Kapahei Kauai facts for kids

Kapahei "Judge" Kauai (born around 1825 – died August 1, 1893) was an important leader in Hawaii. He served as a judge and later became known for helping people who had a serious illness called leprosy.

Kapahei Kauai: A Hawaiian Leader

Kapahei Kauai was born around 1825. He became a respected judge in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He also served in the House of Representatives for the district of Waimea on the island of Kauai. This means he helped make laws for the kingdom. He was a member of the Queen Emma Party, which supported Queen Emma.

Life in the Kalalau Valley

In the late 1880s, Kapahei Kauai became ill with leprosy. At that time, people with leprosy were often separated from others to prevent the disease from spreading. Kapahei Kauai moved to the Kalalau Valley on Kauai. He became a leader for many other people who also had the disease and lived there. He helped organize them and look out for their well-being.

Changes in Government and Relocation

After the Hawaiian Kingdom government changed in 1893, a new government took over. This new Provisional Government decided to move many people with leprosy to a special settlement. This settlement was located at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. The government believed this was the best way to manage the spread of the disease.

Kapahei's Final Journey

In 1893, officials arrived in Kalalau Valley to relocate the people with leprosy. Kapahei Kauai was 68 years old and very weak from his illness. He tried to avoid being found by the officials. However, he was discovered and was among the first to be taken. He was then transported to the Kalaupapa settlement. Kapahei Kauai passed away later that year, on August 1, 1893, at Kalihi Hospital in Honolulu.