Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Hawaii – Day Four

We hadn’t been in Honolulu since our arrival and it was time to go back and see what we’d missed…

hawaii day four 02 hawaii day four 01 going past the mountains on the Pali

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going THROUGH the mountains on the Pali

We decided we better hike up Diamond Head before it got too warm…

hawaii day four 05the parking lot is in the center of the crater

Diamond Head got its name in the 1700s by explorers who thought the calcite crystals were diamonds.

hawaii day four 06The trails climbs 0.8 miles and 560 feet in elevation to the summit of the crater.

hawaii day four 07   It was too late! It was already too hot!!!

hawaii day four 09 hawaii day four 08The federal government purchased Diamond Head in 1904 for coastal defense. Fortifications and batteries were built.

hawaii day four 10The tunnel though the side was built  in 1908.

hawaii day four 1174 steps lead to the first tunnel, then up 99 stairs, and then second tunnel leads to a spiral staircase inside the crater to the levels of the Fire Control Station inside the mountain.

hawaii day four 14 hawaii day four 12 hawaii day four 13    the observation station at the top of the crater

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The views from the top were beautiful!

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