The first plane from the US mainland to O’ahu, Hawaii, struggled to find its landing point in the harsh weather conditions in the skies. The pilots were desperate for some kind of guiding light, and this came in the form of the double flash of the Kilauea Point Lighthouse reaching out through the storm to tell them they were over Kaua’i, and allowing them to find their way and land safely in O’ahu.

Standing at 52 feet high on an 180 foot elevation above the pacific ocean, it’s hard to miss this pure white lighthouse capped with a red roof, allowing it to gently guide air and sea vessels alike to safety. However, it has not always boasted this spick and span appearance. Years of weathering blustering winds, salty air, blistering sun and incredible humidity had taken their toll on the lighthouse, leaving it encrusted in crumbling rust. At a ripe old age of 100 years, the lighthouse enjoyed a restoration thanks to Senator Inouye, transforming into the shiny looking specimen it is today. The lighthouse’s Fresnel lens, comprising an array of lenses and prisms which come together to create an exceptionally powerful ray of light that beams out 22 miles to sea - quite a high step up from the original kerosene lantern.