Visiting Hawaii's Tragic & Remote Leprosy Colony

Kalaupapa is a gorgeous place that represents a dark period of Hawaiian history.
Thank you to the supporters of Patron who make these videos possible.
/ thegooddeath
Our Store with MERCH!!
www.etsy.com/s...
MY BOOK IS HERE (hardcover, ebook, or audiobook): amzn.to/2wofRxv
BOOK in the UK: amzn.to/2x2Z2aL
Co-Op Funeral Home in Seattle: funerals.coop/
**WHERE ELSE YOU CAN FIND ME**
Website: www.orderoftheg...
Twitter: / thegooddeath
Facebook: ow.ly/Zz8PW
Instagram: / thegooddeath
**CREDITS**
Mortician: Caitlin Doughty
Writing & Research: Louise Hung
Editor & Graphics: Landis Blair
**READ MORE**
“A Wholesome Horror: The Stigmas of Leprosy in 19th Century Hawaii”. Ron Amundsen, University of Hawaii at Hilo. Disabilities Studies Quarterly, Vol. 30, 2010.
dsq-sds.org/art...
“Imposition of a Western Judicial System in the Hawaiian Monarchy”
evols.library....
“A Brief History of Kalaupapa”
www.nps.gov/ka...
“Taken From Their Families: The Dark History of Hawaii’s Leprosy Colony”
www.cnn.com/20...
“Hawaii’s Father Damien: From Priesthood to Sainthood”
www.hawaiimaga...
“The Strange Case of Father Damien [parts 1-3]”
nyamcenterforh...
“Exploring the Tragic Beauty of Hawaii’s Remote Kalaupapa”
www.seattletim...

[@irinakermong1217]

A little story: Fr. Damien of Molokai was bestowed the honor of "Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Kalākaua" by King Kalākaua. His sister, Crown Princess Lili'uokalani (who would one day become the last Queen of Hawaii) came in person to Molokai to give the medal to Father Damien. When she arrived, she was surrounded by several children who asked her if she was their mother, and she was so moved by them that she answered that she was. She was too overcome by emotion later on to even read the speech she had prepared for the occasion.

[@laurensweeny4513]

I choked up on hearing the ending Hawaïenne song and the camera panning the mass grave site. Keep on showing the true stories of the dead and their history

[@siginotmylastname3969]

@hesh 74 fuck you.

[@margaretthatcher8246]

sigi notmylastname fuck you.

[@rockercaterrorencountered4924]

@hesh 74 I think you're missing the part where *only* native Hawaiians were sent to this colony, and that white people were allowed to be treated in hospitals in their communities. If everyone had been quarantined, I could believe that it was a movement to protect the people in the main city from death by leprosy. Considering that wasn't the case, this seems like a classic "white people dehumanizing native cultures". And our education system doesn't teach us this stuff, by the way. We have to learn it ourselves, because most of our textbooks are written by old white men who feel uncomfortable when they're painted as being anything less than saintly. That's starting to change with the age of the internet, though, and for that I'm grateful. I'm not advocating for hating white people as a whole (I'm white so that would be stupid of me to do), but I am advocating for reporting of facts in a way that's as unbiased as possible, which includes teaching about the less fun parts of history.

[@rockercaterrorencountered4924]

@hesh 74 They were also ripped from their families and forced away because of a disease that white colonists brought to them. Again, not advocating for white hatred, I'm advocating for stories like this to be told in their totality. If that means that I'm wrong and the conditions where actually much better than they seemed, so be it. It doesn't change the fact that white colonists damaged native culture extensively. I'm not going to shit on your way of seeing things, because from the way you write I'm guessing that you're fairly young, but I want to warn you that the world isn't as rosy as it might seem. There is a lot of blame in the world because there are a lot of people *to* blame, a lot of terrible people who have done terrible things to innocent people. I look at the world in an ugly way because the world is ugly. It's dark and terrifying and full of awful people. I understand that goodness exists and that people aren't defined by the actions of their ancestors, but I also acknowledge the importance of teaching history fully. Those who don't learn from the mistakes of the past are destined to repeat them.

[@kats9755]

No idea what happened in this comment section but came here to agree with this comment. That man's voice was gorgeous, too.

[@rainblaze.]

"the separating sickness" .. that's just fcking heartbreaking 😔😢

[@kawikaosorio5373]

I've fallen down the rabbit hole that is "Ask a Mortician." As a Native Hawaiian, you're pronunciation is superb. I've also learned many things about Kalaupapa. Mahalo nui!

[@judithann7193]

She mentioned that she lived in Hawaii for 18 years. I would imagine she learned pronunciation in that time.

[@hiloglenn]

I know many people who have lived for a long time in Hawaii yet don't take the time to learn even simple Hawaiian pronunciation.

[@couldntthinkofacoolname9608]

Funnily enough, I live in Aotearoa and her pronunciation is pretty close to Te Reo too

[@cassischreiner2247]

From my short time watching her, I've found she is very detail oriented. Most detail people do very well at learning things like pronunciation and whatnot. She is also very respectful of culture and that has shown itself true again in this coffee.

[@lmoral222]

I don't think ignoring 'okinas = "superb" pronunciation brah. The 'okina is literally a letter in the Hawaiian alphabet, and it was completely ignored. Take no further judgement from this comment, it aims not any implications of her character. That being said, I hope she doesn't pronounce Hawai'i as Hawa-eeee like every other mainlander I know - heck, even choke locals pronounce Hawai'i as "Hawa-eeeeee". Small kine irking, if you know what I mean.

