Molokai: Day #2 (Part 2)

When we first told mom about doing this trip, she wasn't excited about doing it.  She felt that nothing would be the same or preserved after 75 years.

To our delight, she was able to journey back into the past and see the place that the father she admired and loved worked and did so much good.

We had a bagged lunch at Kalawao which is on the northeast side of the peninsula.  Kalaupapa is on the northwest side.

The views there were absolutely beautiful.  Right below was where patients were initially dropped off.  Sometimes, they had to be forcibly dropped off which was very sad.

We visited Father Damien's St. Philomena Catholic church and found Brother Joseph Dutton's grave site next to it.  He had asked to be buried close by Father Damien.

Our tour guide, Norman told us that only 4-5% of the population is susceptible to Hansen's Disease.  Unfortunately, Father Damien was part of that small minority, and died in 1889 after 16 years at Kalaupapa.  Brother Dutton was able to serve the patients for 44 years without contracting the disease.  My grandfather was there for 8 years and also did not contract Hansen's Disease.  Sadly, the group most susceptible were the Hawaiian people who did not have many of the immunities against diseases foreigners brought in.

Here is my grandfather crouching down next to the man he admired and regarded highly for the work he'd done for the patients for 44 years.

Mom says there was a photo of her father with Brother Dutton that was cherished by the family, but it was lost in their escape during the war.

Brother Dutton died during my grandfather's 2nd or 3rd year at Kalaupapa.

This is the grave yard next to the church.  Father Damien's grave is at the front.

St. Philomena Catholic Church

OK, it's not that I didn't like Lahi Lahi. However, my behind was really protesting getting back in the saddle.  Lahi Lahi on the other hand could not wait to get started.  He was pushing at the ropes to get to the front again... until he remembered that it was going to be UPhill this time.

I almost know the exact moment when he remembered.  Suddenly his steps slowed and he had to be prodded by the mule leaders.  I hated to kick him like they told me to.

 I really sympathized with his plight.  I REALLY don't like climbing UPhill either.  Whereas he pushed to the front of the line when we were going down, he now stopped at almost every switch back.  

When I tried to urge him on, he'd look back at me as if to say, "Are you kidding me?  Couldn't you have lost those 6 pounds before you decided to get on my back?"

Three miles UPhill all the way and Art was still raring to go.  His butt was just fine!

We read that you could mail a coconut anywhere in the U.S. for between $10.00 to $15.00 (postage) so we decided to send one to KC in Chicago.  

The coconut was free.

Can you believe the gas prices on Molokai?

We also found that Molokai has the plastic bag law.  If you plan to go there, bring your own bag.  It was not a problem for us.

And this is where our luck ran out.  Our Island Air flight was 2 hours late!!!  Worse... I had to sit on hard metal seats for 3 hours while we waited.  After a stop on Lanai we finally got to bed around midnight.  

And yes!  Here is Art's trophy t-shirt.  In retrospect, Art says I should have gotten one too.  We also brought back Molokai sweet potato chips and a whole lot of wonderful memories.

And mom?  She's thrilled and could hardly wait to get home and start writing all about it.