HISTORY
USCGC HOLLYHOCK (WLB 214), a 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender, upholds a proud Coast Guard tradition of maritime service. Commissioned on January 25, 2003 after being built at Marinette Shipbuilders in Wisconsin, she's the 14th of 16 vessels in her class. Her sponsor was Mrs. Beverly Ann Silva, wife of RADM Ron Silva. Originally stationed in Port Huron, Michigan, the HOLLYHOCK now calls Honolulu, Hawaii, home.
She inherits her name and purpose from the earlier USCGC HOLLYHOCK (WAGL 220), a 175-foot buoy tender launched in 1937 amidst a memorable blizzard in Bay City, Michigan. She was assigned to the 12th Lighthouse District, on Lake Michigan. HOLLYHOCK was absorbed into the Coast Guard in 1939 when the Coast Guard merged with the United States Lighthouse Service. That earlier vessel boasted cutting-edge navigational technology for her time, including a fathometer, gyro compass, radio direction finder, and sophisticated communication systems. During her distinguished career, the first HOLLYHOCK earned the National Defense ribbon with bronze star for her contributions to both World War II and the Korean Conflict, as well as the Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon for a helicopter recovery effort and the Humanitarian Service ribbon for its role in the 1980 Cuban Refuge Boatlift. Her first homeport was Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1958, she was transferred to Detroit, Michigan in 1959. Finally, she was transferred to Miami in 1962. While stationed in Miami, her primary duty was the maintenance of floating and fixed aids to navigation along South Florida, from Dry Tortugas to Bethel Shoal. She was decommissioned on March 31, 1982, after 45 years of service
The current HOLLYHOCK continues this legacy in Oceania, assuming the responsibilities previously held by the USCGC KUKUI (WLB 203). For over two decades, the KUKUI operated out of Honolulu, maintaining vital navigation aids throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Midway, and American Samoa. Beyond this crucial work, the KUKUI's crew actively participated in regional fisheries law enforcement and provided essential humanitarian assistance to isolated Pacific Island communities. Before departing for her new homeport in Sitka, Alaska, the KUKUI received a heartfelt Hawaiian sendoff in 2018, complete with a traditional lei draped across her bow and a blessing from a local Kahu, wishing the crew safe journeys in their future endeavors. The HOLLYHOCK now stands ready to continue that important work.