[@susanyanish1117]

From what I've read, Fr. Damien of Molokai transformed the lives of the of the people he served. He helped them build houses, insisted that supplies be provided to them, and treated like valued and beloved family members. He restored their dignity, their hope, and their quality of life, though they were prisoners. He chose to live among them and serve them; truly a saint. : )

[@sylkecurinckx4604]

This is correct. He left his home, family and friends behind and travelled across the ocean to take care of these people until he eventually caught leprosy too after over a decade of doing so.

[@therose1277]

♡

[@mwater_moon2865]

A truly moral man. "When you hear of suffering, do not say, 'I will pray to God for you' but rather, live as though there is no God and say 'I will help you'."

[@johnwatson3937]

He was also not the only religious man that lived on the Island. Johnathan Napela was a Hawaiian man who held a leadership role in the LDS church and he supported members of his congregation that had Hansen’s. He secured a job on the island so that he would not be separated from his wife Kitty who had contracted the disease. He was remembered as someone who also assisted in ensuring that people received the supplies they needed in order to survive. There is just proof that while Christianity was and is often wielded as a weapon to hurt vulnerable people that it’s still capable of helping others too.

[@geebees7278]

I dont think it is the right video to praise a man who chose his own life, when we are paying respects to those that couldnt, on the land they were born from.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

New information every video! That man's voice was so beautiful.

[@rhondaweber5638]

Linda Ciccoli IT WAS!!!❤

[@marieskee22]

That story plus his voice = tears. What a beautifully tragic place and story. Tfs.

[@SnapesHoney2800]

I would have loved to have heard the whole song. And know what the lyrics were.

[@tianibeaman3650]

The song is called O oe io it’s a Hawaiian church song. You guys should look it up ❤️

[@Billyboy4209]

I thought you were talking about her voice lol...

[@haleyhaleyjade]

I get it, you can’t put everything about all of American history in a class year. But I have been learning American history for 13 years of my American schooling life. And never have I known that this was a place that existed or what took place. In fact, all I really learned about Hawaii is that Dole pineapples are grown there and it was established as a American state late in “America’s life” so to say. American schooling system teaches extensively about the Holocaust (not denouncing the severity of that, not my point but stay with me) but gloss over Japanese internment camps in WWII and Native American troubles and deaths that are STILL HAPPENING TODAY. There are some things like this don’t even get mentioned. I believe it’s because, the holocaust for example, was done (largely) by another country and we can point and then and say “they are bad people”. But we have built ourself a up to seem like the best of the best that we are embarrassed by such things as this that we don’t teach it and pretend it never happened. But that’s the problem, we need to teach that things like this DID happen and my ancestors (white people) were the ones who did it. It is incredibly heartbreaking that this is given no Recognition in places that are supposed to teach. Thanks for this video I learned something that was never and will never be taught to me.

[@someoneinthecrowd1401]

Haley Jade exactly!

[@KM-ld9ln]

Haley Jade uhhh Pearl Harbor was in Hawaii you swine😰

[@hoku8089]

K M how is your reply even related to what she was saying?

[@andycatano691]

Hoku 808 she said they didn’t really teach anything of importance/ a lot regarding Hawaii. We learned about Pearl Harbor a good amount in school. It’s pretty significant.

[@hoku8089]

Andy Catano yeah I know Pearl Harbor is significant in fact I’m looking at it from my backyard right now. The point the op was making is that US history tends to focus on the horrible things other countries do and skips over the horrible things we do. Pearl Harbor is taught because the “horrible Japanese” attacked us but where is all the education about American Japanese internment camps innocent people were sent to for no reason except being born of Japanese ancestry?

[@susansalley7556]

My mother caught the measles when she was pregnant with my older brother in the 70s. The Dr's wanted her to get an abortion because the baby could be severely deformed. She refused to have an abortion. She carried the baby for 7 months and lost him. He was born too early but wouldn't have survived if she carried him to full term. He was born alive and lived 3 hours. He was severely deformed. The Dr's told my dad to not let my mom see him because it would be to hard for her to see him in that condition. He died never knowing his mother's touch. When he died mom didn't even get to say goodbye. They took the baby and had him buried without a funeral. Dad was in the navy and stationed in Mississippi. My grandfather drove from Kentucky to take the baby back home to Kentucky to bury him. My mother never got over the devastation of losing my brother. She was never allowed to go to his grave. We children never knew were my grandfather buried him. Not until my baby brother died 30 years later. Billy was buried next to the baby my mother was buried on the orher side of him. They are finally together. My point to my story is vaccinate your children so no one else could ever suffer of losing a child the way my mother did. My mother also contracted the measles when she was at a Dr's office for an appointment. She got sick from just waiting in the waiting room and being around someone that was sick with the measles. If this had never happened to my mom her life and our families life would have been very different.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I'm sorry for your losses.

[@susansalley7556]

@@melissamybubbles6139 thank you

[@neiltappenden1008]

Thankyou for sharing, a very sad story

[@susansalley7556]

@@neiltappenden1008 I just wanted to make others aware of what happens when you choose not to vaccinate yourself or your children. It doesn't only effect yourself but it also can harm others in a way that it can possibly destroy their lives. God bless and thank you for reading my post.

[@elizabethjansen2684]

@@susansalley7556 so you support non gmo too? because that affects the genome severely

[@RP-ez2jm]

I can't believe in 26 years I have never learned this. Why aren't we taught in accuracy? My heart aches, and I am also grateful that you've made this. So thank you 🖤

[@AmbyJeans]

I had heard there was a "leper" colony in Hawaii, but I mistakenly thought it was Lanai. Still, I didn't know it was like this. Like the naïve child I was when I first heard about it, I thought they voluntarily left when they contracted leprosy to keep everyone else from getting infected. I didn't know they got it from the colonists and were then forced by those colonists to never see their families again. I'm so jaded now by the public education version of American History, seems like it's nothing but propaganda an half truths.

