On this site in 1840, King Kamehameha II ordered a nine-foot
wooden tower built as an aid to navigation for the whaling
ships anchored off Lahaina. It was equipped with whale-oil
lamps, and kept burning at night by a Hawaiian care-taker
who was paid $20 per year.

The tower was increased to 26 feet in 1866, rebuilt in
1905, and the present concrete structure was dedicated
by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1916.

Thus, this light was the first in the Hawaiian Islands
and pre-dates any lighthouse on the U.S. Pacific Coast.

Plaque placed by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

Submitted for the Thursday 06/25/09 Totally Informal Transglobal Challenge
Topic: "Something Old, Something New".

A complete set of other entries this week can be found - Here-.