Yunche Wilson of TripHop.com joins the podcast to discuss some unusal but worthwhile destinations. (Forest Bathing in Japan? Yes!)
Plus Hawkeye shares the one of his favorite spots, that few would ever consider visiting.
Plus Hawkeye shares the one of his favorite spots, that few would ever consider visiting.
Find Out More About Kalaupapa -
The Last Leper Colony in the United States
Located on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai, Kalaupapa was established as a Leper Colony by the the Hawaiian King Kamehameha V in 1866.
The colony was on a isolated piece of land only accessible by boat or by a rugged trail down the cliffs pictured above. If you were diagnosed with leprosy, you would be sent to this isolated rugged facility to live the rest of your life.
Leprosy, or Hansen's Disease as it is known now, has been curable for decades. In 1969, the people of Kalaupapa were free to leave, as leprosy is no longer a threat. However, the people of this remote peninsula had made their home and a community on this isolated piece of paradise and few chose to leave.
It was been over 40 years since any new patient have been brought to Kalaupapa, but there are still a few surviving residents of the colony. Today, visitors are welcomed, if they care to hike the rugged trail to their small isolated town. Less than 15 surviving residents of Kalaupapa remain. The US Government is converting the colony into a National Park, and will become one when the last resident of Kalaupapa passes.
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| The quaint homes in the village of Kalaupapa |
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| A paradise that few people wanted to leave |
