THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	208
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

RECOGNIZING, ACKNOWLEDGING, AND EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE OF KALAUPAPA AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR GREAT SACRIFICES AND HARDSHIPS AS A RESULT OF THEIR FORCED ISOLATION, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS BELIEVED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH, AND APOLOGIZING TO THE PEOPLE OF KALAUPAPA AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR ANY HARSH RESTRICTIONS THAT CAUSED THEM UNDUE PAIN AS THE RESULT OF FORMER GOVERNMENT POLICIES SURROUNDING LEPROSY.

     WHEREAS, from 1866 to 1969, an estimated 8,000 citizens of Hawai‘i were forced to leave their families and to be isolated, most often on the Kalaupapa peninsula, because of society's fear of leprosy (also known as Hansen's disease); and

     WHEREAS, these individuals were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters who were separated at all ages, from very young to very old; and

     WHEREAS, for many of these residents, the separation was permanent, yet, because they felt they were protecting the general public from a disease that was not curable until the 1940s, most people diagnosed with leprosy willingly made this greatest of sacrifices; and

     WHEREAS, these sacrifices were made because these heroic individuals did not want anyone else to experience this disease, which was not only physically painful, but also emotionally difficult to bear; and

     WHEREAS, despite being exiled by their own government and suffering great deprivations and injustices throughout much of their lives, the people of Kalaupapa have been remarkably resilient and have responded to their situations with kindness, generosity, and forgiveness rather than anger, bitterness, and despair; and

     WHEREAS, the families of those sent to Kalaupapa also suffered unimaginable pain; and

     WHEREAS, fathers and mothers were forced to take their unsuspecting children diagnosed with leprosy to a designated facility and leave them there, resulting in farewells of agony and sorrow; and

     WHEREAS, those same parents would later watch from the docks as their children were loaded onto the ships destined for Kalaupapa, possibly the last time they would see one another; and

     WHEREAS, children born to the people of Kalaupapa were immediately taken away at birth and grew up with other relatives or in orphanages, and, if they were fortunate, would eventually get to know their parents, but not until they were nearly adults or older; and

     WHEREAS, relationships between parents and children could be difficult to establish and maintain because of the forced separation; and

     WHEREAS, the Kalaupapa residents and their families have mostly accepted their circumstances throughout the years and put their lives back together as best they could; and

     WHEREAS, the government has maintained Kalaupapa for the last remaining residents as long as they choose to remain there, and provides for their medical, food, and housing needs; and

     WHEREAS, there has never been an official acknowledgement to the people of Kalaupapa for all that they did and the exemplary manner in how they have lived their lives; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature recognizes, acknowledges, and expresses gratitude to the people of Kalaupapa and their families for their sacrifices, for thinking more of the public than of themselves, for giving up freedoms and opportunities the rest of society takes for granted, for rebuilding their lives with pride and dignity, for overcoming prejudice and discrimination, and for consistently reaching out to others in need; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that while with the adoption of this measure, the Legislature does not confer any legal cause of action or any legal rights, remedies, relief, restitution, or reparations on any person, it nonetheless apologizes for the past actions against, and treatment of, past and current residents of Kalaupapa; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this overdue action be issued with the utmost respect and admiration for those remaining Kalaupapa residents, the descendents of those who have died and family members who all have endured separation from loved ones and the anguish that came with it, with the hope that if any quarantine or isolation is necessary in the future to protect public health and safety, it will be used only with appropriate safeguards to protect every individual's dignity and rights; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to all the residents of Kalaupapa, Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, the Governor, the Director of Health, and the Superintendent of Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

Report Title: 

Kalaupapa; Acknowledgment and Apology