Makanalua is a ten-square-mile (16 sq km) peninsula and is part of the North
Shore of Molokai. There are three separate districts on the peninsula:
Kalaupapa, Kalawao and Makan
Makanalua is a ten-square-mile (16 sq km) peninsula and is part of the North
Shore of Molokai. There are three separate districts on the peninsula:
Kalaupapa, Kalawao and Makanalua. The peninsula is bordered on three sides
by the Pacific, and on the fourth, by vertical cliffs. Early inhabitants of
Molokai made their way in and out mostly by sea, as fishing around the
peninsula was bountiful.
Today, the trail descending the 1,600-foot-high (488m)
cliffs to Kalaupapa is traveled by mules, who transport visitors to and
from Kalaupapa. Some of the workers at the settlement also commute on foot
daily on this trail. Visitors as well may hike the switchback in and out of
Kalaupapa. The peninsula's terrain is flat: Translated, Kalaupapa means "level land resembling a flat leaf."
Strong northeast trade winds and a lack
of sufficient rainfall make for harsh living conditions. The nearby cliffs
receive more than 25 feet (7.6m) of rain annually, but it disappears through the porous ground. At the near edge is the settlement of Kalaupapa, the only town on the peninsula. At the far edge is the district of Kalawao.
Saint Philomena Church in Kalawao was begun as a small chapel by
Brother Bertrand in 1872. It was here that Father Damien spent his first
nights on Molokai, sleeping on the ground under a hala tree next to the
chapel. The chapel stands today behind the church.
Father Damien added on to St. Philomena twice, more than doubling its size. To accommodate the needs of his congregation, Damien positioned the church so that the gusty trade winds passed through the many windows.
The interior of St.
Philomena was refinished and painted by his parishioners. Because of their
fondness for bright colors, they selected a rainbow of colors to complete
In 1995, following the beatification ceremonies in Belgium, a
relic of Father Damien was returned to Kalawao and was reinterred next to
the church. Today, St. Philomena stands in homage to Damien the Blessed,
the priest from Belgium.
This black, 