- 31.
Koko Crater Botanical Garden
- Jogging off the coastal highway just a quarter mile or so, we will visit the 60-acre
Koko Crater Botanical Garden. The drive to the entrance to the crater is rather rough and
narrow, probably indicating that the garden is not a popular attraction. The drive is not
steep, and when we arrive at the trailhead, we'll be at the approximate elevation of the
crater floor. The wall of the crater is open at the entry end and we can walk fairly
level directly into the outer crater. In the photo above on the right are the drive to the
crater garden and the (unimpressive) entry.
- Starting down the wide trail in the view on the left. We are in the outer crater at
the beginning of the trail. Another view in the middle photo. In the photo on the right
are some cactus plants near the American section now in the inner crater.
- A closeup of a cactus plant (photo on the left). Special to the garden is an ever
present sense of being in the crater of a volcano, because the crater walls are so steep
and close (middle photo). Much of the garden has a dry look similar to the photo on
the right. Diamond Head crater visited a little later on the tour is arid like this
and most suitable for dry land plants. Sprinkler piping is being installed, however, and
more green ground cover and foliage will be coming soon. The garden is in the process
of being developed. restrooms, drinking fountains, and other visitor attractions and
amenities are planned.
- In a corner of the outer crater as we make our way out of the garden is the Koko
Crater Stables.
 A few more photos of the garden.
- 32.
Sandy Beach
- This is another exquisite beach on our Windward-East Honolulu Tour. At Makapuu Point we
left what is technically the windward side, and we are now on the East Honolulu leg of the
tour. Sandy Beach, therefore, is closer to Honolulu proper. And because the water is quite
a bit rougher than along the windward coast, it's a good surfing spot. Because of its
convenience and often high surf, it is probably the No. 1 favorite beach (after the North
Shore beaches on the Oahu Circle Island Tour) for local surfers. It's a great after-school
surfing, swimming, and gathering place -- but families and older beach goers as well can feel
perfectly comfortable here.
- In the left photo is a view across the park grounds. As we approach the beach, this is
the scene. Kite flying is a popular activity here especially on weekends. In the photo on
the right is the beach at the shore. You can see the quality of the sand here -- as well as
in the next few photos.
- Views of the surf here. The surf is only 3-4 feet today, but it's often twice as high.
The surf, by the way, is generally highest on the south side of the island in the summer
and on the north side in the winter. 35-foot surf on the north shore is not typical, but
neither is it uncommon.
More views of the picturesque beach. On the left is a view looking left along the beach.
The trees on the left are the same ones we saw upon our approach (first Sandy Beach photo
above). On the right is a view toward the right in the direction we're headed. About half
way up the incline on the right is the roadside pulloff at Halona Blowhole where we'll stop
next. That's also a good spot for viewing the length of Sandy Beach from a rather high
elevation.
- 33.
Halona Blowhole
- This stop at Halona Blowhole is just beyond Sandy Beach where the road rises along the
rocky shoreline.
| We'll park our van here (#1), get out, and
see (hopefully) the blowhole down below. There's a lookout here (#2), and another
at a slightly higher olevel where we parked. |
| The surf is fairly gentle today, so there's
not much drama here -- just a small spray as the surf rolls in, the recedes. The water
runs under the rock and blows up through the hole (marked in photo #3). It's often much
greater than this, and maybe we'd see more if we waited longer, but... A cliff to the
right of the blowhole (#4) shows how ragged the coast is at this point.
|
Right next to the pulloff for the Halona Blowhole is a deep recess in the shoreline (#5
above, a view from the blowhole pulloff). The shoreline is very rocky at this point, and
the surf really crashes in on the rock. People often underestimate the danger here, but
this little beach is protected from the roaring surf. And for those willing to climb
down the cliff to reach it, it's a unique and fun place (#6). Some sunbathers like it
because it's a bit hard to get to and therefore rather private (#7). Just beyond this
little beach the road becomes very irregular. Highway accidents are fairly common,
partly because of the winding road, but also because of drivers who often become
distracted by the scenery. There's a memorial here to someone probably either killed
in a highway accident, or drowned near here (#8 at the right). Fishermen on a rocky
shelf at the shore far below (#9). |
Protected beach (15-second mpg video)
- 34.
Scenic Coastal Highway
| This is the highway along this one mile
or so stretch of the coastline. |
| More scenes of the rugged coastline.
This lava rock at the back of the ancient Koko Head volcano is rutted by erosion.
Between the ridges there are openings like these to the ocean. |
Crashing surf near the coastal highway (15-second mpg video)
- 35.
Hanauma Bay Nature Park
Two more photos of the beach.
|
