USCG HOLLYHOCK (WLB 214)

Pua of the Pacific

History

USCGC HOLLYHOCK (WLB 214) is a 225-foot, Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender, the 14th of 16 ships in this class. Her keel was laid in 2002 at Marinette Shipbuilders in Wisconsin, and she was commissioned in 2003. Initially homeported in Port Huron, Michigan, CGC HOLLYHOCK is currently undergoing a Major maintenance availability period in Baltimore, Maryland, and is preparing to embark on a journey to Honolulu, Hawaii, through the Panama Canal.

Named after the USCGC HOLLYHOCK (WAGL 220), a 175-foot buoy tender of the earlier Hollyhock class, the current ship carries on a legacy of service. The original CGC HOLLYHOCK was launched in 1937, in the midst of Bay City’s most intense blizzard of that season. A press release at the time highlighted the vessel’s state-of-the-art navigational equipment, including a fathometer, gyro compass, radio direction finder, and advanced communication systems. During its service, the original ship earned several honors, including the National Defense ribbon with bronze star for its role in World War II and the Korean Conflict, as well as the Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon and the Humanitarian Service ribbon.

The CGC HOLLYHOCK will be taking over the duties of USCGC KUKUI (WLB 203), which is now based in Sitka, Alaska. For over 21 years, CGC KUKUI served out of Honolulu, supporting navigation aids throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Midway, and American Samoa. The vessel’s crew also contributed to regional efforts in fisheries law enforcement and provided humanitarian assistance to remote Pacific islands. In 2018, CGC KUKUI was given a traditional Hawaiian sendoff with a lei draped over her bow and a blessing from a local Kahu, a Hawaiian priest, who wished her crew safe travels as they sailed toward new assignments.

As CGC HOLLYHOCK prepares to assume these critical missions in the Pacific, she will continue the proud traditions of service and support that have long defined the Coast Guard’s role in the region.