Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 141

Walking Map, with 16 routes in Honolulu ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 miles; and The
Fun Fitness Map, with 12 walking adventures all over Oahu. To get a free copy of
each, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (with four 37¢ stamps) to Angela
Wagner; Health, Promotions and Education Branch, Room 217, 1250 Punch-
bowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813. For more information, call & 808/586-4661.
Honolulu-Area Hikes
DIAMOND HEAD CRATER This is a moderate but steep (with
an emphasis on steep) walk to the summit of Hawaii's most famous landmark.
Kids love to look out from the top of the 760-foot volcanic cone, where they have
360-degree views of Oahu up the leeward coast from Waikiki. Small kids may have
to be carried, so be prepared. Strollers will not make it up the zillions of steps.
The 1.5-mile round-trip journey takes about 1 1 ⁄ 2 hours and the entry fee is $1.
Diamond Head was created by a volcanic explosion about half a million years
ago. The Hawaiians called the crater Leahi (meaning the brow of the ahi, or
tuna, referring to the shape of the crater). Diamond Head was considered a
sacred spot; King Kamehameha offered human sacrifices at a heiau (temple) on
the western slope. It wasn't until the 19th century that Mount Leahi got its cur-
rent name: A group of sailors found what they thought were diamonds in the
crater; it turned out they were just worthless calcite crystals, but the Diamond
Head moniker stuck.
Before you begin your journey to the top of the crater, put on some decent
shoes (rubber-soled tennies are fine) and gather a flashlight (you'll walk through
several dark tunnels), binoculars (for better viewing at the top), water (very
important), a hat to protect you from the sun, and a camera. You might want to
put all your gear in a pack to leave your hands free for the climb. If you don't
have a flashlight or if your hotel can't lend you one, you can buy a small one for
a few dollars as part of a Diamond Head climbers' “kit” at the gift shop at the
New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, on the Diamond Head end of Kalakaua
Avenue, just past the Waikiki Aquarium and across from Kapiolani Park.
Go early, preferably just after the 6:30am opening, before the midday sun
starts beating down. The hike to the summit of Diamond Head starts at Mon-
sarrat and 18th avenues on the crater's inland (or mauka) side. To get here, take
TheBus no. 58 from the Ala Moana Shopping Center or drive to the intersec-
tion of Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue. Follow the road through the
tunnel (which is closed 6pm-6am) and park in the lot. The trail head starts in
the parking lot and proceeds along a paved walkway (with handrails) as it climbs
the slope. You'll pass old World War I and II pillboxes, gun emplacements, and
tunnels built as part of the Pacific defense network. Several steps take you up to
the top observation post on Point Leahi. The views are incredible.
If you want to go with a guide, the Clean Air Team leads a guided hike to the
top of Diamond Head every Saturday. The group gathers at 9am, near the front
entrance to the Honolulu Zoo. (Look for the rainbow windsock.) Hikers should
bring a flashlight and a $5 fee. Each person will be given a bag and asked to help
keep the trail clean by picking up litter. For more information, call & 808/
948-3299.
MANOA FALLS TRAIL This easy, .75-mile (one-way) hike is terrific for
families; it takes less than an hour to reach idyllic Manoa Falls. The trail head,
marked by a footbridge, is at the end of Manoa Road, past Lyon Arboretum.
The staff at the arboretum prefers that hikers do not park in their lot, so the best
place to park is in the residential area below Paradise Park; you can also get to
the arboretum via TheBus no. 5. The often-muddy trail follows Waihi Stream