January 30, 1960

The eruption of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii almost destroyed the Cape Kumukahi Lighthouse, a modern skeleton tower built in 1928 on the island's southeast point.

Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of the volcano, threw her red-haired wrath over several villages in 1960, then took aim at the lighthouse. Fingers of lava oozed toward the tower base, with heat so intense it melted the electrical wiring in the beacon. The keeper and his family fled.

I have to run off to adult ed. I'll add "the rest of the story" when I get back tonight. If you just can't wait, and have a copy of Eleanor DeWire's book, The Lighthouse Almanac,go to page 13 and read all about it.

Derith

[This message has been edited by Nana (edited 01-30-2002).]