[@shanedaniels6447]

Probably because there is also a million other things you don't know. Education for a few years as a kid... cannot teach you every individual event of history or much of anything. You learn the basics, and if you're interested you pursue more knowledge of the subject. Think about history. That is the on going story of humans for thousands of years. Even if a teacher spent 15 seconds per story.. which would teach you nothing.. they couldn't cover even half of events. Its easy to say I didn't learn this, and so its an agenda or offensive. This is a sad moment of history, but think of how much you don't know. Even the most brilliant people, and ph.d educated people... only know a tiny amount of specific fields. It's just not possible.

[@Ru-gv2if]

rob yohn Bull sh*t

[@mcearl8073]

R Y You’re showing your ignorance here. There are more left wing people who’ve essentially taught and teaches revisionist history.

[@Spongebobs4Life]

I’m so glad I know about this, now, and I can go and research more. I feel somewhat guilty I’ve managed to spend 24 years without having even heard of this exile. It’s horrifying that it ever happened, and yet so fascinating. I want to know these peoples’ stories.

[@cindye5285]

Em B, I can recommend a historical novel called Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. While it is fiction, it is based on tremendous research of the survivors and on old documents and diaries from those that lived in the colony, including Father Damian and the nuns. It is sad yet incredibly uplifting novel. You can find used copies on Amazon pretty cheap.

[@Spongebobs4Life]

Cindy Everingham thank you so much for the recommendation! I’m going to look it up as soon as I get home. 😊

[@tracyherwig8334]

There's also a movie called Father Damian. Not completely accurate I'm sure but it was heart wrenching.

[@franchescacole]

Cindy Everingham I have read this book and I can say that it is amazing. It is gripping and takes you on an emotional roller coaster.

[@ketchupy3824]

Agreed. I'd never heard this story before, nor of the colony. I'm nearly 50 and want to learn more, as well.

[@alohilani1111]

Mahalo nui for showing respect to such an important yet sad part of the Kanakas (HAWAIIANS). Our history lives on when it is honored in truth and you my friend gave these kupunas much respect and truth...so thank you for your Aloha.

[@andrewjones1143]

I'm a nurse who works in Critical Care in the Midwest (Southern Indiana) and have recently had a situation in which a funeral director (from Kentucky) pressured a family to embalm, even though they didn't want to. He told them that they MUST make a decision immediately and that they cannot have an open casket funeral without embalming. After the family got off the phone, I explained some of what I've learned form you, that embalming is not a legal requirement for an open casket and that she could have told him that the decision could wait until their planned meeting the next day. Luckily, this woman seemed to be a pretty strong character and could hold her own. But I really worry for my other family members in similar situations who maybe can't afford embalming but still want an open casket funeral. I would love to be able to point these families to resources early in the dying process and while your channel always comes to mind, I'm never sure where to start. Do you have any videos that deal with the rights surviving loved ones in detail that I can point people to? If not, could you make one? This subject is so dear to me as I cannot understand how one could take advantage of families in their most vulnerable state. Thanks!

[@brooklynnc8029]

I too am from your area!!! Charlestown. Small world.

[@alixwritesstuff]

Bump so she sees this

[@RP-ez2jm]

Bump 🖤

[@jakdekayen]

I too would like to know. My mother was cremated, and her brothers pressured us to embalm and give a 'proper burial', but we chose not to. That's not what she wanted. She had been poked and prodded and sick for so long she only wanted a simple open casket, and cremation. Her brothers were going to take action, but they had no right to, so dropped it. They were so upset with us, they kicked us out (they owned the home which we had been living, due to medical care cost etc.) immediately and cut all ties. I would love an in depth look into what someone can choose to do, and the legality behind these choices. It's always good for people to arm themselves with knowledge, especially on such an important matter such as deaths and funerals.

[@indridcold8433]

I gave my neighbour specific instructions to dispose of the rancid carcass in the most economical way possible. If she can get away with a dumpster, a stack of garbage, a book of matches, and a small tank of petrol, so be it. If she can throw the festering cadaver into a landfill where flesh eating beetles, rodents, raccoons, feral dogs, slime fungus, badgers, vultures, and crows can devour the putrid flesh, so be it. If she can feed the rotted body, bloated with decay and dripping with maggots into a wood chipper and let the vomit inducing chunks of purifying flesh land in someone's yard, so be it. I will be dead. I will leave behind a filthy, pestilent, swollen, pus filled, bag of melting, foul smelling blubber and bone. I do not care what is done with the disease carrying slab of flesh.

[@ProKilirsha]

I'm from Belgium and we are taught at school about Pater Damiaan. He did actually a lot for the people at the island, helped building homes and even a school (if I remember correctly). He kept his distance in the beginning so he wouldn't catch the illness, but after some time he became close to the people and so he died eventually of the same illness that killed his friends. If I remember correctly in Belgium he had good opportunities inside the church but he wanted to help the poor and sick so he traveled to Molokai.

[@TrashyyPanda]

He indeed builded homes and a school. He also build a church from what i've read

[@rangerforcestiktokaccount1187]

St. Damien De Veuster

[@merri-toddwebster2473]

I have read that he was badly stigmatized for catching the disease since it was wrongly believed that it only passed by sexual contact, ergo, they thought he must have broken his vow of celibacy. But it was only because he was willing to get close to the people he was serving. A true saint.

[@ayanevsworld8565]

Yeah same. They say he knew he wouldn't be able to return but chose to go none the less

[@carolnahigian9518]

love your humble; aelf- Effacing Humour!!

[@scottmefford6917]

"There once was a bird named Enza. I opened the window and in flew Enza." Bird Flu epidemic nursery rhyme.

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

It was an influenza epidemic nursery rhyme, not bird flu...

[@scottmefford6917]

@@GeorgiaGeorgette The specific type of Influenza was called "Bird Flu" because that is how it was transmitted. Birds were carriers just as recently we experienced the "Swine Flu" epidemic.

