Kalaupapa residents, staff relocated after drinking water supply depleted

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health relocated Kalaupapa residents and staff Friday because the settlement’s drinking water supply has become unreliable, officials said.

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A key pump serving the settlement had been experiencing operational issues since Sept. 3, and multiple repair attempts were unsuccessful.

Department officials said storage tanks are now depleted and can no longer reliably support the community. Patients and staff were moved as a precaution while work continues.

“We know that changes to care and living arrangements can be disruptive, and our priority is to ensure patients and staff have a safe and stable place to stay until an adequate and reliable drinking water supply has been restored,” said Dr. Diana Felton, chief of the DOH Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division.

Officials estimate repairs will take about two weeks.

Temporary housing on Oʻahu

Health officials said patients were moved Friday and are being housed at the health department’s care home on Oʻahu.

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Staff members will stay in hotels or with family and friends, while additional personnel are scheduled to depart Kalaupapa by Saturday.

The National Park Service is also temporarily withdrawing personnel from the settlement, excluding staff members actively working on water system repairs.

Health officials said the state will continue coordinating with partners throughout the repair process.

Patients and staff are expected to return once an adequate and reliable drinking water supply is fully restored.

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