Climb Diamond Head Crater and see this view for yourself.
It's the end of September and you are contemplating a visit to Oahu. The summer rush is over. The beaches are less crowded, but the water is still warm, the sand welcoming. Hotels are offering incentives to draw in customers during the off season. There is less of a line up to see some of the island's signature attractions. Suddenly, it seems that off season trip to Oahu is a very good idea.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is one of the top attractions on Oahu and though you may still run into lines, they are not nearly as long as those in the summer. Your visit to the USS Arizona Memorial starts with a movie that includes footage of the actual attack on December 7, 1941. Then a Navy launch takes you out to the ship.
The memorial is a white, wing like structure straddling the USS Arizona that still lies on the harbor floor. On one end is a marble memorial wall listing the names of all who died in the attack. Many of these people are still buried in the ship's hull. In the center of the memorial is an open space looking down at the ship. Keep an eye on the water and you will see droplets of oil still seeping out of the vessel. People often toss leis in the water as a sign of remembrance.
After the tour, cross the parking lot and board an authentic looking cable car trolley to take a ride over to the USS Missouri. Tour this giant battleship to see the spot where an errant torpedo hit but didn't explode properly and where the Japanese signed the surrender treaty.
USS Arizona Memorial
1 Arizona Memorial Place
Honolulu, HI 96818
808-422-3300
nps.gov
USS Missouri Memorial
Historic Ford Island, Pearl Harbor
63 Cowpens St.
Honolulu, HI 96818
808-455-1600
ussmissouri.com
Waikiki Beach
Grab some sunscreen and a towel and find your own bit of sand on Waikiki Beach. In the off season there is a bit more elbow room to be had but still enough beach goers to make people watching interesting. Spend the day relaxing on the sand, learning to surf, or having a swim.
If you can tear yourself away from all that relaxation, walk across the street and down a few blocks to Kapiolani Park. Take in the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, or find a picnic table at a grassy area next to the eastern part of Waikiki Beach. Technically known as San Souci Beach, the locals call it "dig me beach" because of the more abbreviated swimwear on display. This is a popular spot for college students to meet in Oahu's off season.
Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808-971-7171
honoluluzoo.org
Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808-923-9741
waquarium.org
Diamond Head Crater
The view from the top of Diamond Head Crater is worth the walk. In the summer, this hike is best taken early in the morning or towards the end of the day. In the off season, the temperatures are a bit more forgiving so there is more of a window in which to make the trip. There are also less people, both on the hike and in the park inside the crater.
Take plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes to make this hike to the top of the 760 foot high crater. The hike is seven tenths of a mile and is a combination of trails and steps, ending with a final 99 steps to an old World War II bunker. Step into the bunker and look down at Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, and the Pacific Ocean. Take a pictures and enjoy the view.
The tunnel into the park is off Diamond Head Road just east of Makapu'u Ave.
Diamond Head Crater
DLNR, Division of State Parks
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, HI 96809
808-587-0300
hawaiistateparks.org
Tags: Diamond Head, Diamond Head Crater, Head Crater, Waikiki Beach, Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor