Abstract: A high mast lighting system for highways, airports, parking lots and the like of the type in which light bulbs are mounted on a ring shaped platform of a diameter such that it surrounds the mast and can be raised and locked into a lighting position at the top of the mast by operation of cables extending to the base of the mast. The invention is particularly directed to a novel locking and supporting mechanism for support of the lighting ring platform at the top of the mast independent of its lift cables and in which the locking pawls supporting the ring can be disengaged from their supporting position by operating the lift cables from the base of the mast to permit lowering of the ring for maintenance such as a change of bulbs.