We made the greuling 4.5 minute flight from Molokai's main airport down to the their tiny airport on the Kalaupapa penninsula. Everyone else rode mules down so BJ said we were the jet setters. Kalaupapa is the place where the Catholic priest Father Damien de Veuster originally of Belgium worked with the people of Hawaii to better the conditions for people with leperosy. We learned that only a few former patients are still alive, and when they die the National Park Service will take over the penninsula. We got to see the church where they will bury Father Damien's ankle when they officially declare him a saint in about a week. The patients have been allowed to leave since 1969 but many decided to stay where they are cared for with food and an allowance.
We also visited the Purdy Macadamia Nut Farm and bought some. BJ loves them raw, I like mine roasted. The Macadamia Nut tree is originally from Queensland Australia. You can havest and eat the nuts at any stage of developement. But mostly they just rake up whatever falls on the ground. Nuts develope and can be harvested all year around.
This Saturday is the big canoe race from Molokai to Oahu. We went down a dirt road to get to Hale Lono Harbor where they are getting the canoes ready for the race. BJ didn't like the dirt road but we suvived.
In the evening we went to the 3 mile long beach with beautiful sand, Popohaku, and had it all to ourselves for a while. This morning we went to beaches north and south of that and viisted a restored sugar mill, smallest on the Hawaiian islands. Our hostess says today is the hottest day all year so far.
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