St. Philomena

Kalawao, Molokai, Hawaii

April 19, 2026

Our trip to Kalaupapa was a homage to tragedy and peace … found in the end. I like to think it is much like the story of our nephew Lucas who we all miss and love tremendously. Through it, God says, “I loved him, too.” Grief cannot be sidestepped; it has to be lived through, hopefully, with grace and trust in God.

The Kalaupapa Saints tour was a sublime journey through the sacred and historic sites of Hawaii’s former leper colony, one of the most remote locations in the world, nestled beneath 4,000 foot cliffs considered the tallest in the world and surrounded by water on three sides. The Kalaupapa peninsula on the island of Molokai was where the Hawaiian government and monarchy exiled patients who were affected by leprosy (Hansen’s disease, which is now easily curable) in the 1860’s through the 1960’s. Now a national historical site, it honors the legacies of Saint Damien and Saint Marianne and the more than 8,000 people who were once exiled there. The tour is by permit only and limited to 8 guests at a time. It was a warm invitation to experience Kalaupapa with respect and aloha.