Have you been to Oahu, (The Big Island) in Hawaii

You reminded me again of Diamond Head, actually a great volcano hollow with great vistas. Had my heart pumping because of the climb but once you reach the top, it was well worth the long climb. Too bad, when I went up there I did not bring my camera. All I had was a small pocket camera. But the memory of that experience is with me all the time.

OOops! On the otherhand, according to my friends in Hawaii, that Diamond Head is actually a crater created by an ancient meteorite that crashed on the island! Can anyone verify this for me please.

You bet! Leaving the place after only a few days stay, made me lonesome so quickly. I adore the place, the culture, the easy life, the beaches, the place, but not the living standards. Hawaii in general is quite expensive to live-in. My friends who moved from the mainland found it hard to adjust coming from the suburbs of cities in the US mainland. But the place I must say becons to all who have been there once. One wants to experience the thrill of driving slowly on city roads on weekends, and lively beaches almost daily.

I wish I could visit Oahu again. I enjoyed my stay there, and made a sidetrip to Pearl Harbour also. Going to the war museum made my eyes glisten, remembering those who perished on that infamous date when it was bombed by the Japanese. It was creepy touring the "Sharkfish", a famous submarine who has sunked more ships than any other submarine in that war. I imagined how hard and difficult it was to be a submariner, living in closed, hot, humid, cramped and stinking interiors of a submarine. But I also admired those submariners on their strength of willpower, stamina, dedication and most of all courage / bravery when they were at sea in a war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. God please save their souls!

Hi Habuteru, Even your nickname is Japanese sounding. Yes I went to Kahala Mall and I also went to the Liberty Center and the International Marketplace. I stayed for 4 days in the Diamond Hotel. My former office is based in Honolulu, - Architects Hawaii Ltd. ================================================================== From your story here, you really miss the islands. My trip there for 9 days was so short because I wanted to learn more about the islands. You are right that the Hawaiians couldnt ask for anything more. They have the beaches, the sands, the lovely weather, the space and nature all around them, plus a relaxed way of life as if no one ever had to work but just go to the beaches and party !!! wow man! even at night, early dusk, almost everybody, specially the teenagers are gearing for a long night out on the streets. ======================================================================== How I wish I could go back there for a longer stay, with my suitcases of cameras. I am hobby photographer too. I will take the same route I drove on the 4 corners of the island where there are 4 seasons all at the same time. I think you know what I mean - it was quite an experience. ======================================================================== BTW, I lived in Tokyo for a year to work for DMJM, in Kanagawa Ken Prefecture. So I also know quite a lot of the Japanese culture and way of life, plus the living standards. How could you stay in such a cramped place. Japan is really short of land. Compared to Hawaii, Tokyo is like a matchbox. ================================================================== P.S. Ah, now there you go, my friend really pulled a fast one on me! He's from Waikiki. I always remember folks saying it is a caldera because of the shape and leveled ground. That place is huge!! Looks like a possible landing site for a space ship. I really had a weird feeling being on that caldera's edge.