A Coast Guard Auxiliarist teaches the first graders from Iolani School about navigation rules while boating and buoy markings on the lawn beside the Diamondhead Lighthouse.

The high-pitched laughter of children musically floats in the air; their faces bright with wonder gaze up to their tour guide, their attention solely focused on the moment. The first graders from Iolani School, only five and six years old, are enjoying the privilege of being the first tour group at the Diamond Head (Hawaii) Lighthouse in years.

“This tour provides the students with a valuable and memorable first hand experience they will always remember,” said Lynne Inouye, a first grader teacher at Iolani School.

The visit to the lighthouse completes a unit in their curriculum that teaches students about the purpose and history of lighthouses.

“Lighthouses were chosen because of a story about the Portland Head Light in our reader. The teachers noticed a high level of interest from all the students about lighthouses and related material,” said Inouye. “The availability of supplemental books on lighthouses made it possible to integrate the theme into the curriculum.”

The Diamond Head Lighthouse, located near Diamond Head Crater on the east side of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, is an enduring symbol to islanders and visitors alike.

Since 1939 when the Coast Guard took control of the lighthouses in the U.S. and its territories, this lighthouse, along with the accompanying grounds were called home by every commander of the 14th Coast Guard District.

In an effort to teach the children about water safety, a Coast Guard Auxiliary member had first graders from Iolani School try on life jackets after their tour of the Diamondhead Lighthouse.

For the past several years, the lighthouse was closed to the public to protect the privacy of its residents. As a part of the community relations outreach program, the idea of using the lighthouse for educational tours was brought before the current district commander, Rear Admiral Charles D. Wurster.

"An important goal of our Public Affairs program is to serve the public interest by being an integral, contributing part of the community,” said Lt. Jacqueline Brunette, Public Affairs Officer for the 14th Coast Guard District.

“Allowing scheduled, guided tours of the lighthouse for schools and organizations gives the community a chance to learn about the Coast Guard while visiting a living piece of Hawaiian history," Brunette explained.

Admiral Wurster agreed and opened the lighthouse to the public. “Hopefully allowing tours will spark an appreciation in each person for the maritime heritage of Hawaii and the United States, marine environmental issues, boating safety as well as an increased awareness of the role of the Coast Guard in their state and throughout the nation,” said Wurster.

Before it was opened, it needed some interior beautification efforts. The public affairs staff, in close collaboration with Admiral Wurster, decided to remodel the inside to give it a historical feel.

Diamond Head Lighthouse

"Diamond Head Lighthouse is an important historical landmark that is recognized and respected all over the world,” said Brunette. “By creating the museum we hope to educate visitors about the importance of the Coast Guard's aids to navigation mission and give tribute to all the lighthouses throughout the Hawaiian Islands."

Historical and current pictures of lighthouses, located throughout the Hawaiian Islands, were found, framed and hung on every level of the five-story lighthouse. Brief histories of each one were mounted beside their respective pictures.

Miniature, working model Fresnel Lenses were purchased and set up on the ground floor. Histories of the lenses and their creator, Augustin Fresnel, are posted and can be seen before entering the glass dome at the top or cupola, which encases the lens.

A television/video cassette recorder combination has been set up to play the PBS special, “Lighthouses of Hawaii.”

A rubber stamp with a picture of a lighthouse and different colors of ink were purchased specifically for children. A handout was created, filled with facts about the lighthouse on one side and a black and white drawing on the other.

“The best part of the tour was the opportunity to open the lighthouse to others who share the Coast Guard’s interest in the sea,” said Wurster.

Diamond Head Lighthouse

Along with the lighthouse itself, the first graders were also treated to a wide range of activities designed to entertain and educate.

“It was an added benefit that we could relate the information being taught to the actual lighthouses in Hawaii,” Inouye said. “The qualities of a lighthouse as a guiding beacon and their keepers as responsible, brave and dedicated people were used to develop and foster positive character traits and a sense of community service, demonstrated by the Coast Guard, within our students.”

Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary had many interactive demonstrations set up for the children to enjoy. There was a knot tying station, where the children actually practiced different types of knots on a real cleat. There was also a rescue line-heaving bag on hand small enough for them to practice throwing.

There were life jackets of all sizes to for the children to try on and learn the importance of a proper fit. There were also miniature boating aids, so the children could learn about basic navigation rules. “In all, the children, the teachers and the Auxiliarists enjoyed a great time together,” said Robert Keller, Commander of Flotilla 18.

To complete the experience the teachers and parents set up arts and crafts so the children could make their own wind catchers and color pictures of lighthouses and various Coast Guard missions.

Binoculars were at the final stop on the tour in the hopes of catching a glimpse of any whales in the area. Several of the children repeatedly exclaimed, “This is the best trip we ever had!”

Having only two hours to circulate 80 children through all the activities proved difficult, but no one seemed to be left out. “All of the children agreed that getting to climb the winding center stair case all the way to the cupola and going out on the catwalk was their favorite part,” Inouye said.

Admiral Wurster and his wife, George Ann, also stepped outside to visit with everyone. “The teachers, the parents and the children would like to thank them for their Aloha. The children were especially tickled to have a real admiral in their presence,” Inouye said.

Wurster said because it was well organized he was especially satisfied with how the tour went. “The idea of having the children move from one learning station to the next worked well,” he said.

The students said goodbye and filed one-by-one on to their yellow school buses and as they pulled away, each tour guide waved to the departing students with a content smile on their faces.

The newly restored Diamond Head Lighthouse stands in the foreground, solid, silent and proud, waiting for its next chance to shine.