One hundred and eighty feet above the shore, Kilauea Point is the first landfall spotted by mariners traveling eastward from the Orient. In 1913, officials established a light station near the cliffs, quite clearly the most strategic location on Kauai. 

Workers built a separate keeper’s quarters a good distance away from the light and the tower and foundation were constructed of solid concrete. With such resilient workmanship, the sentinel is able to withstand even the strongest of storms that frequent the Hawaiian Islands.

The second-order Fresnel lens, visible for miles, cast its light from 216 feet above sea level. In 1930, a radio beacon was established, working in tandem with the signal at Makapuu Point.

As technology improved and budgetary restraints increased, the U.S. Coast Guard decided to automate the Hawaiian beacons. By the early 1970’s, Kilauea Lighthouse was the last manned station. But even this noble sentinel gave way to advancements. In 1976, a simple aero-marine beacon replaced the lighthouse. Nine years later, the U.S. Coast Guard transferred ownership of the station to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where it has remained under their watchful care.