Logan Erickon, an 8th-grader at Kailua Intermediate School, is announced winner of the Diamond Head Lighthouse Art contest at Diamond Head August 5, 2017. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Levasseur)
HONOLULU —The Coast Guard commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Diamond Head Lighthouse, a cultural icon and landmark.
As part of the celebration, an art contest was held over the last school year and over 70 students from around Oahu entered the contest.
During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Vince Atkins, commander of the Coast Guard’s 14th district, announced the winner, Logan Erickson, an 8th grader form Kailua Intermediate School.
Erickson’s painting will be hung in the lighthouse for years to come.
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa was the guest speaker and shared what the Diamond Head Lighthouse represents to her.
This hale ipukukui harkens back to 1878 when a lookout was established on the slopes of Diamond Head. It was later determined a more substantial structure should be built to warn mariners of the dangers of the reefs. As technology advanced the original ironwork structure built in 1899 was replaced in 1917 and has since been further modernized to use LED lighting burning at 60,000 candle power and shining 18 miles out to sea.
