Molokai History: [from Hawaii Catholic Herald, May 20, 1966] The distance from Kaunakakai to Kamalo, St. Joseph's Church and a mission of St. Sophia's is eleven miles, but the road is good. St. Joseph's was built in 1876 by Father Damien and is still in use today. It never had a resident priest but it [...]
Molokai History: [from Molokai Catholic Community Report to the Vicariate, February 12, 1998] The island of Molokai was visited by Sacred Hearts priests from O'ahu and then Maui from the middle 1840's. Catechists who fled the persecution on O'ahu built up a small community of believers on Moloka'i but they faced more persecution from the [...]
KŌKUA: HELP, HELPER. Although Saint Damien and Saint Marianne are world renown for their examples of compassion, faith and service, many others also came to Kalaupapa to kōkua. Some were relatives and some were strangers. One man was named Ira Barnes Dutton, a veteran of the Civil War who decided to devote his life to [...]
Molokai History: [from The Catholic Herald, June 25, 1937] With succeeding years, Kaunakakai's population increased gradually to the point where the little church there had become much too small to accomodate the growing Catholic congregation. Plans were made several times to enlarge the building, but it never went further than planning, as other localities in [...]
Molokai History: [from The Catholic Herald, June 25, 1937] His Excellency Stephen P. Alencastre To Bless New St. Sophia Church At Kaunakakai, Molokai Even excepting Kalawao in the Molokai Leper Settlement, no other island has so many memories of Father Damien's missionary labors than the Island of Molokai. For when in 1873 Father Damien became [...]
Molokai History: [from the Internet and history files at St. Damien] Andrew Kapalaau Poaha was born in Waikapoki, Kaneohe, Kingdom of Hawaii on May 17, 1856 to Edward William Bishop Kapalaau Poaha and Kalena Kamauoha. Andrew married Elizabeth Keakakulani Kapiioho and had 8 children. He knew Father Damien from when Father Damien was building Our [...]
Molokai History: [from Honolulu Advertiser, obituaries, March 11, 1931] Life of 115 Years Ends on Molokai Kamalo, Molokai - March 9 After residence on Molokai for more than 100 years, Mrs. Kailiohe Kameekua, age 115, died at her home here yesterday afternoon following an illness of about a month. The aged matriarch was born at [...]
Molokai History: [from the Internet] Hope Louise Lugosi, the fifth and last wife of famous Hollywood actor Bela Lugosi (who played Dracula in movies) is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Kamalo on Molokai. She was married to Bela from 1955-1956. Hope was a fan of Bela's and when he was in the hospital recovering [...]
Molokai History: [from the Internet and church records] Mary Waki Kiyonaga Swerts is buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Kamalo. She died April 28, 1990. She had two sisters who were Sisters of Charity, Virginia and Julia. Her son, Joseph Yoshio Kiyonaga, who was raised in Kamalo, served with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in [...]
Molokai History: (from Hawaii Catholic Herald, about the mother of parishioner Joe Reich of Kamalo. She is buried at St. Joseph's cemetery in Kamalo) Margaret M. "Mickey" Reich was the outreach coordinator of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu for over 25 years. She worked out of a small back office [...]