Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse

Kauai, HI

As I write this, the continental United States is just recovering from an unseasonably cold arctic blast. Northern tier states saw lows in the -40 degrees F (-40 C). Even desert areas of Arizona saw frost warnings and temperatures in the 20s F (-6 C). It seems fitting, then for me to feature a recent visit to the island of Kauai in our 50^th state of Hawaii.

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse provided a guiding light to seafarers in the early and mid-20^th century. In the late 70’s, the lighthouse was decommissioned and it was replaced with an automated beacon. The lighthouse is kept functional by a corps of volunteers and shines its beacon on special occasions.

Waves crash into the rocky coastline along the north shore of the island leaving large shallow caves eroded into the rock

The lighthouse is now on the property of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Kilauea Point is on the northernmost tip of the main Hawaiian Islands and, perched high above the ocean, over 500,000 visitors a year find themselves awestruck by the breathtaking views of the shoreline below. Fortunate visitors may catch a glimpse of monk seals or spinner dolphins.

Large numbers of migratory seabirds stop by at Kilauea Point at some time in their travels. Birders can find information on all of the different species that can be found at certain times in the refuge on the park’s website. I submit for your approval a small gallery featuring some of the birds we saw in early November at the refuge.

The state bird of Hawaii, the NeNe, a member of the goose family

A Shearwater chick in her hillside burrow awaits mother’s return with the evening meal

A cardinal watches me closely as I prepare to take a photo

John Steiner

Kilauea on Dwellable