[@carolcrone9387]

I knew that joke about 60 years ago.

[@scottmefford6917]

@Joe Watch a little television once in a while, you may learn something. This particular historical nursery rhyme was utilized in a mid-nineties CBC program similar to TZ or The Outer Limits.

[@kaseythompson4670]

Lovely, haunting singing at the end.

[@codexaeterna]

The history of western colonization of Hawaii is very dark. You can see the damage to this day, in the form of rapid gentrification and foreign property consumption. Born and raised in Honolulu, and it's a damn shame I can barely recognize the place.

[@BillDerBerg]

Jesse Melanson you'll never see more gentrification in that area of Molokai once the last of the lepers die you will see high density five star resorts and accompanying communities built on the site in no time at all

[@timetraveller9992]

What a beautiful sounding place ... Honolulu ...

[@elizabethharttley4073]

John J. Sanchez Nope it's a national historic park. Theoretically it will never be built up.

[@kbmls3]

Glad to know that.

[@chrisrelhard]

if i remember correctly, they wouldn't be allowed to build anything because of the grave sites (would need a law check on hawaii). it's actually common practice to use gravesite laws to conserve land. if you look up green burial conservation sites, there are organizations that can help you choose a location to be buried that will conserve habitat.

[@makurradoshi4498]

That man singing at the end really drove the images into my head, of the families and children, bound for agony and death. heart wrenching, thank you for covering this

[@BibleIllustrated]

"He's a saint now. Good for him." Dying!

[@John081590]

Omg you are here! Hi! Love your channel as much as this one!

[@sceneAMERIKA]

I laughed too! Love her!

[@dropkicksofthemurphys9696]

So was he.

[@gojeda]

Sorry, I don't see the humor. Care to elaborate?

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

My 4 the grade teacher was Sister Ann Damien. She took her name in honor of father Damian. She was so sweet, of Asian descent, we all loved her. So was also very, very pretty. That was 60 years ago. Assuming her age to be 25 to 30, she would be 85 to 90 years old now. I wonder what happened to her. I think she is in Heaven now.

[@GumiPandaChan]

My grandfather was a sailor on the "Mercator" and was part of the voyage to pickup Father Damiaans remains. It's really interesting to learn more about the colony themselves since Belgian schools mostly focus on Damiaan.

[@Spongebobs4Life]

This is fascinating. I had never even heard of this colony. Brilliant video, Caitlin. So informative. 🖤

[@82ayalaj]

Em B considering its Hawaii, so many evils done by the US or missionaries sounds sadly normal.

[@majipec]

i'm honestly surprised that so many people in the comments say that they've never learnt about this in school! I live in Belgium and here it's kind of standard curriculum (obviously also because of Father Damian but whatever). We even have a very well known charity that provides medical aid and stuff for people that suffer from leprosy today!! Its called 'de damiaanactie' (roughly translates to The Damian Action)

[@tgurl1488]

I'm going to assume it's mostly Americans who never heard of this. As we are taught lies in History from a very young age.

[@lindsayraskin2752]

Americans mostly learn the "america is the best and most amazing country ever and is only capable of helping never harming anyone" version of history. Source: am a public school educated American. Example we talked about the Trail of Tear for maybe 2 classes. And then we learned about different housing types and hunting styles 😒 Second example Nearly all WWII coverage was "bad Japan bomb us, Eisenhower makes great speeches, Germany kill people, we save the day, oh and maybe the English were there too, lets watch Pearl Harbor" 😒😒 we learned about WWII in some fashion from like 7th grade through 12th and it wasn't until 10th grade that it was even mentioned that we did anything even maybe bad to the Japanese immigrants to the US. Even then it was barely a thing. Atrocious.

[@tgurl1488]

@@lindsayraskin2752 I also went to a all white school (graduated 2002) and I was shocked when I started teaching myself.

[@valibas1]

I was very unlucky to have al football coaches as my history teachers in school. We mostly had to watch football movies or here them go on and on putting everything into sport terms. But that made me want to learn history and constantly reading historical books, though never on hawaii but now that is on my list to seek info on now.

[@majipec]

@@valibas1 football coaches as history teachers?? That's a new one 😅 Is that even allowed?

[@adinabudacov9669]

Caitlin you keep getting better and better, you would deserve a TV program of your own, brava!!!

[@user-jn5ux1ct4r]

Adina Budacov Yes! Or, maybe a Netflix doc featuring Caitlin. I wouldn’t want her not to be on KZbin anymore though because of these.

[@sylkecurinckx4604]

As I was born and raised in Belgium, we constantly learned about this from when we were a kid to when we were in our early teens. Father Damien/Saint Damien of Molokai is well known to us and we've seen his maternal house and learned all about his work and what he did for those with leprosy, including building a church etc and deciding to live with them. He had about 16 different professions there and aside from being a priest, he was a carpenter and a teacher, a doctor and many more things to the people of Molokai.

[@geebrewer8186]

sounds just like what was needed there to help the people he went to serve

[@ElainesYT]

I moved to Kaneohe in 1969 from Japan. Never knew about the leprosy colony until after I left for CA in 1971. Now that I'm much older, I wish I had spent more time learning about the history of the countries that I had the privilege to live in.

[@beitermf]

god, that man singing at the end just rips your heart out. such pure emotion.

[@ninjaahjumma]

For anyone who wants to get an intimate picture of the life of leprosy patients during the time when they were still being exiled instead of treated, I highly recommend Molokai by Alan Brennert. It's about a little Hawaiian girl who gets sent to Kalaupapa at age 7 and her life after her diagnosis and exile. Such a beautiful book.

[@sarahfiedler1709]

N D thank you for mentioning the book. It was a fascinating read.

