It seems that Hawaii might actually be the island paradise it bills itself as. We started today with an ascent to Diamond Head, a literal and figurative high point on the rim of Honolulu's local extinct volcano.
The walk up to the park entrance was great, but then things got tricky. Everywhere around here is a tourist trap of some description, but few resemble a trap as accurately as this. The narrow stairways to get up the top were packed, and the dimly-lit tunnels even worse. It was like caving, but the walls of the caves were made out of people. Still, up on top the view was tremendous and we even spotted out first humpback whales cavorting near the shore.
We squirmed our sweaty, sun-creamed way back down and, following a suggestion of our hostel's owner, tracked around the east side of the volcano to the beaches there. This is where Waikiki's rich and famous live in their huge ocean-front houses, and it's also the location of "Secret Beach" (the hostel owner had told us in hushed tones).
We eventually located "Secret Beach" by the number of cars parked by the entrance, although it was a little less crowded than the stretches of sand in the centre of Waikiki. We lazed under a palm tree watching the surfers, eventually wandering a few miles down the shore to meet everyone else for some snorkelling (about which more later) and the opportunity for the boys to show off our mad frisbee skills (and put all other beach users at risk).
I've run out of superlatives for this place, and it's only our second day. The university of Hawaii does have an MBA program, so maybe...
Rainbow beach umbrella, a few litres of water, three books, we're set for the day.
I think we'll buy a house...there!
Going up to Diamond Head. It's real-life Lemmings!
Hannah joins the queue to the top.
Once there - nice!
Me, island.
Heading back down.
Vaguely secret beach.
Someone a little more adventurous than us. Maybe tomorrow.
Where we got to, taken from where we finished.
