Hawaii Honors Joseph Dutton with Official State Day
Hawaii has officially established April 27 as "Brother Joseph Dutton Day," honoring the dedicated layman who spent 45 years serving patients with Hansen’s disease on Molokai.
Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2256 into law on April 23, 2026, hailing Dutton as a "hero" for his selfless devotion. The ceremony was attended by Bishop Larry Silva and members of the Joseph Dutton Guild, the organization currently advocating for Dutton’s canonization in the Catholic Church.
Legislative Victory
The bill’s passage marks a major milestone for state leaders, particularly Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who successfully championed the measure after previous attempts had stalled.
"Brother Dutton did not seek recognition at all," Sen. DeCoite remarked. "He simply showed up... and through his actions, he brought dignity, comfort, and hope to those who had been isolated from their families."
A Trio of Kalaupapa Icons
With this new designation, Dutton joins the ranks of Hawaii’s two recognized saints who also served the settlement. All three now have official days of recognition:
St. Marianne Cope Day: January 23 (her birthday)
Brother Joseph Dutton Day: April 27 (his birthday)
St. Damien de Veuster Day: May 10 (the anniversary of his arrival at Kalaupapa)
Who was Joseph Dutton?
Born Ira Barnes Dutton in Vermont in 1843, his path to Molokai was anything but direct. After serving in the Civil War, he struggled through a failed marriage and a period of alcoholism before a transformative conversion to Catholicism in 1883.
Inspired by the work of Father Damien, he arrived in Hawaii in 1886. Though he was never a monk or priest, Father Damien affectionately called him "Brother." Dutton remained on the remote peninsula until his death in 1931, never once leaving his post of service. Today, he is buried near St. Damien at St. Philomena Church in Kalawao.
Source: https://www.catholichawaii.org/news-events/news-articles/2026/april/427-brother-joseph-dutton-day/
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