Waikiki & Diamond Head
Waikiki, in Honolulu, on the south shore of Oahu, is known for its beautiful beaches. It is also home to Diamond Head, located at the east end of Waikiki.
In 1795, Chief Kamehameha united the kingdom of Hawaii and Honolulu became an important port for international commerce. However, in the early to mid-1800s, Christian missionaries came to the islands and "cleaned up" Honolulu. This, in turn, led to the lucrative whaling industry abandoning the Honolulu port for the less restrictive lifestyle of the Maui port.
Honolulu regained its importance after 1845 when Kamehameha III moved the capital of Hawaii from Maui to Honolulu. A government legislature and national courts were established and structures to house them, including the Iolani Palace, were built.
Diamond Head is a volcanic crater that dates back 200,000 years and it has been extinct for most of that time (150,000 years). It is 3,520 feet in diameter and its summit reaches a height of 760 feet. There are two sets of stairs to the top of Diamond Head, a moderately easy climb of 99 steps and then a second set of 76 steps for the heartier visitors.
