Eternal flame temporarily snuffed out by rare gas line blockage

The flame at the Eternal Flame Memorial in Honolulu — opposite the state Capitol across Beretania Street in the Mauka Mall, honoring the brave men and women of Hawai‘i who served in the U.S. military — no longer burns.

Hawai‘i Department of Accounting and General Services officials reported March 28 that that a blockage in the gas line that keeps it endlessly burning temporarily snuffed out the eternal flame.

The department is working to uncover the source of the rare problem, which does not appear to be vandalism related.

There is no safety issue, and the gas was turned off.

Hawai‘i Gas Co. crews assisted the Hawai‘i Department of Accounting and General Services on Friday with attempting to clear the blockage between the meter on the ‘Ewa side of the memorial and the flame by using a high-pressure burst of air, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The next step is for the department to clear the line or replace the plugged section of piping.

More will be known about the situation and a possible solution by early this week.

“[Hawai‘i Department of Accounting and General Services] is working tirelessly to repair this as soon as possible,” said department director and state Comptroller Keith Regan in an annoucement about the issue. “We understand the importance of maintaining this memorial to honor those who lost their lives defending our freedom.”

The memorial — built in 1944, exactly 3 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor forced the United States into World War II — is part of the collection of the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, an attached agency of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.

It is the centerpiece of Capitol Mall and features a copper and bronze abstract art sculpture erected in 1974 that still houses the eternal flame created by Kaua‘i sculptor Bumpei Akaji, combat veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

The flame is supposed to burn endlessly in tribute to all the men and women of Hawai‘i who served in the armed forces through the years — since as early as the War of 1812.

However, this is not the first time it has gone out since it was first lit in 1944.

A Vietnam War veteran from O‘ahu reported the flame being out in December 2004.

The state Department of Accounting and General Services said the flame was again extinguished in late 2022 because of damage from trash being thrown onto the burner from someone litering. It was out for several months, into 2023.