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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
PR 03-79 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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For Immediate Release:
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| HONOLULU — Starting October 17, Diamond Head State Monument will reopen, with lighting restored to the famous summit tunnel and spiral staircase. Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks will resume normal park hours for Diamond Head State Monument effective that date. Entry fee is $1 per person, or $5 for a private vehicle. Commercial vehicles pay a sliding scale based on number of passengers. For more information call 587-0300. “Diamond Head is one of the leading visitor attractions in Hawaii. Almost a million visitors annually come to this landmark, and many make the trek to the summit for its incomparable view,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson. “Installing lights in the formerly dark tunnel and spiral staircase is one way we continue to improve the quality of the experience for visitors to Diamond Head." "In the near future, we are looking forward to other projects that will improve our state parks, with funding from the Legislature via the Hawaii Tourism Authority transient accommodation tax," said Young. The park was closed weekdays for a month from Sept. 22 to Oct. 16 to protect public safety during installation of lights in the spiral staircase of the Fire Control Building and in the tunnel, both located on the upper part of the summit trail. Construction paused on weekends to allow park users continued access. Paul’s Electrical Services, Inc., was awarded the contract for the lighting improvement project. The contractor installed the electrical lines and poles in the lower part of the park this spring without disrupting park use. However, because the installation of the lights in the tunnel and spiral staircase required the closure of the park, the project was put on hold until the fall, when visitor use of the park decreases after the high visitation during the summer months. Diamond Head State Monument was named a National Natural Landmark in 1968 because it is an excellent example of a pyroclastic volcano with a typical erosional pattern that has created the crater profile we see today. Most of the people visiting this world-renowned landmark hike the historic 0.8 mile trail to the summit for the spectacular view. The Army Corps of Engineers designed and constructed the Fire Control Station at the summit of Diamond Head crater between 1908 and 1910. This engineering accomplishment involved the construction of the trail to the summit, a 225-foot long tunnel through one of the interior ridges of the crater, and the building of a 4-story camouflaged structure at the summit (761 feet above sea level). The 4 levels of the Fire Control Station were accessed by the spiral staircase. When the military used this facility, there were electrical lines that ran up the trail to light the tunnel and interior of the fire control station. The electrical lines and fixtures were removed when the military left the structure after World War II. The replacement of lights in the tunnel and spiral staircase will help recreate the former conditions of the Fire Control Station while promoting safety for hikers on the trail today. ### For more information, contact: Deborah Ward |
