View from Diamond Head

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

View from Diamond Head

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture And Enhancement

Description

Climbed all the way to the top, got the shirt to prove it! Take the first left turn you come to before the dark and steep tunnel and climb in the sunlight instead! Most awesome view of the beach front you'll ever see from the ground. Try it, you'll like it...

Diamond Head is the name of a volcanic tuff cone on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Its English name was given by British sailors in the 19th century, who mistook calcite crystals embedded in the rock for diamonds.

The name Diamond Head in Hawaiian means brow of the yellowfin tuna. The trail to the summit of the Diamond Head volcano was built in 1908 as part of Oahu's coastal defense system. A short hike from trailhead to the summit is steep and strenuous which I learned as I climbed the 560 feet as it from the crater floor. The walk gave me a glimpse into the geological and military history of Diamond Head. A concrete walkway was built to reduce erosion shifts to a natural surface a little way up the trail as you traverse the many switchbacks along the steep slope of the crater. The climb continues up steep stairs and through a lighted tunnel to enter the Fire Control Station completed in 1911 if you elect to go that way.

My plan 'B' was to simply go "up the down staircase" and climb the newer concrete stairs going up just to the left at the base of the tunnel. I highly recommend this route as it is much, much easier than going through the tunnel. I guess it's lighted now, but still would be a strenuous climb and I had enough of that. As we get older, we're supposed to get wiser too, at least this time I did.

The station on the summit directed artillery fire from batteries in Waikiki and Fort Ruger outside of the Diamond Head crater. Bunkers and a huge navigational lighthouse was built in 1917 and were easily visible. Great view once you make it up there!

Some digital changes were made to this image after the original photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition...

Image copyright 2013 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

January 21st, 2013

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