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When you envision Hawaii, do you picture volcanoes, luaus, girls in hula skirts, and the beach? Those things are all there, of course, but there's a lot more on the islands, too! In this three-part series, TechnoTourist will explore the island of Oahu. We'll visit the city of Honolulu, as well as Pearl Harbor, Waikiki Beach, and the North Shore (just to name a few popular places).
This week, we'll take a trip to two places near Honolulu. One is visible in most pictures of the beach, but few know its name. The other one is very well-known. Let's visit Diamond Head Crater and Pearl Harbor.
Diamond Head
 Diamond Head Crater got its name from 17th-century British sailors who thought it glittered like diamonds from their vantage point far away in the water. But it wasn't diamonds the British were looking at – it was calcite crystals in the lava rock left over from the crater's days as a volcano.
Named Laeahi ("brow of the tuna") by the ancient Hawaiians, Diamond Head Crater measures 3,520 feet across and 760 feet high. It was last active as a volcano over 150,000 years ago. In 1910, a summit observation deck was added, along with an underground complex that extended four levels to serve as a command post, and a 580-foot tunnel for easier access. Cannons were hidden in the crater to protect the end of the island from attack.
We drove in through the tunnel and then hiked partway up. In January, the land was barren, but there certainly was a nice view!
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is on the opposite end of Honolulu. After getting lost, we managed to find it - in a very pretty park. Pearl Harbor is still a naval base, too, so you'll have to go through security if you want to check out the USS Missouri (a ship that is now a museum) and the USS Arizona War Memorial (which you have to take a small boat to reach). There was also an on-land museum about World War II and Pearl Harbor, with a short film.
Recently, a team has been performing diagnostic checks on the USS Arizona. Specifically, they've been examining the thickness of the hull, structural effects of the deadly blast and fire, and the effects of internal and external corrosion. The crew wants to ensure the safety of the USS Arizona for its 1.5 million annual visitors, and to make sure that it'll be around as a memorial for a long time.
Editor's Note: Click here for Part 2, when TechnoTourist will visit Waikiki Beach and the North Shore!
Resources:
http://www.nps.gov/usar/
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