Tuesday October 26, 2009 after years of consultation with State of Hawaii historic preservation officials, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a press release informing the public of its decision to demolish the Kauhola Lighthouse. See Press Release.
The Kauhola Lighthouse, which is no longer operational, sits on a 3.5-acre federal government property north of Hawi in the Kohala area of the Big Island and is in danger of falling down a steep cliff face if no action is taken.
In 1933, the lighthouse was approximately 85 feet away from the edge of the cliff; today it is a mere 20 feet. Between 2003 and 2007, the cliff retreated approximately 15 feet, partly exacerbated by an October 2006 earthquake, when an additional six feet sheered off of the cliff face.
A petition circulated in Kohala asked that the lighthouse be moved 200 feet inland. But the Coast Guard said the move would be too costly and that the ground is not stable enough to conduct that type of work. Estimated costs to relocate the lighthouse were not disclosed. See Star Bulletin article.
The Coast Guard has an official agreement with the State Historical Preservation Office to maintain Kauhola Point's sister lighthouses at Barber's Point and Nawiliwili Harbor to preserve the historical examples of lighthouse construction of that era.
Said Steven Tanaka, who made periodic checks of the lighthouse for the past 15 years, "It's going to be sad to see it go down." Star Bulletin article.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard, 14th District
Aloha,
ReplyDeleteAs a Navy Veteran and brother of a retired Coast Guardsman, I have become quiet the Lighthouse collector. It saddens me to see that the Coast Guard and historical society can not find a way to save this lighthouse. The amount of history that will be lost when It goes down and astronomical.
Mahalo
Terry