[@Rachel-fi4sc]

To hear the man sing with such passion and strength reminded me of a saying - I can't remember where I heard it - that "the dead speak through the songs of the living". I can hear them when he sings. May those souls return to their homelands, to their ancestors, to their families. May their souls be safe and free and at peace.

[@katekursive1370]

Oh yes, the sweet rotting smell of good ol' colonization. You never change

[@IamMissPronounced]

@@alexismcloughlin5383 someone's hypersensitive

[@asaasa7900]

@@alexismcloughlin5383 you're literally probably white. Probably internalized racism.

[@umami6462]

ASA ASA keep reading books you are almost there, "reverse racism"

[@ConstantChaos1]

Lmao white ppl colonised everyone. Fuck even other white ppl weren't safe. And arabs and asians did some colonizing as will but not as extensively, -I'm honestly not sure about native Americans or Africans- Edit, I deliberately decided to educate myself on the subjects of Native American and african slavery/colonization, I have found that North, Central. And South American societies as well as many african societies had lesser form of slavery/colonization but it did not reach the levels of European-European, European-African, European-Asian, European-Native American, European- Aboriginal, Arab-Arab, Arab-African, Arab-Asian, Arab/African-Hebrew, Asian-Arab, Asian-Asian, Asian-European, or Asian-African colonization/enslavement Since it has recently and not so recently been called into question I do not doubt that any individual society may have committed atrocious acts, however we are specifically talking about the American colonization of Hawaii at this point so maybe the other atrocities dont excuse this one? Just a thought

[@thatonedog819]

@@alexismcloughlin5383 we can still recognize that colonization was horrible and wrong.

[@ImmortalKat4ever]

The ending of this video is haunting... Hits harder than anything else I've watched on the channel. Beautiful, thorough, and respectful as always, Caitlin.

[@cynthiaokeeffe8894]

We were taught the story of Molokai and the outcasts with Hansen's Disease in grade school. Father Damien's life of service for the hopeless was a model of unconditional love. I read about his life long ago; he was not surprised by the onset of symptoms when he became sick. I'm glad you posted this tribute to the courageous people who created a life for themselves on Molokai after separation from family and community. May they find peace in the arms of the Lord.

[@Dragonwing16]

CYNTHIA O'KEEFFE yeah but they should’ve just been treated like everyone else

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Thank you, Caitlin, for sharing this information and history and for honoring those who were and those who still are on Kalaupapa.

[@brem5980]

Thank you for presenting a piece of Hawaii’s history. I’m always so interested in learning about Pacific Islander culture. It’s crazy how it’s so rare to find information about your own culture, but you’re always learning about others.

[@heatherchisholm8895]

Thank you for spreading awareness for this dark period in our history.

[@amymolepo7694]

I saw this so quickly❤️❤️ love your videos!!! A video on Saartjie Baartman's corpse??

[@kimberley3577]

Amy m yessss. For the culture

[@KelsiBriana]

Yes, please! I'd really like that video.

[@skullygem3057]

GOOD LORD THAT MANS VOICE! I feel like i can feel the thousands of lives that suffered crying out through his passion. INSANE and SO awesome.

[@16sonicv]

He’s a saint now. God for him! 😂😂😂 I couldn’t help but laugh about how you said that. I love St. Damien of Molokai he’s one of my favorite saints and I’m happy you mentioned him!

[@jazzerat]

I know EXACTLY what you mean about the mental confusion of a place of horror also being beautiful!! I felt that way while visiting the Port Arthur prison colony in Tasmania!! It just chilled me to realize such horrors took place and so many lost their lives in terrible ways among such natural beauty!

[@murphychurch8251]

Also the forests near Verdun, where in WW I so many were killed in the trenches. Back then, there were no forests, just destruction, barbed wire and death. Now there's trees and birds singing (alright, if you look closer also still barbed wire, grenades and shrapnels). After having seen some reconstructed little part of a battlefield including a stand with a mannequin dressed as a soldier in the museum, also the photos of that area, seeing these forests and agricultural fields now was just surreal.

[@amandan6912]

This is so fascinating, and depressing.. But thank you for sharing this! Love learning history.

[@hmmcminn7221]

Amanda

[@amandan6912]

Mamma McMinnie yeeees? 😁

[@hmmcminn7221]

My dog hit my screen! Sorry! But I do like your comment 😊

[@amandan6912]

Mamma McMinnie lol how cute! No problem. And thanks! 😊

[@luhevieira]

In Brazil, in the 60s (during the military dictatorship in Brazil), the government did something similar here. It's called Hospital Colônia. Aprox 60 thousand people were killed there.

[@argentinawinthrop]

Luiz Henrique hospital Colonia was built way before the military, in the 20's was already a thing and it was not for Hansen's but it was an insane asylum.

[@argentinawinthrop]

Luiz Henrique alas, it was first used for TB not Hansen. Anyway it is indeed a sad story of Colonia and surprisingly not many people heard about it.

[@jeanneratterman]

Father Damien, what a living example of unconditional love, humility, and lovingkindness. Thank you for sharing his and the shared story of all those on Molokai who were separated from family and friends due to this now easily treated disease.

[@EclecticallyEccentric]

"He's a saint now, good for him." But is he incorrupt?

[@doriensnoeren8428]

I think so. I learned a lot about him in school, because I'm from Belgium. He was the son of a farmer, he choose to go to the monastary, he choose to go to Hawaii because he wanted to help and he choose death. He could only stay on the island a couple of years without risking getting sick, but he didn't want to leave. I might be a bit to positive, because I was like 8 when I first heard about him, but I do believe he just really wanted to do good.

[@kellyalves756]

Now he is.

