Here’s a question: What is the cluster of bright lights along the ocean at Portlock that we see in the distance while walking on the beach in Kahala at dawn?
These lights are the brightest thing to be seen, and stand out from the other lights in the area.
In this photo, Koko Crater is on the left, and Koko Head on the right. The bright lights mid-way along Koko Head, and appear to be on a beachfront property.
Click on the photo to see a larger version.
Any information would be appreciated! We’re all curious.
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I need to verify if this is Koko Head left and Koko Kai right as I think or is this as Ian states, Koko Crater left and Koko Head on the Right. I don’t think Koko Head is on the right… we climb Koko Head on the left correct? Please gentle readers verify this for me.
Easy to find on maps. Koko Crater is on the left and you can’t miss it. It’s huge.
Koko Kai is a real-estate section on the far right of Portlock, including Koko Kai Beach Park. It’s not a hill.
Koko Head is on the right. Ian is right.
The entire geographic area is Koko Head.
Ian is correct.
I’d guess a well illuminated ocean front home as that is about all that is over there.
A headland (or simply head) is a coastal landform, a point of land usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water. It is a type of promontory.
I heard that the Kaiser estate had the brightest lights along the shoreline in Portlock.
It is a secret submarine base. Don’t tell anyone.
The lights are there to confuse endangered petrels and sea turtles.
It is completely illegal to floodlight the ocean. It ruins the fishing as well as disrupts the lifecycles of turtles, monk seals and birds. When you are rich you get away with things though. There are big fines if your are caught doing this. Below is the law http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/files/2013/07/205a.pdf
PART V. OTHER PROVISIONS
§205A-71 Artificial light on shoreline and ocean waters.
(a) Artificial light from floodlights, uplights, or spotlights used for decorative or
aesthetic purposes is prohibited when the light:
(1) Directly illuminates the shoreline and ocean waters; or
(2) Is directed to travel across property boundaries toward the shoreline and
ocean waters.
§205A-30.5 Prohibitions.
(a) No special management area use permit or special management area minor
permit shall be granted for structures that allow artificial light from floodlights,
uplights, or spotlights used for decorative or aesthetic purposes when the light:
(1) Directly illuminates the shoreline and ocean waters; or
(2) Is directed to travel across property boundaries toward the shoreline and
ocean waters.
Spotlights on the ocean would invalidate the building permits that the Kaiser Estate has been applying for recently.
I used to live beachside at Niu in the early 1990s. These lights made me crazy!!! So one night I went to investigate… Yes indeed the lights are a natural extension of the ego that would spend beaucoup bucks on a private oceanfront residence for their personal enjoyment, then treat the rest of the world complete disregard to the negative impacts of heat and light to plants, fish, birds, animals and the rest of humanity, not to mention a total waste of energy At that time there wasn’t even anyone living there who could “enjoy” the lights. I believe they are on one of the parcels that was parceled off from the main Kaiser estate, but I’m very happy to be wrong. And very happy to know I’m not the only one irritated enough to say/do something.
I thought it was now illegal to floodlight the beach/ocean. Causes issues with seabirds becoming disoriented by the lights.
Hi Ian not sure if you can get a bit higher res photo. There is a jetty / private harbor at the end of Portlock road. If you can position the lights in relation to the harbor, you should be able to find the culprit.
I saw lights shining on the waves from a home at the end of Ka’alawai Place near Shangrila. I too thought how could they? but the price of a fine is probably nothing to them.
True BUT most people hate negative news and bad publicity. Especially on an island.
*most* people………
Many of the properties that spotlight the ocean are absentee owners and the estates are empty.