USCGC Kukui (WLB-203)

USCGC Kukui (WLB-203) is the third cutter in the Juniper-class 225 ft of seagoing buoy tenders and is the third ship to bear the name. She is under the operational control of the Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District and is home-ported on Sand Island in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her primary area of responsibility is the coastal waters and high seas around the Hawaiian Islands. Kukui conducts heavy lift aids-to-navigation operations, and law enforcement, homeland security, environmental pollution response, and search and rescue as directed.

Construction and characteristics
USCGC Kukui was built by the Marinette Marine Corporation in Wisconsin and launched on 3 May 1997. She has a length of 225 ft, a beam of 46 ft, and a draft of 13 ft. Kukui is propelled by two Caterpillar diesel engines rated at 3,100 horsepower, and has a top speed of 16 knots. She has a single controllable pitch propeller, which along with bow and stern thrusters allow the ship to be maneuvered to set buoys close offshore and in restricted waters. A dynamic global positioning system coupled with machinery plant controls and a chart display and information system allow station-keeping of the ship within a five meter accuracy of the planned position without human intervention. Kukui is also equipped with an oil-skimming system known as the Spilled Oil Recovery System (SORS) which is used in her mission of maritime environmental protection. The cutter has a 2,875 square foot buoy deck area with a crane used for servicing large ocean buoys.

Mission
USCGC Kukui is a seagoing buoy tender with her primary mission being the servicing of aids-to navigation buoys in her area of responsibility (AOR) within the Fourteenth Coast Guard District. Kukui's other missions include maritime law enforcement, homeland security, ensuring the security of ports and waterways, maritime environmental response, as well as search and rescue duties. She is home-ported on Sand Island in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her primary area of responsibility is the coastal waters and high seas around the Hawaiian Islands.

History
USCGC Kukui is named after the official state tree of Hawaii and is the third ship to bear the name. USCGC Kukui (WAK-186) was the second ship to bear the name.