Day 6: Diamond Head

According to TripAdvisor Diamond Head is the #1 tourist attraction on Oahu.  Diamond Head is named after the Ahi Tuna as the crater has the same profile as it's head.  It was formed by a large volcanic eruption that left behind the crater.

It is recommended that you do the climb early in the day before the heat and crowds are a problem.  So, we left at 7:30 and after a short cab ride we began out climb at 8:00.  The first part is a paved sidewalk with a steady climb punctuated by signs whether you are prepared.  The  sidewalk soon peters out as the climb becomes steeper.  The trail is rough rock with handrails and many switchback as you navigate the gullies.

Marilyn gets her game face on

Dwight ready to sprint into action

About half way up you encounter the first set of steep stairs.  At the top, you enter a tunnel and have to catch your breath in the dark with no air movement.  After the tunnel is the second longer and steeper set of stairs taking you to the top.  At the top is a fire control station built in 1909 for sighting ships and to radio in direction and range for defensive guns.  There are small concrete walled rooms with slits to view the ocean.  Once you climb a spiral staircase you emerge on the roof with panoramic views of 2 sides of the island.

Waikiki in the background

View directly down

View East.  Home is about 5000 miles that way!

Looking into the crater

Waikiki to the west

Mountains to the north

Ocean to the south and a happy camper!

On the way down the stream of people was steady with some older people holding up long lines on the stairs.  I'm glad we heeded the advice to come early.    At the bottom we passed a going family going up dealing with a young girl complaining.  They had hardly gone 100m! I don't miss those days one bit. We were back at the condo by 10:30 having done a great cardio workout.

The rest of the day featured some shopping, a swim in the surf and ee went to a presentation for a vacation travel company and got tickets to a dinner and show on the Polynesian Creation for our time.  After having gone to the Polynesian Cultural Center we saw several inaccuracies in the dances they attributed to certain cultures but the dancing was energetic and entertaining.