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Selvin Chance | profile | all galleries >> Thirty Six Views of Diamond Head >> Diamond Head Hike tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Diamond Head Hike

You've seen the outside now you get to see the inside.

This is one of the few really good cheap thrills left in the islands.
The others are taking (1) the bus trip around the island for a few bucks and (2) the free tour of the Pearl Harbor Memorial.
Diamond Head is actually the remains of a volcanic crater formed millenia ago. The sides of Diamond Head are the rim of the crater and the inside is hollow.
In the past after very heavy rains, waterfowl and other wild birds would live in the ponds that were formed.
During the sixties and seventies this was the home of the free "Crater Festival." The Turtles, Linda Rondstat, Carlos Santana among many others played here.
At the end of the gallery are examples of some of the vegetation that grows inside the crater.
Old wooden church at base of Diamond Head
Old wooden church at base of Diamond Head		 Entrance sign
Entrance sign		 Koko head and crater at sunrise
Koko head and crater at sunrise		 Koko Crater at sunrise
Koko Crater at sunrise		 Underground facility
Underground facility
The entrance to the crater
The entrance to the crater		 Entrance to crater
Entrance to crater		 The sign says
The sign says		 Our target
Our target		 Drinks are free for a small donation
Drinks are free for a small donation
The start of the hike
The start of the hike		 Getting closer
Getting closer		 Just getting warmed up
Just getting warmed up		 Don't look back now, they're gaining
Don't look back now, they're gaining		 Koko Head and Crater
Koko Head and Crater
Here come the dreaded stairs
Here come the dreaded stairs		 The first steps
The first steps		 Are you sure there are only 99 steps?
Are you sure there are only 99 steps?		 It's a piece a cake
It's a piece a cake		 I wonder what this was used for?
I wonder what this was used for?
Dont give up yet
Dont give up yet		 One, Two, Three, Hike
One, Two, Three, Hike		 Huff and puff
Huff and puff		 Just resting
Just resting		 This way up
This way up
Almost there, the spiral staircase
Almost there, the spiral staircase		 For 10 bucks you get a certificate to say you made it
For 10 bucks you get a certificate to say you made it		 There are other bunkers
There are other bunkers		 There's a crowd up there
There's a crowd up there		 That wasn't as bad as I thought
That wasn't as bad as I thought
Young and old
Young and old		 I could sit here all day
I could sit here all day		 What a view
What a view		 Diamond Head, Oahu
Diamond Head, Oahu		 Diamond Head, Oahu
Diamond Head, Oahu
Roughly translated, Kilroy was here.
Roughly translated, "Kilroy was here."		 The way back
The way back		 Mao, native Hawaiian cotton
Mao, native Hawaiian cotton		 Wiliwili Flowers
Wiliwili Flowers		 Hibiscus
Hibiscus
A variety of Huernia native to South Africa
A variety of Huernia native to South Africa		 Cacti
Cacti		 Souvenir T-shirt
Souvenir T-shirt		 Yes, you made it
Yes, you made it		 Red Hibiscus
Red Hibiscus
Native Red Hibiscus
Native Red Hibiscus		 Monkeypod (Samanea (=Albizia) saman)
Monkeypod (Samanea (=Albizia) saman)		 Tiger's claw
Tiger's claw		 Mauka from Diamond Head
Mauka from Diamond Head

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tom_and_kris31-Dec-2006 08:42
Selvin,
Great shots as usual.

Tom_and_Kris
Selvin Chance28-Jan-2004 07:46
Anna,
You may have climbed it more tikes than I have. In fact you've probably climbed it more times than 99% of the Oahu residents. As you probably know, the diplomas are optional from the vendors for a price.
Personally, I prefer the memories and the pictures.
Aloha
Anna Yu27-Jan-2004 18:22
Hi Selvin, I guess I missed the church. This is a nice hike if you start off early enough not to get hot. Thx for bringing back some memories. BTW I made it at least 5 times to the top but never got a diploma ;-)
Good gallery.
/Anna
John Lasseter10-Jan-2004 07:11
Selvin, you put me to shame bud.... much more detail & human interest. I'm basically shy so taking pics of strangers freaks me out. Great shots of the tunnels, the stairs & the Waikiki & DH pics look so familiar. I also liked the flaura additions. Thanks for inviting me over....... J
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