The Kalawao Choir in 1901 pose at St. Damien’s grave in Kalawao, Molokai. (Photo courtesy of IDEA Archives)
As part of January being Kalaupapa Month, Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa will present a webinar, “The Restoration of Family Ties,” on Saturday, Jan. 22, 10-11:30 a.m. The event is being hosted by the Damien-Marianne Catholic Conference.
There is no charge. Pre-register at www.dmcchawaii.org.
This presentation is a narrated slide show of historical and modern-day photographs that show how Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa has helped hundreds of descendants reconnect to their Kalaupapa ancestors. It’s a fascinating look at how the history of Kalaupapa is a living history with the legacies of Kalaupapa ancestors being carried on into the future by their descendants.
Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to remembering and honoring each of the nearly 8,000 men, women and children who were forcibly isolated at Kalaupapa because of government policies regarding leprosy, now also called Hansen’s disease.
The Ohana is made up of Kalaupapa residents, family members, descendants, friends of the community and anyone interested in this important history.