A scenic view from the Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail during the Honolulu District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 113th sunrise birthday hike. Honolulu District USACE Commander, Lt. Col. James D. Hoyman and Deputy Commander Maj. Thomas E. Piazze led about 50 Corps staff and family members for the sunrise hike April 6, 2018 celebrating the Districts 113th Birthday. The significance of Makapu'u Lighthouse for the Districts Birthday dates back to 1905 when the Corp’s began their mission in Hawaii and the Pacific. The Districts first commander Lt. Col. John Slattery was charged by Congress to constructions lighthouses for navigation and draw up plans for Makapu’u Lighthouse. In August 1906 Slattery designed a short tower keeping the light as low as possible but high enough the wind couldn’t blow pebbles into the lantern room glass. This first-ever 12-ton lens produced a fixed white light while a set of copper panels revolving on a track between the light source and lens produced a distinct flash.