[@celiabarker]

Dorien Snoeren Do you know what were his miracles? We are waiting for the second miracle for a ancestor through our Dutch mother....Peerke Donders from Tilburg - whose good deeds in Suriname and beatification in 1982 is waiting for the second miracle for promotion to sainthood. I want to assure myself he isn’t being overlooked.

[@crescentsmoon]

I was always fascinated with kalopapa as a kid! I grew up in Hawaii too, but have never made it over to Molokai

[@StanSwan]

Crescent Moon Have you always spelled always with two L's?

[@crescentsmoon]

Ray Pellerin spelling has never been my strong suite.

[@StanSwan]

Crescent Moon To be fair I had to work very hard to learn spelling but at times I lose it. My take is "any idiot can spell a word the same way everytime. It takes a genius to come up with a new spelling every time" .

[@crescentsmoon]

Ray Pellerin It dose not help that I am dyslexic, the letters change on me!

[@StanSwan]

Crescent Moon Do you ever stay up all all night wondering if there really is a dog? Sorry, old joke alert...

[@lizd.2343]

I remember reading a fictional account of a child who was sent to the island. The story of her after being treated and then finding her child again was heart breaking. Also you saying "obviously I didn't film them", after speaking with a surviving inhabit of the island is the reason I will keep watching you proudly.

[@saltzbeauty4611]

I’m 26 years old and I had no idea this happened. It breaks my heart. God rest their souls. ❤️

[@jordang7479]

Is there some rule or law that instructed colonists to be the worst at all times or was that just a play-it-by-ear thing that they did?

[@jordang7479]

Jay See lol!

[@corncrackerkid5092]

One of my favorite Patron Saints, Marianne Kope (on top of being a Patroness of Hawaii alongside Damien is the Patroness of Outcasts) actually worked in Molokai!

[@PK-cg5ej]

Aw, Caitlin, this is an amazing video with a beautiful ending. I always enjoy your videos, but this one feels especially special and sacred. Thank you for educating and honoring those who passed while being so respectful and considerate.

[@frankconrad7323]

Hey Shaka Sista!! Loved the Video you did. Went there twice. When I was in the Army in the 70s. The people there were. Very nice,cool and so Brave too. Glad you brought up Da Kind FATHER Damien!! He Cared and helped the People so Much. And lost his Life. Because of his Huge Heart!

[@Salwerth2822]

"why is it so beautiful with so much death..." collateral beauty.

[@JP2GiannaT]

I knew about this because of the story of St. Damien. There's a great movie about him starring the guy who played Farimiar in Lord of the Rings.

[@barbaramorgan3702]

The guy was David Wenham. A wonderful australian actor. The movie title is Malakia the story of Father Damien. I have a copy of the DVD

[@childbirthct]

Wow. I am so glad this popped up in my feed. I also had the honor to visit some of Moloka‘i about 30 years ago with my father as part of a larger trip. Tiny plane over, had a guide who taught us so much and we could feel his justified anger, and began to understand how much pain beyond the physical was involved with all of this. I was a teenager, I have no idea how my dad made the arrangements. The honor of unlearning and learning from this amazing native Hawai'ian man with my dad was really something. And yeah, being there was a whole lot of my brain being confused and my heart filled with "it's complicated." Thank you for your videos. Especially this one.

[@Mim-mg3rk]

'He's a saint now. Good for him.' Hahahahaha

[@harveyabel1354]

As long as he's not a New Orleans saint.

[@Mr_Daddums]

What happens to Braces when someone dies? If they are cremated, do they get taken off the teeth? Who takes them off? If they are put in the coffin/ casket, do they stay on? Is there an option to take them off regardless?

[@tovarls]

Rachel this question is a good question

[@Tatjana-_-]

Interesting question!

[@leafung8445]

I mean, braces aren't difficult to get off to begin with (the hardest part is the bands on the back molars) so I'd imagine you don't see too many corpses with them on unless for some reason the person wanted them to stay on. And they could easily be taken off before a cremation.

[@StanSwan]

Like it matters.

[@kyrahurley9891]

I would imagine that in the circumstance of cremation, the same person responsible for the removal of things like heart monitors (I’ve forgot the actual name) would take such things out in order to reduce the release of harmful gases

[@eviolinarts5014]

Your pronunciations are always so good and so fluent, you never act like it’s weird to pronounce things correctly (as many will say “oh no I have no idea how to say this” and give up), and I have so much respect for the example you set by making that effort to pronounce words correctly

[@hotmessjess3390]

There is an excellent novel titled “Molokai” by Alan Brennert. It’s set in the colony and spans a couple generations. Highly recommend if you interested in this subject, in Hawaii or history in general or just enjoy good fiction.

[@tammymaitland28]

Hot Mess Jess Thanks for mentioning this. That's how I learned about this leper colony. I still consider it one of my favorite books but read it many years ago. I don't know if it mentions that it was white folks who influenced the decision to exile people.

[@judithborrell5319]

Very good book

[@dragoncub1988]

My mom just finished reading that book. I need to get my hands on a copy now that she called me up and told me all about it lol

[@itsmejay8406]

Whoah, I was watching this with headphones and when the man at the very end started to sing I got goosebumps from the back of my neck down to my arms. His voice is haunting...

[@juliekuwaye9457]

I just started following you a few days ago because someone mentioned you on Tiktok. As a "local" born and raised in Hawaii, I was thrilled to hear you actually lived here. Your pronunciation of Hawaiian words sounded beautiful! Much better than I could attempt.

[@Lori_Hanna]

It is so beautiful there, crazy that such sickness and sadness happened. Thank you for sharing!! ☺

[@katiem6620]

Friday night with a glass of wine and a new Caitlin video? Yes please!!

[@toxicperson8936]

Kate H what time zone are you in? I’m just curious because it’s only 1 pm here

[@lzeph]

Faye Sven (one hour later...) 11:20am here. Deathlings are planet-wide!

