part 3

[phoenix_arose]

Windward O'ahu

Other Sites to See... BOTANICAL GARDENS    Foster Botanical Garden    Ho'omahulia Botanical Garden    Koko Crater Botanical Garden    Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden    Wahiawa Botanical Garden HISTORICAL SITES    Arizona Memorial    Byodo-In Temple    Catholic Cathedral    China Town    Ehime Maru Memorial    Falls of Clyde    Hale o Lono Heiau    Hale'iwa War Memorial    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    King Kamehameha Statue    Kaneaki Heiau    Kuilioloa Heiau    Kukaniloko Birth Stones    Mission House Museum    Nanatorium    Pali Lookout    Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau    US Army Museum    Washington House    Wizard Stones LANDMARKS    Ala Wai Canal    Aloha Tower    Barber's Point Lighthouse    Chinaman's Hat    Crouching Lion    Delmonte Pineapple Corner    Diamond Head    Diamond Head Coast    Diamond Head Lighthouse    Dillingham Airfield    Dole Pineapple Plantation    East Coast Cliffs    Fort DeRussy    Goat Island    Hale'iwa    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Halona Blow Hole    Hanauma Bay    Hawaii Convention Center    Honolulu Zoo    International Market Place    Ka'ena Point    Kapiolani Park    La'ie Point    Makapu'u Lighthouse    Mormon Temple    Pali Lookout    Punchbowl    Sharks Cove    State Capitol Building    Tantalus Lookout    Thomas Park    Toilet Bowl    Valley of the Temples    Waikiki Aquarium    Waikiki Shell MUSEUMS    Arizona Memorial    Bishop Museum    Contemporary Museum    Hale'iwa Surf Museum    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    Honolulu Academy of Art    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    Mission House Museum    Pacific Aerospace Museum    US Army Museum    Washington House WATERFALLS    La'ie Falls    Manoa Falls    Maunawili Falls    Sacred Falls    Waimea Falls

This cone shaped outcropping of lava off Kualoa Point resembles the peasant's chapeau worn by rural Chinese - thus the name: Chinaman's Hat. The reef surrounding the island supports an abundance of marine life and is one of the O'ahu's best offshore islands. You can see Chinaman's Hat from numerous vantage points along the coast but the best view is to actually go out to the island. You can walk there during low tide but the best way to get there is via kayak.

On the island is a small beach nestled in a secluded cove. There is also a small cave carved out of lava and a steep volcanic cone perfect for exploring. The view of the Koolau Mountains, Mokapun peninsula, Kahaluu, Kaneohe, and Kailua is unmatched.

Directions:

Off the Kamehameha Highway offshore from the Kualoa Point State Recreation Area, approximately 45 minute drive from Honolulu.

Useful Information:

Climbing the volcanic cone takes about 20 minutes, is strenuous, and can be tricky so be careful

Other Sites to See... BOTANICAL GARDENS    Foster Botanical Garden    Ho'omahulia Botanical Garden    Koko Crater Botanical Garden    Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden    Wahiawa Botanical Garden HISTORICAL SITES    Arizona Memorial    Byodo-In Temple    Catholic Cathedral    China Town    Ehime Maru Memorial    Falls of Clyde    Hale o Lono Heiau    Hale'iwa War Memorial    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    King Kamehameha Statue    Kaneaki Heiau    Kuilioloa Heiau    Kukaniloko Birth Stones    Mission House Museum    Nanatorium    Pali Lookout    Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau    US Army Museum    Washington House    Wizard Stones LANDMARKS    Ala Wai Canal    Aloha Tower    Barber's Point Lighthouse    Chinaman's Hat    Crouching Lion    Delmonte Pineapple Corner    Diamond Head    Diamond Head Coast    Diamond Head Lighthouse    Dillingham Airfield    Dole Pineapple Plantation    East Coast Cliffs    Fort DeRussy    Goat Island    Hale'iwa    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Halona Blow Hole    Hanauma Bay    Hawaii Convention Center    Honolulu Zoo    International Market Place    Ka'ena Point    Kapiolani Park    La'ie Point    Makapu'u Lighthouse    Mormon Temple    Pali Lookout    Punchbowl    Sharks Cove    State Capitol Building    Tantalus Lookout    Thomas Park    Toilet Bowl    Valley of the Temples    Waikiki Aquarium    Waikiki Shell MUSEUMS    Arizona Memorial    Bishop Museum    Contemporary Museum    Hale'iwa Surf Museum    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    Honolulu Academy of Art    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    Mission House Museum    Pacific Aerospace Museum    US Army Museum    Washington House WATERFALLS    La'ie Falls    Manoa Falls    Maunawili Falls    Sacred Falls    Waimea Falls

