Cape Kumukahi

The Easternmost point of land in all the Hawai'ian islands, Cape Kumukahi is of great spiritual importance to the natives. Kumukahi means " first beginnings."  It is the place where the sun first shines upon Hawai'i each morning, every day of every year, making for stunning sunrises over the Pacific.

 North-east tradewinds bring air to Cape Kumukahi that has not been over land for many weeks. The air here is therefore considered "virgin"; some of the purest your lungs will ever taste. Scientists from around the world collect air samples from this location to use as their benchmark for "clean air" and study changes in the earth's atmosphere.

 In 1934, The Cape Kumukahi lighthouse was built. It is 125 feet tall with a rotating beacon. We are told it is the most powerful lighthouse in the Pacific.This lighthouse has escaped several lava flows and volcanic eruptions. The spiritual significance of the cape is further highlighted by the 1960 volcanic eruption which destroyed the lightkeeper's house and all the outbuildings, yet spared the tower.  

In 1960, a lava flow threatened to destroy the lighthouse, engulfing most of the nearby village of Kapoho, as well as the keeper's house and much of Cape Kumukahi. Just as the lava reached the concrete pad of the tower, the flow miraculously parted into two streams around the lighthouse, leaving it untouched. Legend states that Pele, the volcano goddess, spared the lighthouse because the light-keeper had been kind to her. The story tells of Pele appearing at the Kapoho village disguised as an old woman and there was turned away by the community, but the lighthouse keeper took her in and gave her food. The village was later destroyed and the lighthouse spared. The spiritual message from Pele was sent by leaving both the church and the lighthouse untouched.

 The site is now sacred to Native Hawaiians who explain the lighthouse miracle through Pele's divine intervention. The flow of 'a'a lava can easily be seen today all around the lighthouse.