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The Molokai Light

A tall, thin white building on a hill with sea cliffs in the background.

In 1880, the long, narrow island of Moloka‘i had only one lighthouse, at Kaunakakai. Yet by 1900, hundreds of vessels of the Pacific Coast trade annually passed through the channel between O‘ahu and Moloka‘i’s north side—where the Hansen's Settlement was located. A permanent light station was needed for maritime navigation. Just before sunset on September 9, 1909 a solitary light more than 200 feet above sea level beakoned to the rough seas surrounding Kalaupapa peninsula for the first time. Lighthouse keeper James Keanu put the light with its special Fresnel lens—a rare giant of a crystal-like jewel–into operation. Two hundred thirteen feet above the water, it was the brightest light in the Pacific and flashed twenty-one miles to sea.

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NPS / Rob Ratkowski

Public domain:Full Granting Rights

Image

Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Code: KALA

Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Hawaii
Latitude: 21.1557502746582, Longitude: -156.956497192383

NPS.gov Collection

08/01/2008

08/01/2008

Saturday, November 5, 2022 6:25:22 PM

Saturday, November 5, 2022 6:39:54 PM

MoloLt6747.jpg

NIKON CORPORATION NIKON CORPORATION, NIKON D200

10/3200 sec at f / 9.5

18 mm

ISO 100

Friday, August 1, 2008 3:10:44 PM

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5.3 MB

Scenic