The most famous volcanic crater in the world is Diamond Head, located on the South-east Coast of O'ahu at the end of Waikiki overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was originally named Laeahi by the ancient Hawaiians. The name meant "brow of the tuna" and looking at the silhouette of the crater from Waikiki, you can see the resemblance. The current name came was given to the crater by British sailors in the 1800's. When they first saw the crater at a great distance, the calcite crystals in the lava rock appeared to glimmer in the sunlight. The sailors mistakenly thought there must be diamonds in the soil. Diamond Head is a crater that has been extinct for 150,000 years. The crater is 3,520 feet in diameter with a 760-foot summit. When the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898, harbor defense became a main responsibility. One of the major defense forts, Fort Ruger, occupied the Diamond Head Crater. A battery of canons was located within the crater providing complete concealment and protection from invading enemies. An observation deck was constructed at the summit in 1910 to provide target sighting and a four level underground complex was built within the walls of the crater as a command post. A 580-foot tunnel was dug through the crater wall to provide easier access to the Fort.

The observation deck and underground complex is now abandoned with the advent of radar but evidence of the command post is still present along Diamond Head Trail. The trail is paved almost the entire way but can be steep in spots.

There are two sets of stairs, one with 99 steps and the other, 76 steps. There is also a 225-foot unlit tunnel. The hike is classified as easy to moderate in exertion but is certainly worth the breathtaking, unparalleled view of the entire west side of the island, from Waikiki to Koki Head.

Useful Information:

Diamond Head Trail is 1 ¾ miles to the rim and takes about 1 ½ hours There is NO shade schedule an early hike Bring water and a flashlight (for the tunnel) Bathrooms available at the trailhead

7455 Kalaniana'ole Highway

Other Sites to See... BOTANICAL GARDENS    Foster Botanical Garden    Ho'omahulia Botanical Garden    Koko Crater Botanical Garden    Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden    Wahiawa Botanical Garden HISTORICAL SITES    Arizona Memorial    Byodo-In Temple    Catholic Cathedral    China Town    Ehime Maru Memorial    Falls of Clyde    Hale o Lono Heiau    Hale'iwa War Memorial    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    King Kamehameha Statue    Kaneaki Heiau    Kuilioloa Heiau    Kukaniloko Birth Stones    Mission House Museum    Nanatorium    Pali Lookout    Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau    US Army Museum    Washington House    Wizard Stones LANDMARKS    Ala Wai Canal    Aloha Tower    Barber's Point Lighthouse    Chinaman's Hat    Crouching Lion    Delmonte Pineapple Corner    Diamond Head    Diamond Head Coast    Diamond Head Lighthouse    Dillingham Airfield    Dole Pineapple Plantation    East Coast Cliffs    Fort DeRussy    Goat Island    Hale'iwa    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Halona Blow Hole    Hanauma Bay    Hawaii Convention Center    Honolulu Zoo    International Market Place    Ka'ena Point    Kapiolani Park    La'ie Point    Makapu'u Lighthouse    Mormon Temple    Pali Lookout    Punchbowl    Sharks Cove    State Capitol Building    Tantalus Lookout    Thomas Park    Toilet Bowl    Valley of the Temples    Waikiki Aquarium    Waikiki Shell MUSEUMS    Arizona Memorial    Bishop Museum    Contemporary Museum    Hale'iwa Surf Museum    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    Honolulu Academy of Art    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    Mission House Museum    Pacific Aerospace Museum    US Army Museum    Washington House WATERFALLS    La'ie Falls    Manoa Falls    Maunawili Falls    Sacred Falls    Waimea Falls

This "Curved" bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967. This is the very best beach area if you are new to Scuba diving or snorkeling with a diversified population of fish and a rich coral reef. The bay floor is the crater of a volcano that opened up to the ocean when the exterior wall collapsed.

There is a large sandy beach perfect for sunbathing and there are several hiking trails leading to breathtaking lookouts.

