Kim Chun Siuk's Journey
The Power of Community Through the Story of Kalaupapa
A place of isolation and despair,
yet also one of love and hope.
Lesson Objective
Through the experiences of Kim Chun Siuk and others in Kalaupapa, learn how the strength of a community is formed and maintained. By examining how they cared for each other and maintained hope despite hardships, reflect on the roles and responsibilities of a community.
Summary
A heartfelt musical tribute to the souls resting in Molokaʻi's Kalaupapa. It portrays a requiem dedicated to our ancestors who were exiled and lived in isolation. The story emphasizes the emotional and communal journey of overcoming isolation and adversity through compassion and solidarity.
About Chee-Yun & Keola Beamer
Violinist & Slack Key Guitarist
Violinist Chee-Yun, a prodigy from Seoul, enchants audiences with her brilliant concerto performances worldwide.
Trained at Juilliard and mentored by renowned instructors, she has graced stages with orchestras like the San Francisco Symphony and NHK Symphony, leaving an indelible mark on the international classical music scene.
Keola Beamer has breathed new life into slack key guitar music yet stays true to its deep Hawaiian roots.
He is a Hawaiian legend: singer-songwriter, composer, guitar master, with an impeccable, gorgeous style that is featured on The Descendants soundtrack and his 17 CDs. His music, featured in the Part 3 of “Songs of Love” showcases true humanity.
About Kalaupapa
In 1866, Hawai'i designated part of Molokai Island as a leper colony, isolating patients. From 1866, spanning over 103 years, approximately 8,000 people lived in isolation here. 57 Koreans lived in Kalaupapa during the isolation period. Babies born here were separated from their mothers immediately after birth. In 1980, Kalaupapa was designated as a National Historical Park. Most of the patients were reunited with their families, while eight individuals chose to remain in Kalaupapa.
Historical Information
1. Who were exiled to Kalaupapa?
Patients diagnosed with leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) and individuals suspected of having the disease were exiled to Kalaupapa. At that time, due to limited understanding of the disease and lack of treatment, leprosy was considered highly contagious.
2. Why was Kalaupapa designated as a place of isolation?
Kalaupapa was designated as a place of isolation primarily due to its geographic features. The southern area was blocked by cliffs about 2,000 feet high, while the rest of the area was a peninsula surrounded by the sea. Even the arrival of boats for the migration of new patients was only possible during favorable weather conditions.
3. How were the lives of people in Kalaupapa?
When residents were exiled to Kalaupapa, they fell into deep despair, and in the early days, the settlement felt like a bleak prison. But over time, conditions improved, and the exiled residents built a close-knit community, building love and hope together.
Despite the fear and pain they faced early on, the people of Kalaupapa carried on lives not unlike those outside. They played music, supported one another, and many look back on their time there with warmth and fondness.
4. When were people allowed to leave Kalaupapa?
In 1969, the repeal of Hawaii’s leprosy isolation law granted Kalaupapa residents the freedom to leave the settlement. With the advancement of medical treatment, including effective vaccines, many were officially cured of Hansen’s disease.
5. Did all the residents return to their families?
However, not all residents returned to their original families. Many, especially those sent to Kalaupapa at a young age, had lost contact with their relatives. So, they remained with the “families” they had formed within the settlement, continuing to live together even after leaving Kalaupapa.
Discussions Points
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How might you have felt if you had left your homeland for Hawai'i, only to be exiled to Kalaupapa while speaking little to no English?
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What might have led some Koreans to take their own lives?
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Why do you think the value of community is particularly significant in Kalaupapa?
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Would you have been willing to volunteer and contribute to the community in the same way as Father Damien, Dr. Kim Yutak, and So Cap Soon?
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What do you believe was the source of happiness and fulfillment for the people of Kalaupapa?
Film · book recommendation
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)
by Paul Cox
Based on a true story, this film focuses on Father Damien (David Wenham), a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium who takes up a post at a Hawaiian leprosy settlement. Appalled by the conditions that he finds the lepers living in, Damien works tirelessly to aid the stricken people.