“It was not my privilege to enjoy Christmas with my previous little family, for I was over on the Island of Molokai trying to comfort and gladden the hearts of those unfortunate and tried people in Kalaupapa [the leper colony]. This is the first real Christmas they have had for four years and they were very anxious for me to be with them, so I went and did my duty, though it was hard to be away from my kiddies on that day, for Christmas does not really count much unless you can see the kiddies in the early morn go after their things. Say! but those were happy days when I was a little youngster, when I used to sleep with my clothes on in order to be on time with the first. …
“My trip to Kalaupapa was most interesting and I feel pleased with the results, for the people were delighted.”
– E. Wesley Smith (president, Hawaii Mission) to his brother David A. Smith (Presiding Bishop’s Office, Salt Lake City), 3 January 1921
I was able to visit Kalaupapa this year. In my trip to Hawaii I was able to visit two sacred places, the temple at Laie and Kalaupapa.
There was an article in the Deseret News on December 14 this year about another trip on Christmas in 1980 when only three members were left in Kalauppa.
The L.D.S. chapel is still there but all the L.D.S. members have passed away.