The bay provides some protection from large ocean waves and allows swimmers a terrific opportunity to view the reef life in a safer, protected environment.

Useful Information:

$1 per car parking fee $3 per person admission fee for those 13 years or older $1 per person shuttle bus fee each way (this is optional - there is a good, but steep, road from the parking lot area to the beachfront) Open from 6:00am - 7:00pm daily Closed on Tuesdays Do not stand or walk on the coral reef - this is a live reef. Do not feed the fish. Avoid walking on the rocky ledges on the sides of the bay where waves are breaking - lava is porous and it crumbles easily. Caution must be taken during seasonal high surf. Lifeguards Reef and Sand Beach Area Picnic Areas Concession Stand Snorkel Gear Rental Available Restrooms Showers Phones Educational Center Wheelchair Accessible via shuttle bus or trolley

earl Harbor - 808-422-0561

Other Sites to See... BOTANICAL GARDENS    Foster Botanical Garden    Ho'omahulia Botanical Garden    Koko Crater Botanical Garden    Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden    Wahiawa Botanical Garden HISTORICAL SITES    Arizona Memorial    Byodo-In Temple    Catholic Cathedral    China Town    Ehime Maru Memorial    Falls of Clyde    Hale o Lono Heiau    Hale'iwa War Memorial    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    King Kamehameha Statue    Kaneaki Heiau    Kuilioloa Heiau    Kukaniloko Birth Stones    Mission House Museum    Nanatorium    Pali Lookout    Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau    US Army Museum    Washington House    Wizard Stones LANDMARKS    Ala Wai Canal    Aloha Tower    Barber's Point Lighthouse    Chinaman's Hat    Crouching Lion    Delmonte Pineapple Corner    Diamond Head    Diamond Head Coast    Diamond Head Lighthouse    Dillingham Airfield    Dole Pineapple Plantation    East Coast Cliffs    Fort DeRussy    Goat Island    Hale'iwa    Hale'iwa Rainbow Bridge    Halona Blow Hole    Hanauma Bay    Hawaii Convention Center    Honolulu Zoo    International Market Place    Ka'ena Point    Kapiolani Park    La'ie Point    Makapu'u Lighthouse    Mormon Temple    Pali Lookout    Punchbowl    Sharks Cove    State Capitol Building    Tantalus Lookout    Thomas Park    Toilet Bowl    Valley of the Temples    Waikiki Aquarium    Waikiki Shell MUSEUMS    Arizona Memorial    Bishop Museum    Contemporary Museum    Hale'iwa Surf Museum    Hawaii Maritime Center    Hawaii Plantation Village    Honolulu Academy of Art    'Iolani Palace    Japanese Cultural Center    Judiciary History Center    Mission House Museum    Pacific Aerospace Museum    US Army Museum    Washington House WATERFALLS    La'ie Falls    Manoa Falls    Maunawili Falls    Sacred Falls    Waimea Falls

The USS Arizona has rested in its watery grave at Pearl Harbor since December 7, 1941. The overturned hull of this battleship entombed 1,100 sailors caught unaware by the Japanese bombs that sank this mighty ship and brought the United States into World War II.

The memorial was built in 1961 as a tribute to all the men and women who lost their lives on that historic day. The memorial is 184-feet long and carefully crosses over the Arizona's mid-section. Openings along the both sides of the memorial afford a dramatic view of the ship resting on the floor of the harbor. A marble-walled chapel at the far end of the memorial lists the names off all the sailors entombed here.

Directions:

From Waikiki: Take H-1 West toward Honolulu Airport. After you pass Likelike Highway, get into the right lane. Stay on H-1 and follow the signs to Pearl Harbor.

Useful Information:

Admission is FREE Ample, free parking available Shirt and shoes are required at the memorial Navy shuttle boats operate from 8am - 3pm daily to bring visitors out to the memorial All visitors must view a short film before taking the shuttle to the Arizona. Tours begin every 20 minutes Tour of the museum, movie about the attack, and trip to the memorial takes approximately 2-3 hours Gift shop, snack bar, rest room facilities available on site NOTE: Recent increased security measures restrict certain items from the memorial area (i.e. fanny packs, diaper bags, camera bags, large camera, purses, shopping bags). Baggage storage is available on site for a nominal fee.