KALAUPAPA, Hawai'i — Former leprosy patients forcibly confined to the remote Kalaupapa peninsula of Moloka'i have a long-awaited apology from the state Legislature.

State Sen. J. Kalani English read aloud a resolution including the apology to about a dozen former patients with the ailment now called Hansen's disease at a Kalaupapa meeting hall on Tuesday.

The resolution included words of thanks to the patients for their sacrifices, noting they were often torn apart from their families when they were sent to the remote Moloka'i peninsula.

The state Senate and House both passed the resolution in April. But patients heard it read to them from a lawmaker for the first time on Tuesday.

Former patient Gloria Marks told English, who represents Moloka'i, the apology was way overdue but she appreciates it.