Kalaupapa with Dennis Kamakahi + Stephen Inglis | Hana Hou! Magazine

I had such a lovely time following slack key musicians Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis for this Hana Hou! Magazine cover story to the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa, Molokai, a former leprosy colony at the base of the some of the highest sea cliffs in the world. The Hawaiian slack key guitar masters recently compiled a CD together, Waimaka Helelei, about the patients and residents of Kalaupapa, Molokai and the musical legacy there. Both Stephen and Dennis had close ties to Kalaupapa through family and friends and this trip was a homecoming of sorts. It was also really special being there for the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration, she cared many years for Hansen's Disease patients in Kalaupapa and was recently named a Saint. Read about our trip and more at Hana Hou! The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines.

Reverend Dennis Kamakahi talks with a nun, while patients, nurses, and choir people enjoy the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration at St Elizabeth Church in Kalaupapa, Molokai.

Dennis Kamakahi looks out at Siloama Church in Kalawao

Dennis Kamakahi and Patrick Landeza during mass at St. Francis Church

A priest, nun, and choir people sing hymns during a procession at Bishop House for the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration.

Dennis and Stephen walk through the streets of Kalaupapa

Dennis Kamakahi walks through the Siloama church grounds in Kalawao

Two nuns lei each other during a procession at Bishop House for the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration

Slack Key Musicians Patrick Landeza, Dennis Kamakahi, and Stephen Inglis, play outside before their concert in Kalaupapa.

Dennis Kamakahi, Stephen Inglis, and Patrick Landeza play for the people of Kalaupapa at McVeigh Hall

Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis pays their respects to friends/family Bernard Punikaia, and Kamakahi's cousin Henry's grave at a cemetery in Kalaupapa

Talking story in front of the Leprosy Care Home

Taking in the beautiful view in Kalawao, Molokai

Dennis, Stephen, and Patrick tune and play their guitars outside of the Kalaupapa Visitors Quarters

Stephen and Dennis play guitar in their room at the historic leprosy Visitors Quarters before playing a concert for the residents later that night.

Dennis Kamakahi, residents and friends of Kalaupapa sing hymns during the Mother Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration at St Elizabeth Church

Stephen and Dennis walk through a cemetery in Kalawao

Derek Ferrar, awesome writer and partner in crime on this Hana Hou! story