Waikiki & Diamond Head - Hawaii
Waikiki, in Honolulu, on the south shore of Oahu, is known for its
beautiful beaches. It is also home to Diamond Head, located at the
east end of Waikiki.
In 1795, Chief Kamehameha united the kingdom of Hawaii and
Honolulu became an important port for international commerce.
However, in the early to mid-1800s, Christian missionaries came to
the islands and "cleaned up" Honolulu. This, in turn, led to the
lucrative whaling industry abandoning the Honolulu port for the
less restrictive lifestyle of the Maui port.
Honolulu regained its importance after 1845 when Kamehameha III
moved the capital of Hawaii from Maui to Honolulu. A government
legislature and national courts were established and structures to
house them, including the Iolani Palace, were built.
Diamond Head is a volcanic crater that dates back 200,000 years and
it has been extinct for most of that time (150,000 years). It is
3,520 feet in diameter and its summit reaches a height of 760 feet.
There are two sets of stairs to the top of Diamond Head, a
moderately easy climb of 99 steps and then a second set of 76 steps
for the heartier visitors.