[@flowerboogerface]

Video came out 5am Saturday in NZ.

[@swordofthefang]

Faye Sven They're probably in England or some part of Western Europe.

[@katiem6620]

I live in Australia :)

[@xoshanland]

I love that when you share these tragic tales of history you include commentary on the resilience & triumphs (how ever many or few there may be) of the native people & communities who suffered. I all the more admire how these families/communities have grown & recovered from their more unfortunate histories, they at the very least deserve credit for such strength 🖤

[@jfhm1991]

Ohhhhh good gravy. Those tiny prop planes are the human equivalent of putting yourself into a rock tumbler and turning it on high. Every encounter with turbulence is like a near death experience and you are guaranteed to see your life flash before your eyes at least a minimum of once. 0/10 wouldn't do again

[@artsykai]

Omg this is painfully accurate

[@TheBizzle1984]

I don't know what that man was singing, but it hit me right in the soul, I've only ever had that happen with bagpipe music before.

[@suzyq8850]

I had never heard about this either! How sad & tragic some of our hidden history is. Thank you for sharing this informative video with us.

[@tianibeaman3650]

Hearing him sing O ‘Oe Io gave me chicken skin! I love this and the fact that you are educating people on the real truth of Kalaupapa! Aloha ❤️

[@cayleighwolfbane1736]

His voice at the end there is beautiful 💜 and this history is utterly heartbreaking and infuriates me.

[@aoniyoshi1]

Sounds very much like what the government of Japan did to its own people in the 20th century: setting up compulsory sanatoria that were practically concentration camps. The laws that allowed that were repealed in 1996.

[@LockandKeyHyena]

oh god that song at the end was one of the most beautiful things ive ever heard

[@ivorybow]

Saint Damien is one of my heroes. Thank you for honoring him. He made the ultimate sacrifice. "Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend."

[@bornofhecate4698]

The man's song at the end was beautiful and haunting.. it nearly brought me to tears

[@gene8842]

Thank you for including the polynesian song in the end.... i love hearing their lamguage and i fear that it has been dying ... at least to the outside eye. I like to hear it being used especially in this context to remember the suffering of so many long silenced voices.

[@ciaraa.guzman3643]

@Askamortician I finished Smoke gets in your eyes, and i absolutely loved it. i'm already half way through rereading it lol. I absoloutely love what you do, and Iv'e even been able to have a serious talk about my new view on death with my parents, and i think they have a different perspective on it too. Keep up the good work, you are making a hell of a change! :)))))

[@hahaflix808]

I recently tracked my 2x Great GrandAunty at Kalaupapa. She was the only family member that was sent to Kalihi Hospital and then shipped to Kalaupapa in 1922. She passed away 7 years later there. Aloha ‘oe e Tutu Aunty♥️

[@zlatkajupe]

The singing at the end was soooo beautiful!!

[@lorrisbits]

I never knew about kalaupapa before, such a tragic story - praying they are safe from the corona and the remaining 7 can live out their life in peace.

[@meganklein7447]

This is such a sad but interesting video! Im going to use this topic for my college research paper. Thankyou so much for going over history in a culture that is almost lost!

[@carriemartinez4758]

That mans VOICE!!!!! Made my heart happy!!!

[@BrandyPowell77]

This is the saddest thing I’ve heard in a long time,thanks you for all the things you each us about, that I probably would never have known. I love your videos and really do appreciate them. Much Love.

[@fredflintstone8048]

It gives a person a good feeling to 'give a community a hand'... It's one of the best feelings you can have, 'hands down'. I have to 'hand' it to him for extending the 'hand of friendship' even though he held the 'upper hand' in the matter.

[@creativemix]

Very interesting, adding your pronunciation of the Hawaiian language sounds awesome. I would have to.hold up cards and say read. Cause I don't even say my native lanuage well.

[@sealyoness]

Hahah... years ago we went horsepacking in Glacier National Park (I think it's changed names?). Up we went to the station up somewhere the top, jingling all the way. On the way down, a number of the participants got off their horses and walked. I stayed on, figuring that the horse had been up and down this mountain many more times than I ever planned on doing. Love listening to you, ma'am.

[@Jonica1991]

This makes me super grateful for antibiotics. I think we often want to look back at history and judge past cultures. All they knew were these terrible diseases that had no cure and were extremely contagious. I think if they would have known what we now know and had the tools to cure these people this wouldn’t have been what they would have done. It makes me want to make sure that I follow doctors orders and vaccinate my kids as well as only take antibiotics the way they are intended. If we end up with super bacteria we will end up forced to go back to this kind of tragic enforcement of quarantine.

[@pendlera2959]

That might be a valid excuse if they forced white people to go to the colonies as well instead of letting them go to hospitals. Also if they made any effort at all to help the patients rather than just forcing them to jump overboard and figure things out for themselves. They didn't even give them a rowboat to take to shore! Lack of antibiotics is no excuse for lack of any care at all.

[@IamMissPronounced]

It was very much racial and cultural discrimination thay made them treat Hawaiians so terribly. White people got to go to hospitals, 'others' were simply exiled.

[@virvich]

I agree on the antibiotics. But hey polio and measles for example were almost extinct before they started to vaccinate, thanks to knowledge of hygiene and bacteria. We cannot thank the vaccines. If you live in the us, 1 in 36 children get autism and it's linked to vaccines. (because of aluminium). If you are an adult and have never had boostershots, YOU are "unvaccinated" because in time, many vaccines dissappear from the body. Most of the adults never get boostershots, sooo.. We should have an epidemic and everybody would die now?? Or?... NOPE. Pharmaceutical companies only sell these medications to get money, unbelievably much money from countries. People have walked the earth for thousands of years without vaccines. Let's continue with that. Let's relearn how to support our immune systems instead.

