Friday, February 03, 2012

Hawaiian Christmas II


The next day Jer and I set out to do the most tourist popular hike Diamond Head Crater because its just one of those things you have to do when you go to Oahu.

The broad, saucer-shaped crater now Diamond Head was formed about 300,000 years ago during a single, explosive eruption creating the crater.


The origin of the English name, “Diamond head” came from 19th century British sailors who thought the sparkling, clear calcite crystals were diamonds.

 
One of our goals was to go do things that the local's only know about, so after some research and advice from people who we knew that were natives, we had a long list of must do's for Oahu. One of them was this short little hike if you could even call it that. The spitting cave of Portlock, which was located on the south east corner just west of Diamond Head in a multimillion dollar residential area. However, the views and tide was just amazing. The spitting cave of Portlock is so named because its a little cave that has been hollowed out by the tide and when the surf comes in fast and hard enough, it spits out water and mist making it a spitting cave.


It was a little path that was covered by huge trees on both sides so that if felt like a tunnel, and then it opened out on this view which was just breathtaking. This wasn't exactly a well known 'hike' so it really wasn't marked at all. Not tourist friendly if you will.


And then of course, we had to go explore. We saw this super rusted ladder that had been bolted into the side of this little cliff and of course Jared was all for climbing down. I personally think I about had a panic attack.


Did I mention it was a REALLY far way down?


The surf was rather violent that day (it had been stormy) but even then I never did get a great picture of the blowhole in action. The native's say its a really rare thing, but when it happens its extremely unique.


1 comment:

Elsha said...

love the photos!!