LIHU‘E — Besting features like O‘ahu’s Bishop Museum and Falls of Clyde tall ship, Kilauea Lighthouse on Friday was named the Hawai‘i winner in a hotel chain’s annual Save-A-Landmark program. Volunteers from Hampton Hotels (which include Hilton, Embassy Suites and
LIHU‘E — Besting features like O‘ahu’s Bishop Museum and Falls of Clyde tall ship, Kilauea Lighthouse on Friday was named the Hawai‘i winner in a hotel chain’s annual Save-A-Landmark program.
Volunteers from Hampton Hotels (which include Hilton, Embassy Suites and other brands) have pledged to help restore the historic site in 2011.
“The contest has united people from around the globe in voting to save this incredible historic landmark,” said Jane Hoffman, executive director of the Kilauea Point Natural History Association, who single-handedly launched an e-mail barrage to encourage people to vote for the landmark.
“This is a big deal,” said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, promising an in-depth press release on Dec. 6.
In October and November this year, people were invited to go to hamptonlandmarks.com to vote for landmarks in need of restoration in five states — Hawai‘i, Montana, Delaware, Idaho and Rhode Island.
Hampton volunteers already helped restore historic properties in 45 of the 50 states.
Over 60,000 votes were cast.
Built in 1913, Kilauea Lighthouse is located at the end of Kilauea Road on the North Shore, and for decades served as a beacon at Kilauea Point for ships traveling to and from the Orient.
It is considered one of the nation’s most intact historic light stations, consisting of a concrete lighthouse, three field stone keepers’ quarters, a fuel oil shed, cisterns and a supply landing platform.
The Kilauea Lighthouse is one of the most-visited attractions in the state with more than 500,000 visitors each year.
Time and harsh weather have taken a toll on the lighthouse. Extensive restoration has begun, but donations and volunteers are still needed to complete preservation efforts.
Over the past 10 years, the Hampton Hotels Save-A-Landmark program has helped preserve 55 historic sites in 45 states and three countries, and donated more than $2.5 million and over 8,000 volunteer hours towards the research, attention and preservation of roadside landmarks.
