By dtam on Skatehive
The ascent on the Diamond Head Crater trail is no joke. It'll get your blood pumping. The story of Waikiki, the most famous of places in the Hawaiian Islands, is an interesting one. You might find it hard to believe that this tropical beach vacation destination, was historically swamps and duck ponds, before being drained and filled in. Sand was imported to create a beach, and the hotels and resorts followed, as well as some of the highest priced real estate in the islands. However, through all the changes, one thing remained the same...at the end of Waikiki, a familiar geological feature loomed large, known now as Diamond Head Crater. Just magnificent views from the top. Known in Hawaiian as "Le'ahi", Diamond Head Crater is a volcanic tuff cone, created about 300,000 years ago. It is 762 feet high, and was designated as a National Historic Landmark back in 1968. During WWII it housed military, and still a little to this day. Yet you can visit this site, and take a strenuous hike to th