Father Damien Day is observed in Hawaii every April 15, honoring the legacy of Father Damien, a Roman Catholic priest and missionary who dedicated his life to aiding individuals afflicted with leprosy on the island of Moloka’i. Born Jozef De Veuster in Belgium in 1840, he arrived in Hawaii in 1864 during a public health crisis caused by infectious diseases. In 1873, he volunteered at the Kalaupapa settlement, where he provided essential services such as building homes, organizing schools and hospitals, and caring for the sick. Despite discovering he had leprosy in 1884, Father Damien continued his work until his death from the disease on April 15, 1889. His contributions led to his beatification in 1995 and canonization in 2009, with his feast day celebrated in Hawaii on the same date.