Despite having a lot of coastline (it is a group of islands, after all), the state of Hawaii doesn't have a large number of lighthouses. And many of the lighthouses it has are rather simple metal frame towers or basic concrete structures with lights on top. There are definitely exceptions, to that, of course; Diamond Head on Oahu, Kilauea Point on Kauai, and a few others.
This is one of the others. Plus, it's probably the most notable lighthouse on Molokai, which rather than having coastline along much of the seashore, it has coastal cliffs with long sinuous waterfalls. This particular lighthouse is located on a small flat peninsular projection on the northern side of the island, which is mainly the location of a national historic park (this was the location of a leper colony). It is also next to a one-runway airport, which appears to be the only way to get to Kalaupapa, because you can't get anywhere else on Molokai from there.
So, now let's find out a bit about the Kalaupapa lighthouse from the Lighthouse Directory. (There are other places where you can find information and pictures of this one.)
"1909 (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 213 ft (65 m); white flash every 10 s. 138 ft (42 m) octagonal reinforced concrete tower; DCB-24 aerobeacon (1997). Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. The original 2nd order Fresnel lens, previously on display in the Lāhainā Restoration Foundation's musuem in Lāhainā, Maui, has been shipped back to Molokai for eventual display in a museum at Kalaupapa. Three original 1-1/2 story keeper's houses built of volcanic rock."
Below are four pictures of this notable and isolated lighthouse.
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| by Elyse Butler |
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