Hawaii Lighthouse Photos

I'm not that experienced with photography...or with posting photos to the forums. I'll start off with some photos I took of Diamond Head and see how it goes. If I do it right, I'll add some more. I'll try to add some different perspectives of the lights than those that were posted before

When I visited the Diamond Head light, it was a rainy day. I hiked down to the beach to get this first shot:

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311237PM7.335627E-02[/img]

I got this second shot from the road in front of the lighthouse. Since the sky wasn't cooperating, I wanted to use the flowers and trees in the gardens around the light to add some variety and color. It still turned out a little too dark. Right after this, the sky opened up and it began to pour.

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311237PM0.7878469[/img]

A couple days later, I hiked up Diamond Head and was treated to this view of the light.

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311237PM0.286709[/img]

Here are some pictures I took of the Makapuu Point Light. Overall, I would say it was a fairly easy hike and it was a beautiful day. It was also VERY windy up there.

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311523PM0.4325373[/img]

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311523PM0.9046704[/img]

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311524PM0.4556478[/img]

In addition to the light, we were treated to the sighting of several whales that were fairly close to the shore below.

Here are some photos I took of Barber's Point. Another beautiful day!

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311749PM0.3322565[/img]

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311749PM0.9971997[/img]

I'll mention here that this was the day I became aware of the heavenly harmonies of the Hawaiian female trio Na Leo Pilimehana. I visited the Dole pineapple plantation immediately after stopping at the light. They have tourist train ride through the fields. The train is a little cheesy, but they play Na Leo's music on the train. I bought several of their CDs. They sing in both English and Hawaiian. If you like music as much as I do, here is link to their site:
http://naleo.net/

After my meeing was over, I spent my second week at Kailua/Kona on the "Big Island." I ventured out to Cape Kumukahi. It was an unpaved road (and I probably broke my rental car agreement) but it wasn't that bad of a drive and was pretty smooth. The perspective to try to gain from these pictures is the fact that the light is basically surrounded on three side by lava..7-8 feet high.

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311959PM0.4981043[/img]

In this picture I took of the base, you can see how close the lava flow had actually come to the lighthouse in 1960...but for some reason, it split and left the tower untouched. I think the fence was added in more recent years.

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311959PM0.2876812[/img]

Here is a picture of a small lighthouse at Hilo. I think this may have been the one that Bob was referring to when he passed it last summer. Its right next to the road, but it really only seen easily if you are traveling north because trees obscure it when you are traveling south.

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311959PM0.1268056[/img]

One of my main goals for going to the "Big Island" was to see the active volcano. I was lucky that Kilauea has been fairly active recently and we went down to the lava flow area at sunset. When I first got there it was about 5:30 and fairly light. The flows nearby were quite visible then, but it wasn't until after the sun went down you see the whole area glow. It was an awesome sight!

[img]http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031234/1000031234_420200311749PM0.836324[/img]

Doc,

Great pictures.

I'm hoping to get to those lights, but it's not the main concern of this trip (Yes, I know -heresy).

I'll definitely get to Diamond Head and Kileaua. The others will happen if they do, won't if they don't.

I want to experience Hawaii as much and as differently as I can without driving myself crazy.

Dennis

Great Pics, I really like the overhead shot of Diamond Head!

Thanks for posting your photos for us Doc John. I like the one of Barber's Point with the tree parallel to the tower. But don't you hate to see a lighthouse without a lantern room? And I'll bet that night time hike to the volcano was quite something!

Gee, I thought Doc John just did to Barber's Point what some folks do to people in their pictures: cut off their heads. . . .

I agree with Jim - I really like the pictures of Diamond Head & Makapuu Point Lights from above. Gives a different perspective, and the DH ones really highlight the water below.

Thanks for sharing!

Dave

Great pics, Doc! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Bob

Thanks for the mini vacation! Do we know the story behind the decapatation of Barber's Point? Being from New England I am not well schooled on the Pacific lighthouses.... Great pics, btw.

As everyone's stating the views from above are very unique. Hiking around can really give you different perspectives. I'm glad you got that one at Hilo! Looks like you made good use of you time outside of your business trip. The lava flow came out pretty cool Doc. Thanks for the pics Doc. Great memories.
Bob

There are photos of the original tower and the current tower, both with and without the lantern room here:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHHI.html

There is a write-up on the lighthouse here:

http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/barbers_point_lighthouse.html

According to this write-up the light was automated in 1964. The NPS site states that the present optic was also installed that year. I would guess that 1964 was the year that the lantern room was removed.

Great photos!!! You seem to have a knack!!!

By the way-ONE MORE POST TO SUPER WACKO!!!!

Thanks John for your travelogue and photos. I know you had a great time exploring. How warm was it near the lava flow?
Derith

DOc,

Great pictures. I don't think you had any problem with your pictures or posting them. I think they're great. Always enjoy seeing the photos of lights that others see. Thanks also for the narration.

Bert

Hi Doc,

I enjoyed seeing your pictures! It sounds like you had a nice trip! We went to Hawaii at the end of February/beginning of March. So, for a few moments, it brought me back... I scanned my negatives but haven't tried posting any pictures yet.

It was great to see Diamond Head from above. We drove up the crater but didn't feel like doing the hike after hiking 6 miles earlier in the day. I had wondered what the view would look like from there. Now I'm sorry that I didn't do the hike. When you took the photo of Diamond Head from the beach, did you find any surprises on the beach?

Thanks so much for sharing.

Tammy

Thanks for the info and pics Mombo.

Doc-

Great photos! I really like the Diamond Head from above and the lava ones. Sounds and looks like it was a neat trip!

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments about my pictures (made with my idiot-proof point and shoot camera). Seeing the wonderful quality of the photos that others post, I was a little self-conscious about posting them so I'm glad you enjoyed them. I especially liked the picture of Diamond Head from above too. When I hiked up Diamond Head Crater, I knew I was going to get a fantastic view of Honolulu and Waikiki, but I had no idea I would get such a nice picture of the lighthouse.

Thanks to Sue for the link of Barber's Point with its head still intact. It is a beautiful tower but it is very sad to see it without the latern room. There is its twin, Kauhola Point, on Hawaii that looks about the same and also has its lantern room gone. I saw pictures of it (and it was featured in the Legendary Lighthouse 2 series), but I decided the road was too bad to venture out to it. I feel like I pushed my luck enough with going to Cape Kumukahi.

To answer your question Derith, I would say that temperature experience around the lava flow is like sitting next a roaring fire in the winter. You feel alot of heat as you get close to the the areas where the lava is flowing. It moves like molasses so you can get pretty close to it( a couple feet away). When you start to feel too hot you just go a few steps backward and it becomes more comfortable. Then you see an interesting flow start to develop, you move up closer to see it better and then you step back again when you become hot. The park service recommended taking about 2 quarts of water with you per person...so we did. We each went through one quart and we stayed there for at least an hour.

Tammy, the surprise I was treated to when I hiked down to the beach below the Diamond Head light was a couple nude male sunbathers. The sky was overcast so I suspect there could be alot more there on nicer days. At first I was a little apprehensive about venturing forward along the beach to get pictures, but I decided that if they didn't feel uncomfortable, why should I? As I passed them, I looked them in the eye, smiled and said "good afternoon...beautiful lighthouse, isn't it?" They nodded and smiled back and that was it.

Thanks again for the nice comments. I did have a wonderful trip! I guess with this post, I am now officially SUPER-Wacko

John