Here is our summary of yesterday...
The Diamond Head walk was started at about 8AM and it begins literally at the bottom of the mountain on a paved path that looks rather easy....it then turns into a gravel and rock path that is climbing and still looks rather easy when it is dry, but then it started raining and the rocks can get quite slippery. Once you are about 2/3 up the hike, all of a sudden they have two levels of stairs that are 75 stairs and then 99 stairs thru tunnels bored into the mountain that complete the hike to just about the top and then a spiral stair thru the middle of the peak (probably another 50 stairs) that takes you all the way to the top. Fran does not do well on stairs going down so when she saw the stairs there was some hesitation but we both realized that we were now too far to turn back...so we now have a certificate from the State of Hawaii that we completed the Diamond Head climb! It's really not that hard....
The Diamond Head walk was started at about 8AM and it begins literally at the bottom of the mountain on a paved path that looks rather easy....it then turns into a gravel and rock path that is climbing and still looks rather easy when it is dry, but then it started raining and the rocks can get quite slippery. Once you are about 2/3 up the hike, all of a sudden they have two levels of stairs that are 75 stairs and then 99 stairs thru tunnels bored into the mountain that complete the hike to just about the top and then a spiral stair thru the middle of the peak (probably another 50 stairs) that takes you all the way to the top. Fran does not do well on stairs going down so when she saw the stairs there was some hesitation but we both realized that we were now too far to turn back...so we now have a certificate from the State of Hawaii that we completed the Diamond Head climb! It's really not that hard....
After doing the hike to the top of DIamond Head (called Diamond Head because there is a stone up there that looks like a diamond...but is not), we drove over to see what Chabad looks like (we are spending next Shabbat there and will be staying at the Ala Moana Hotel where Chabad has its location). The hotel looks beautiful and is attached to the Ala Moana Mall that is billed as the largest mall in the world (????).
Chabad is a cavernous space over a few rooms that need alot of renovation...it seems to have been an old restaurant attached to the hotel. We met Rav Itchel who has been there for 23 years and paid his assistant for the two Shabbat meals that we will have with them.
We came back and showered after the morning hike, and then packed our lunch and began a driving tour around Oahu. The road snakes around the outer edge of the island.
At every turn there is another magnificent view of surf, beach and enormous waves slamming into the rocky and sandy shore.
And there are surfers everywhere....We saw an amazing blowhole in the rocky shore. There is a hole that has been carved by erosion into the large rocks that line the coast and when the waves slam into the rocks it creates a pressurized stream that finds its way thru the hole in the rock and then shoot 50 or 60 feet into the air...amazing! We took our time and drove about 1/3 of the way around the island, stopping at Kailua beach for a picnic lunch. The views are amazing.
At every turn there is another magnificent view of surf, beach and enormous waves slamming into the rocky and sandy shore.
And there are surfers everywhere....We saw an amazing blowhole in the rocky shore. There is a hole that has been carved by erosion into the large rocks that line the coast and when the waves slam into the rocks it creates a pressurized stream that finds its way thru the hole in the rock and then shoot 50 or 60 feet into the air...amazing! We took our time and drove about 1/3 of the way around the island, stopping at Kailua beach for a picnic lunch. The views are amazing.
On the way back in we took the Pali Highway and went to the Pali Overlook which is worth the stop for the panoramic view of the amazing view...there are so many shades of green in the lush tropical landscape that are impossible to describe.
We took a detour on the way back to the city thru Round Top Road that keeps climbing till you are on the highest peak that overlooks Waikiki....there are beautiful houses and estates up there clinging to the sides of the cliff...beautiful.... but I cannot imagine going all the way down the mountain when you run out of milk in the morning!
We took a detour on the way back to the city thru Round Top Road that keeps climbing till you are on the highest peak that overlooks Waikiki....there are beautiful houses and estates up there clinging to the sides of the cliff...beautiful.... but I cannot imagine going all the way down the mountain when you run out of milk in the morning!
We got back to the hotel and relaxed at the beach for a bit before eating dinner and then walking the packed shopping streets of Waikiki.
Quite a full day...today we are off to the Polynesian Village and we will continue our circle tour of the island....
Hope you all have a great day...
All the best....here is our well earned diploma....
And where we are in the world this week!
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