Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 9, 1 September 2008 — Kalaupapa apology [ARTICLE]

Kalaupapa apology

About 12 fonner patients of a leprosy settlement in Kalaupapa, Moloka'i received a personal apology from the state Legislature Aug 12, when state Sen. I. Kalani Enghsh ahended a community meeting there and read an apology resolution passed by both houses in April. Senate Concurrent Resolution 208 recognizes and expresses gratitude "to the people

of Kalaupapa and their families for their great sacrifices and hardships as a result of their forced isolation, whieh at the time was believed to protect the public's heakh, and apologizing to the people of Kalaupapa and their families for any harsh restrictions that caused them undue pain as the result of fonner government policies surrounding leprosy." Leprosy later heeame known as Hansen's disease. The resolution arose partly to honor Paul Harada, a former resident and community leader who fought for an apology resolution. He passed away in Ianuary.