The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-02-24
A VIEW OF KALAUPAPA
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Under the heading 1.-THE Worlds
most Famous Leper Settlement" Les
lies Weekly prints the following, by
Mrs. r. G. Miller, with a number or
photographs:
In the very heart of the Paradise
of the Pacific, on the island of Molo-
kai, one of the Hawaiian group, is To-
Gated the most famous leper settlement
in the world. 1t is celebrated because
the segregation there is along the most
humane lines and because the lepers
are under the constant care of physi-
clans and nurses equal in ability to
those of any hospital in the country.
The Territorial board of health of
the Hawaiian Islands is doing every
thing in its power to relieve the suffer-
ing of these unfortunate creatures, as
well as to prevent the spread of the
disease.
1t is well known that leprosy was
brought to the islands by Chinese immi
grafton more than fifty years ago, and
was at that time known as Chinese
sickness. Segregation soon became
a necessity, as the Hawaiian is often
careless as to the most common laws
of hygiene section of the island of
MOlokai was selected as their place OF
residence. It's location and climate are
admirably adapted for this purpose, a
tongue of land surrounded on three
sides by the sea and shut off on the
fourth by almost impossible cliffs from
two to three thousand feet in height
Segregation began in 1866 and since
that time thousands of lepers have
been cared for, and each year the num-
Der is a trifie less. Everything neces-
sary in the housing and caring for
them is furnished free of cost, and two
villages, with comfortable cattage-
homes, have been built on the island.
There are several churches, a Y. NJ. e..
A. steam laundry, a poi factoryC poi
is the native substitute for breadr an
ice plant, a store and a post office. A
large correspondence lis maintained
with the outside world, all mail being
! fumigated. There is also a jail, and
order is preserved by policemen who
are themselves lepers. Few visitors
are allowed at the settlemnt, and none
/ from motives of curiosity" Permits
are not easily secured, and must be
signed by the president of the Board
of Health. The island can be reached
only by a small steamer which runs
| but once a week. The passage Is
usually anything but pleasant. Rougn
water and absence of a wharf prevent
the steamer from landing; the visitor
goes ashore in a small boat, often
through high sea-
After receiving permission to visit
the island, l sailed from Honolulu one
evening, and on the second night out
we lay off Kalaupapa, the largest viii
lage of the settlement. Leprosy was
not new to me, as | had looked upon
the wretched inmates of San Lazaro
Hospital in Havana, and had seen the
disease in its various stages in tropical
countries, where segregation was more
or less lax, but to mingle with nearly
a thousand lepers was to be a new
experience. The weather was OPP
pressively hot, and several times dur.
ing the night owing to a nervous rest
lessness, | arose and sat at my state
room window, fascinated by the weird
ness of the scene. A little after five
O'Clock the Chinese steward raped or
my door. | was already dressed anC
after hurried meal, | found a small
boat manned by natives waiting tC
take me ashore. The captain assist
ed me down the ladder, and in a few
minutes we were off to Molokai.
had no special fear of the disease
but everyone who goes to the settle
ment takes his or her chances. PLY
sicians cannot fully explain how it il
contracted. A blood infusion seems
to be necessary yet there are people
at the settlement who will tell you
that they never saw a leper until the,
found themselves afflicted. Recently
it has been demonstrated that bed-bug
tieas, and mosquitoes may spread The
disease. | was not gIoved or yelled
nor was ! covered with antiseptlcs
and as the boat swung into the it'll,
cove my first greeting came from
leper-Mr. j. X. Waimau, assistan
superintendent, who is a splendid
specimen Of Hawaiian mandolin
tellectual, refined and of courtly bear
ing. He assisted me to land, and 70
few minutes we had a pleasant cha
while waiting for DR.. w. J. GOodhue
the physician in charge, under who's
care l was to be during my stay MI
McVeigh, the superintendent, who al
ways looks after visitors, was absent
so | had the privilege of spending tn
time in the company of this eminen
medical man, one of the noblest o
his profession.
Much of the suffering which mus
necessarily accompany the disease ha
; boan o1layiotad Of 1ata Nyaarc nv Onpr