Hawaii - Day 8 (O'ahu)

Our last full day in Hawaii. This time we took a road trip south and west. First stop was Diamond Head, so called because it sparkles like a diamond. Sadly they are not real diamonds, just calcite crystals embedded in the rock.

Waikiki Beach and Honolulu

Diamond Head was used as an Artillery Observation Post in 1908. Relics still remain like this observation bunker.

Old Artillery Observation Post - Daimond Head

From the car park inside the near perfect circular crater, the trail to the summit takes about 2 hours. It passes through parts of the old artillery fortifications. A flashlight is handy for the tunnel sections.

Switchbacks inside Diamond Head Crater

After Diamond Head we drove along the southern coastal road around the island. The seas were rougher on the south but beaches were few and far between.

Breaking Waves

A lone ligthhouse watches over the rugged south coast.

Lone Lighthouse

After driving around the southern coast we cut back across the island to Honolulu and went for a obligatory swim at Waikiki beach. I took the waterproof Olympus camera for a swim too.

Hnonlulu and Daimond Head

Later that night I took a few long exposure night shots of Honolulu from our hotel.

Honolulu

That's it from Hawaii. We fly back to Japan early tomorrow morning. Just one short week here. However it's a fascinating place that I would like to come back to some day. Etsuko really wants to visit Maui next time.