Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Hawaii is set to open its doors to the public for the first time, with guided tours launching on July 9, 2026. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the remote peninsula on the island of Molokai, which has long been one of the most inaccessible and storied sites in the National Park System.
Tours will be offered twice a week, giving visitors a rare opportunity to explore a place with a deeply complex and emotional history. Kalaupapa served as a government-mandated isolation settlement for people diagnosed with leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease, from 1866 until the policy ended in 1969. Thousands of patients were forcibly exiled to the peninsula, and many never left. A small number of former patients still reside there today.
Reservations for the tours will open on June 26, 2026, ahead of the first tour date. The ticketed system is expected to help manage visitor numbers and protect the dignity and privacy of the community, which has historically limited outside access out of respect for residents and the site’s somber legacy.
The opening of public tours represents a carefully considered step by the National Park Service to share this powerful chapter of American history with a broader audience while honoring those who suffered and endured at Kalaupapa. Park officials and community members have worked together to shape an experience that is both educational and respectful.
Read the full story at https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/news/kalaupapa-national-historical-park-to-offer-public-tours.htm