Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay

They warn you how difficult marriage or child rearing will be and we ignore the warnings. i was warned about the heat and climbing involved in tackling Diamond Head Peak but I ignored the advice anyway. What is it about the human brain that requires experience to finally prove a reasonable argument? Who knows.Anyway, climbing this State Monument was just as hot and hard as they had warned.
I would like to have featured some of the stunning photos i took from the top of this volcanic crater but some s#$%%! stole the sd card from the camera while our bags were in a security locker at Hanauma Bay. So I have to make do with some shots pinched from the Net. Apologies to all. The snorkeling in this flooded crater was great for the fish although the coral has suffered from years of visitors. It was easier and cheaper than visiting the outer barrier reef although they do force you to sit through an 8 minute video before entry to the park.
But back to Diamond head, so named because foolish and greedy white sailors mistook the calcite crystals sparkling in the sun for diamonds. We set off early but not early enough to beat the heat. Driving has been easy despite warning from Hawaiians of the traffic - must be the 6 and 8 lane highways (each direction) that thy enjoy here. Come to Sydney for traffic misery! So about 10 am we began the ascent which involved a rough path, switchbacks and then steep stairs to a tunnel followed by even more steep stairs and another tunnel leading to a spiral staircase which emerged into an observation bunker. Fit soldiers used to climb this observation post every day until the 70s making sure the Japanese didn't catch them napping again.
More steps before the highest point which I had photographed revealed spectacular 360 degree views over Waikiki and points elsewhere.
A short drive past some of the best homes in Honolulu led to Hanauma Bay and the close encounters with fish and a thief. If you can't trust locker room staff, who can you trust???