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COURTESY CATHERINE CLUETT
Molokai resident Dane Christopher found this large light bulb on the island’s south shore. The bulb has Japanese writing on it and is thought to be debris from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
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A large light bulb that might be debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami has been found on the south shore of Molokai.
Molokai resident Dane Christopher, 50, said he was walking on the shoreline near Kaunakakai Wharf on Sept. 21 when he was drawn to the light bulb on the shore by his dogs.
Christopher said the bulb, 500 watts and 1,000 volts, is five times as large as a house light bulb and had Japanese writing identifying the manufacturer on the top of the glass.
Christopher said he found it unusual that the light bulb survived a tsunami that created such devastation.
"I thought it was amazing that a light bulb could float all the way to Hawaii … a delicate thing like this surviving," Christopher said Wednesday night.
He said the barnacles growing on one side of the light bulb began to stink up his house. "I had to take them off," he said.
Christopher said that when he was walking along the shore, his chihuahua was the first to notice the light bulb and began barking at it.
People who see suspected tsunami debris are asked to send an email to disasterdebris@noaa.
They may also call the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Oahu at 587-0400.