Molokai History:
[from Bishop Louis Maigret’s Journals, 1837-1877, Archives of the Sacred Hearts Fathers, Honolulu]
June 30, 1851: “Left around noon for Molokai – Frs. Joachim, Aubert, J.M., the 2 youngsters & I – very turbulent sea – Severino accompanies us on his launch – we arrive at Kumueli (Kamalo) at about 4pm”
July 1, 1851: “Frs. Aubert & Joachim go to Kalaupapa with lil’ Philippe. Frs. L. Marie, Matthias & I stay on at Kumueli (Kamalo)”
July 2, 1851: “Matthias along with us travels to Halawa to Atoroniko’s. Halawa – Matthias is ailing”
July 3, 1851: “Akoni who has come with us returns to Kumueli (Kamalo)”
July 4, 1851: “Matthias has recuperated – return to Kumueli (Kamalo) where we encounter …….. ”
July 5, 1851: “Preparations for tomorrow – people come in for the ceremonies”
July 6, 1851 (Sunday): “8 baptisms & 91 confirmations – Frs. Joachim & Philippe go on to Honolulu”
July 7, 1851: “Fr. L. Marie off to Kukue to build chapels”
July 8, 1851: “Fr. Aubert & I & Matthias travel to Kalae where we sleep at Filipo’s – great wave of enthusiasm for work on the church”
July 9, 1851: “Work on the church”
July 10, 1851: id.
July 11, 1851: id.
July 12, 1851: id.
July 13, 1851 (Sunday): “7 baptisms & 48 confirmations – late in day, we travel on to Kalaupapa to Keonikio’s & Melanie’s”
July 14, 1851: “We undertake construction of another chapel”
[Note that these journal entries are more than 20 years before Fr. Damien ever set foot on the island of Molokai. They attest to the fact that Sacred Hearts Fathers were visiting Molokai well before the coming of Fr. Damien in 1873]
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai