Diamond Head Lighthouse, a Treasured Symbol on Oʻahu’s South Shore
The Historic Lighthouse on the Slopes of Lēʻahi Crater By Lexington Smith As you drive along Diamond Head Road on the south shore of Oʻahu on the southern edge of Waikīkī, the lowering sunset hits your eyes and tints the view with an orange haze. Bikers fly down the road as runners trek up it. To your left, Lēʻahi, an extinct volcanic crater and tuff cone, calmly rests, absorbing the last light of the day. To your right, waves break over a world under the sea. Surfers are rinsing their boards and couples are watching as the sun sets. As your eyes navigate through the trees, a white figure stands. The sun beams through its glass panels and its red roof brightens. There stands a lighthouse established as Diamond Head Light which was first lit July 1, in 1899. The present square concrete tower was built in 1917. In 1825, British sailors approached the cliffs of Lēʻahi. Light sparkled from the slopes and the sailors, spotting the clear calcite crystals, believed they had discovered diamonds and named the crater Diamond Head. As more travelers began to come to Oʻahu, Diamond Head became an integral point to report incoming vessels. On the night of October 2, 1893, the SS Miowera hit the shallow reef just off the shore. The captain had mistook the position of Diamond Head Crater. Similarly in 1897, the steamship China also ran aground. According to the Hawaiian Historical Society, this was the catalyst prompting the building of the original structure to guide incoming vessels and prevent their harm. The first version of the lighthouse was a 40-foot iron tower that emitted light 160 feet above the water. The great light [...]