Discover the fascinating story of the Japanese Stone Lantern on Kauai, a symbol of the enduring legacy of Japanese immigrants and their cultural contributions to the island.
- Located in Kapaa Beach Park
- Memorial was buried in World War 2, rediscovered and reburied in 1972, then unearthed in 1987 and placed in the corner of Kapaa Beach Park.
- Map: Google Maps
Sitting quietly and relatively unnoticed in a corner of Kapaa Beach Park is a historic 15-foot cast concrete Japanese Stone Lantern (Ishidoro) that sheds light on the rich cultural heritage of Japanese immigrants on the island.
During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, first-generation Japanese immigrants on Kauai raised money to support Japan’s war efforts against Russia. After the war, Japan returned money to be used to build monuments honoring Japanese sacrifices during the war and also to commemorate the coronation of Emperor Taisho in 1912. J.S. Teraoka, a local merchant and contractor, led efforts to build the memorial in Kapaa. The monument was completed in 1915.
The Japanese Stone Lantern can be found in the northwest corner of Kapaa Beach Park.
During World War 2, with Japan as an enemy of the United States and Russia an ally, anti-Japanese protests prompted the county to bury the monument in 1943.
Read more about the Japanese Stone Lantern in our Summer 2024 Issue of Kauai Magazine.
