Hawaii, Thursday 5th September 2013

Were going to leave early, set alarm  for 6.15am but as we had a problem with the draining of the kitchen sink had to wait for owner to arrive. He said he would be here between 7.30am and 8.00am. We really wanted to get away early to climb Diamond Head before it got too hot. He hadn't arrived by eight so we rang and said we couldn't wait any longer. He was caught up in traffic so told him to let himself in.

We still had the car for today so off we went to do the big climb. It was nine by the time we started walking and it was already too hot but got on with it and very hot later made it.

Towards the top you have the choice  walking up the stairs outside or up stairs through the tunnel which go straight up .We decided to take the outside route which wasn't there when we last went up

Looking towards Waikiki



 Looking down in front of the mountain

Looking down at the car park where we started our walk. Looks a long way.



PT in the pill box at the top

. Last set of stairs we came up around the outside not through the tunnel. East coast.

Stairs we came down inside the tunnel. Very steep and dark.Although it looks light that is just my flash.

Coming out of the tunnel . 

After we came down from the mountain,,hot as we did the coastal drive around to the east coast on highway 72 then cut back over the mountains on highway 61 back to the coast coming out at the back of Honolulu town then back to base. Tired.....and very hot.

Drove out to see Koko Head. People run/walk up this track which Joy told us about. Took one look from a distance and both said not for me. Especially after we had just finished climbing Diamond Head.

To get to the top which is 196m high, you have to climb 1048 stairs/railroad ties which were originally built over 60 years ago to get supplies to the military bunkers at the top. The stairs are very steep and quite dangerous in places. I am now sorry I didn't get a close up photo of how the stairs are made. Go onto Google it is interesting.

Further along the coast some spectacular coastline above and below. Halona blowhole.

A  little further on looking down over Sandy beach park. As you can see the water was crystal clear. The strip down the middle was so clear you could see the sandy bottom. Just beautiful

Makapu'u beach park.

All along this coast is called Ka  iwi State  scenic shoreline. Really beautiful.

As we crossed over the mountains back to the South coast this was taken from a lookout spot. Highway 61

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One of our small sunsets taken from our balcony

Hopefully we will see a better one before we leave. Need more clouds. We have seen really spectacular ones up here on previous trips.