ACR WDB DUMPED FUEL AND RETURNED TO HNL BECAUSE THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT.

Narrative

ACFT DEPARTED HONOLULU INTL ON SCHEDULE. WHEN SAFELY AIRBORNE I PLACED GEAR HANDLE UP. ALL GEAR INDICATED UP EXCEPT NOSE GEAR. WE INFORMED DEP; LEVELED OFF AT 3000 FT AS INSTRUCTED AND CAPT GAVE ME CTL OF THE ACFT AS HE AND THE SO WENT THROUGH THE PROPER EMER PROCS PRESCRIBED FOR THE NOSE GEAR NOT INDICATING UP. THE NOSE GEAR REMAINED DOWN. WE DUMPED FUEL TO MAX LNDG WT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT HONOLULU INTL WITH ALL GEAR INDICATING DOWN AND LOCKED (NORMAL INDICATION). NO EMER WAS DECLARED. UPON INSPECTING THE NOSE WHEEL; MAINT FOUND THE NOSE GEAR PIN INSTALLED. THE FLAG ON THE PIN WAS APPROX 18 INCHES LONG AND WAS TOTALLY BLACKENED WITH DIRT AND GREASE. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE APPROX 6 FT LONG AND BRIGHT RED. THE PIN IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE ON THE WDB AND ONE MUST CLB UP ON THE NOSE GEAR TO ACCESS IT. I FEEL THAT BOTH MAINT AND THE SO FAILED TO SEE THAT THE PIN WAS INSTALLED DUE TO THE LACK OF A PROPER FLAG ON THE NOSE GEAR PIN. RECOMMEND PIN FLAG CONDITION BE INCLUDED ON THE DAILY MAINT CHKS PERFORMED BY MAINT.