The Diamond Head Lighthouse holds sailors’ hopes and oversees the beauty of Lē’ahi
For more than 110 years, the Diamond Head Lighthouse has been a U.S. Coast Guard facility safely guided innumerable mariners transiting the Pacific region. Located in Honolulu, on the island of O’ahu, the red light of the lighthouse can be seen 17 nautical miles, or over 31 kilometers, from the shoreline, according to the U.S. Coast Guard - Pacific Area website.
According to the Historic Hawaii website, the Diamond Head Lighthouse stands as a 57-foot white concrete pyramidal tower with a red roof. It was established and first lit on July 1, 1899, “to guide mariners into the then budding port of Honolulu and is significant for its association with the expanding port,” says the website.
However, the present tower along the Diamond Head Road was built in 1917. Currently, according to the Hawaii Guide website, it is not open to the public and is no longer manned.
A historic lighthouse
In 1825, as the British sailors were approaching the cliffs of Lē’ahi, or “brow of the tuna” in Hawaiian, they noticed lights sparkling from the slopes. According to the Historic Hawaii website, these sailors believed they had discovered diamonds, when in fact, it was actually clear calcite crystals. Due to this, they named the crater Diamond Head.
According to the website, on the night of Oct. 2, 1893, the SS Miowera hit the shallow reef off the shore of Waikiki because the captain had mistaken the position of the Diamond Head Crater. The same thing happened in 1897 when a China steamship also ran aground. “This was the catalyst prompting the building of the original structure to guide incoming vessels and prevent their harm,” says the Hawaiian Historical Society.
The first version of the lighthouse was a 40-foot iron tower, states the Historic Hawaii website. It emitted light 160 feet above water and was only supported by four posts resulting in it being vulnerable to heavy winds. After receiving a critique from the Committee of Public Lands, the website says, it was then noted that sailors will be dependent on the light. They had hoped “the structure should stand tall forever no matter the weather conditions,” says the website.
In 1917, the original tower was reconstructed and strengthened by using stone and cement rather than solely iron. According to the website, the light source was also changed from oil vapor to electricity to reduce accidents to lighthouse keepers. A cast iron stairway was also added inside the lighthouse replacing its original exterior position, says the website. In 1932, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for maintaining this aid to navigation.
Diamond Head Summit Trail
With the beautiful coastal views and history, Diamond Head is also known for its 1.6-mile round-trip hiking trail, according to the U.S. Department of Land and Natural Resources. Built in 1908 as part of O’ahu’s coastal defense system, the trail to the summit of Lē’ahi oversees the bunkers on the crater rim and the navigational Diamond Head lighthouse.
Gianna Zia Martinez, a sophomore majoring in computer science from the Philippines, shared how enjoyable the hike was for her as a beginner. She said, “The panoramic view was breathtaking. I expected to see a great view of the ocean, and it exceeded my expectations.”
Martinez described the hike to be relatively easy, with a well-maintained path. She said the highlight of the hike was definitely the ocean view and the lighthouse at the top. “Reaching the summit was rewarding. The combination of the natural beauty and the historic lighthouse made for a memorable experience,” she said.
Another student who has hiked the trail, John Carlo Santiago from the Philippines, double majoring in psychology and intercultural peacebuilding, said he was captivated by its natural beauty from the moment he entered the crater through the Kahala Tunnel, until he reached the summit. “When I reached the summit, it gave me a spectacular 360-degree view of southern Oahu and Waikiki with its majestic buildings,” said Santiago.
He said he was excited to hike the trail because he had only seen the view in pictures. “I can say that pictures don’t do it justice. It’s way more beautiful in person, and I exclaimed that Hawaii is truly a paradise,” he said.
Mutia Parasduhita from Indonesia, a BYUH alumna who majored in communications, also said when she reached the summit she thought how nice it was for the military years before to watch over the area with beautiful scenery. She said, “Right now, we enjoy it as a place to hike, but years before it was a place of sanctuary for those military soldiers who were protecting their country.”
Santiago encouraged those who plan to hike the trail to familiarize the early and military history of the place. He said, “It would give you a more meaningful experience when you know how the early Hawaiians viewed the place and the significant role it played during World War II.” He said knowing its history can help hikers develop a greater sense of respect and admiration for the place and make a deeper connection with it.