KILAUEA — The corroded metal tears streaming down from the Kilauea Lighthouse, which has been crying out for the community’s support over the past several years, may soon be wiped away by the Kilauea Point Natural History Association, as it
KILAUEA — The corroded metal tears streaming down from the Kilauea Lighthouse, which has been crying out for the community’s support over the past several years, may soon be wiped away by the Kilauea Point Natural History Association, as it is reportedly well on its way to raising the $1 million needed to restore the historic structure.
While Saturday marked the lighthouse’s 96th birthday, KPNHA Executive Director Jane Hoffman, hopes that by the 100th celebration, restoration will be complete.
“One hundred percent of the contributions to the KPNHA Lighthouse Fund will be used for restoration and preservation of the Kilauea Lighthouse,” she said Friday, assuring individuals that their donations are used strictly for the purpose of rehabilitating one of the last light stations in the U.S. that has all its historical structures in tact. “Funds remaining after the restoration work is completed will be used to maintain this structure.”
Lighthouse Day is an annual event held the first Saturday of every May to honor the lighthouse’s completion on May 1, 1913, according to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Web site, www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint.
In honor of the celebration, refuge entry fees were waived throughout the day Saturday. Guided tours were offered, interpreters were on hand to share knowledge of the area’s history and “illuminate a sense of place for visitors,” a press release said. Keiki activities were to include magnet-making, coloring and games as well as drawing classes throughout the day by renowned wildlife artist Patrick Ching.
“About $400,000 remains to be raised for full restoration and preservation of the lighthouse itself. Additional funds will be needed to restore the remaining historic lighthouse station buildings, including the caretaker cottages, fuel shed, cisterns, and supply landing platform,” a press release stated.
Lighthouse lovers said there is still a long way to go.
“The campaign is far from over,” said KPNHA Campaign General Chair Gary Smith in a phone interview on Friday.
Even though U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Hawai‘i Democrat who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that $1 million would be “set aside for the restoration” at the campaign kick-off ceremony — Beacon for the Generations to Come — he still challenged KPNHA to continue raising funds so that rehabilitation could proceed as promptly as possible.
“We should continue on and meet the Senator’s challenge,” Smith said. “Our hand is not just out, we want to work towards getting the lighthouse repaired and restored as soon as we can.”
According to Smith, the Kilauea Lighthouse, which stands on the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian islands, has not been cared for since 1971 and the first “big ticket items” that will need attention are the lantern room and roof.
“The roof is extremely corroded and the lantern room leaks every time it rains,” he said.
“We are faced with the urgent need to begin one of the major portions of the restoration to avoid potential damage to the lens and safety issues as soon as possible,” Smith said. “With the successful kick-off behind us and the urgency of restoration looming ahead, we are continuing with the capital campaign.”
Sue Boynton, President of KPNHA, is an advocate of preserving the beacon for several reasons.
“Kilauea Point provides an excellent opportunity to educate many local school children, as well as over a half million visitors per year about the rich ecosystem the refuge showcases,” she said. “Kilauea Point Natural History Association is proud to provide the funds for educational projects as well as support the restoration effort with the money raised in their bookstore at the Point.”
Smith agrees that the lighthouse serves as “the attraction that brings people to the wildlife.”
“It’s a treasure and it’s for everyone on Kaua‘i,” he said. “I hope that the people of Kaua‘i, even greater than just the community on the North Shore, are moved into action and will donate monies towards this cause; they will actually see where their money went too.”
The Kilauea Lighthouse Restoration Project is also set to receive $120,000 of stimulus funding according to a list released by the Dept. of the Interior earlier this week.
To help keep the light shining for future generations, send donations to: KPNHA Lighthouse Fund, P.O. Box 1130, Kilauea, HI 96754, or contact Hoffman at 828-0384.
• Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
