Father Damien Museum and Archives

Behind the St. Augustine by the Sea Catholic Church on the beach of Waikiki is a small museum in honor of Father Damien, also known as St. Damien of Moloka'i. In 2001, a leak forced the display to be removed, but visitors can still see Father Damien's life exhibited at St. Augustine by the Sea Catholic Church, 130 Ohua Avenue in Waikiki.

Father Damien came to the Hawaiian Islands in 1864 as a missionary from Belgium and spent his first 15 years ministering to the native people. From 1873, his life is chronicled by an intense devotion and commitment to bring aid to all those those who suffered the horrific tragedy that befell the islands through the disease of leprosy (Hansen's Disease). It is still unknown how leprosy came to Hawaii and although the first documented case is listed as 1848, it is thought that the disease arrived as early as the 1930's and began spreading.

With no known cure for the highly contagious disease, victims were taken to the neighboring island of Moloka'i and left on the Kalaupapa Peninsula in suffering and isolation until death claimed them. When Father Damiem arrived on Moloka'i in 1873, he not only brought faith, he brought hope. He arranged for medical services and funding to build homes, churches and coffins and parented those in need until 17 years of selfless service passed and the disease took his life in April, 1889. Father Damien is Hawaii's hero canonized into sainthood on October 11, 2009 in Rome.

A statue of Father Damien is proudly displayed on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Honolulu and although a cure was found in the 1940's and the 100 residents who have since lived on Moloka'i's Kalaupapa peninsula are free to leave, they have chosen to stay.