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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Viewed 1,721 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/20/2024 at 5:55 AM
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Comments (67)
Gary Richards
The climb was certainly worth it, Jon. It is a cityscape, landscape, cloudscape and scenic all in one. Outstanding work, indeed!
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
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