[@crazedMidnight]

It's ironic that my name is also Caitlin who lived on Maui for 11 years of my life AND also is interested in the dead, I am so glad I found your channel and will definitely be a subscriber!! Mahalo for discussing a topic of Native Hawaii that I did not know! Keep up the good work!!!

[@angelar3997]

His singing gave me goosebumps!!!

[@monicarios841]

I've been to Kalaupapa twice. The last time I was there I bought several books. I recommend No Footprints in the Sand if you're interested in a first hand account of a patient.

[@melancholygirl840]

My good friend lives on molokai she loves it there but is moving home in the spring. Her husband recently passed and she is bringing his ashes home and now she wants to be with her family. Thanks so much. She told me of this place.

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

That singing is some of the most beautiful I have ever had the honour of hearing. May the souls of those departed be blessed with eternal peace in paradise.

[@alanl.4252]

I think I remember watching an old movie about a missionary priest going to Hawaii and living and treating a community of lepers one time, this saint you spoke of sounds like the one I saw in the movie. Now I'm wondering if the film was about this priest, inspired by, or just mere coincidence. Great video as always, it was beautiful and thoughtful video.

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

Alan L. I know the film your talking about it's called *Molokai The Story of Father Damien* staring David Wenham (Faramir in Lord of the Rings)

[@alanl.4252]

I was looking up films relating to Father Damian, the one I watched was the 1959 Spanish film called "Molokai", this one was in black and white.

[@christinebarone2829]

The singing gave me chills.

[@Lucia-yc9zj]

I feel almost guilty for having never heard of this before, I can’t believe so little of us know! Thank you for making this video!

[@rubymimosa]

Oh gosh. White explorers, bringing the True Word; ignore the disease and ignorance. How is it only in this decade that people are saying “Oh, isolated tribe. Stay away, we could accidentally kill them by breathing” It is a beautiful place, and the ‘make my soul weep and celebrate’ singing, plus the human connections. But you’re so right, such dark history and inhumanity. I’m even proud of the priest and nuns that in spite of misconceptions about contagion went and tried to help. Weeping for all the ugliness (not those afflicted by the disease but other humans)

[@BillDerBerg]

rubymimosa White people to the rescue!! ... gtfo

[@birdiejack2791]

That's an easy answer, they did not yet know how disease worked.

[@1015SaturdayNight]

rubymimosa Yeah those were missionaries :-/

[@lzeph]

rubymimosa Kind of helps if you remember that you're looking back at a time when folks didn't know how disease was transmitted. Ignorance is often due to a simple lack of information rather than a somehow race-related lack of concern.

[@xx1097]

+rubymimosa Lmao Nice race bait. Lepers were also shunned or outcasted in plenty of other societies, and still are today despite modern medical knowledge.

[@amorxlntwa8]

I have visited Molakai back in the ninties. It was a very quiet and nice getaway for me, so much needed. I walked to a church on Sunday from the small hotel I stayed in. I met wonderful people, some native and some moved from states and living there. I cried when I left. I want to go back.

[@seattlesix9953]

Most causes for sainthood require a scientifically unexplainable cure or event attributed to the direct intercession of the petitioned. In the petition regarding St Damien ~ Audrey Toguchi, a 79-year-old retired schoolteacher who lives in Aiea, became ill in 1997 with a lump on her left thigh that was discovered to be cancerous. She asked her sisters to accompany her to Kalaupapa to pray at Father Damien’s grave. “I prayed that he would ask God to heal me,” Toguchi told the Honolulu Star Bulletin. After surgery in January 1998, Dr. Walter Chang told her that her rare form of cancer, liposarcoma, had spread to both lungs. "He said, 'I cannot do anything for you. No surgery is possible.'," she said. "I went back to Kalaupapa,” Toguchi continued. “I went to Mass and received Communion and then I went to Damien's grave. I said, 'Please, ask God to cure this cancer. "Doctor Chang took pictures of my lungs and every month, it was less and less until after four months, the cancer was gone. He was flabbergasted." ~ the investigators verified Toguchi's claim with the doctor and witnesses.

[@Selegnasol2]

Thank you for sharing! ❤

[@evelynkrull5268]

My double great granparents were from Molokai and my Oma talked about this injustice regularly. The native Hawaiian is so diluted in me that I am just white, but this history breaks my heart even more considering it is likely what one side of my ancestory did to the other side of my ancestors.

[@DefKay-t5b]

While I am an advisor fan of you and just things like your channel in general, sometimes I turn these vids on for background music while I’m doing things like cleaning, cooking, homework, or crocheting. This video, however, was different. It made me cry and have me literally chills hearing that man sing at the end.

[@junebalistrieri3261]

She is very interesting, also is so descriptive I enjoy listening to her.

[@johncanfield1177]

The closing short Hawaiian chorus was beautiful and heartfelt. Thank you so much for including it.

[@UnderseaCaveman]

Aloha from Punchbowl!! I love the movie "Molokai: The story of Father Damien" (great cast: Peter O'Toole, Kris Kristofferson, Sam O'Neill, and others)

[@savetrump1088]

I work as a care provider for old people. Listening to their stories of what life was like for them is amazing.

[@aastri9697]

Spinalonga Island in Crete, Greece was also a leper colony till the 1950/60's

[@judithmctaggart4282]

As was Louisiana.. I believe it is closed now.

[@Darwinsmom]

Your analogy of the colony to a concentration camp struck me in the feels. As a teenager I had the experience of visiting Dachau, and the absolute lack of nature sounds like insects and birds once we stepped behind the gate struck me powerfully. As a student of forensic and medical anthropology, this site has always fascinated me, and your video is the best, hands down, that I have ever viewed. Thank you so much!