used that company for the hike (not flight) a couple years ago, and they were fine.
Written December 31, 2019
Does anyone happen to know if they plan to repair the washed out bridge/trail used on the mule ride up and down? Would love to do both the mule ride and tour the area as well. Any insight about future development or is the flight only the new normal? Thanks!
Laura
Written September 12, 2019
I was told that the goal is to have repairs done and trail re-opening by January 2020. Crossing fingers.
Written December 31, 2019
Hi, my wife and I will be staying on Molokai from November 5th to 8th. We would like to visit Kalaupapa and take a tour, but it seems very difficult to find accurate information on how to visit. We would like to fly, the mule ride or hiking down is not an option. Can anyone offer any advice and a rough idea of cost?
Thanks
Written September 1, 2019
Hello! We visited Kalaupapa from Molokai a few weeks ago. I called Kalaupapa National Park and booked both my flight and tour through the park. They were very helpful. I don’t recall the exact cost. It was worth every penny! It is an incredible place full of beauty, history, and spirit. Enjoy!
Written September 1, 2019
MIA
Vaughan, Canada
I plan to go Kalaupapa National Historical Park for hiking, I want to know what time the tour will start in the morning and what time it will finish as I plan to go back to honolulu to catch airplant at 6pm at same day
Thank you for your answer
Written March 5, 2019
Unfortunately, you will not be able to hike the Kalaupapa trail to the old leper colony as there was a landslide late in December 2018 or early in January 2019 that destroyed a bridge on the trail and there is no way to get in. The trail is blocked off at the road entrance. The only way to get is by helicopter or fixed wing plane.
Written March 5, 2019
Hello fellow travelers. I would like to book a hike to the National Park in January when I visit but am having a very difficult time getting through to anyone. My best bet thus far is the Rare Adventures, for those of you who used this company for the hike, permit and tour of the peninsula what was the cost and was it worth it. I am having great difficulties with the Father Damien Tours connection. The phone numbers I’m calling are wrong numbers now. Any advice?
Written January 1, 2019
Hi
I think the Father Damien tours have stopped. You want The Mule ride company. You can either take a mule up and down ( poor mule), or walk, and / or take a plane back up. Walking down was beautiful, but coming back up took us 3 1/2 hours and was tough ( but worth it - we are both early 60’s). My preference would be walk down, plane back up - the views from the plane are amazing.
The mule ride company can be found in Kualapu’u, just off the Kalae Hwy, in a side road called Leomele St opppsite the Coffees of Hawaii shop. Took us ages to find it as the company had just moved in but not told us the new address.....but that’s another story😊.....the trip is well worth it, lots of history. Take plenty of water, it’s a long hot walk, though ample shade enroute
Written January 2, 2019
Just curious if any of you hikers and mule riders have hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park or Delicate Arch in Arches? How do those hikes compare to this trail? My husband is not too keen on the mules, but I'm not too keen on the three miles and 26 switchbacks going back up! Angels Landing is 2.4 miles and 1500 feet elevation change.
Written October 29, 2018
Re: the mules not in operation, they were up and running when I was there at the end of August, and it’s my understanding that it’s still running. I think the lease was an issue several months ago, but they seem to have resolved it.
Written November 10, 2018
What do you suggest for getting from the airport to the tour office?
Written October 1, 2018
We stayed on the island for 4 days and had a rental car.
Written January 1, 2019
how long did the hike take to get down to the settlement? kind regards
Written May 24, 2018
One hours and a half down and 1.45 up and we're in normal shape and middle-aged. But we had a great weather.
Written May 26, 2018
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