When you think about going on Oahu volcano tours you usually don't think about going into battle; about waging war and combating enemies. The Hawaiian Islands are usually places of peace in the minds of visitors, places of rest, relaxation, and tranquility.
Hawaii is all that and more. It is a geological and botanical paradise. It is a surfer's and sunbather's paradise. It is a place of deep spirituality and innate mysticism. It is a storyteller's heaven with its ancient legends and oral traditions.
But Oahu is also a place where battles were fought; some only mere decades ago, and some, hundreds upon hundreds of years ago. Climbing to the top of Diamond Head Crater on Oahu, you see the juxtapositions of peace and war quite clearly.
There is the breathtaking beauty of looking out over Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean from the top of Diamond Head. It is a majestic view filled with all the tranquility associated with Hawaii. But as you ascend Diamond Head, you also learn about how this natural crater was seen and used as a place to conceal weapons of war and to mount a defense or offense against invaders of the harbor.
Arrays of cannons were once concealed in this crater, and in the late 1800's and early 1900's, a defense fort, Fort Ruger, was built atop this volcano. An entire underground war complex was built with a tunnel carved through this volcano for access to Fort Ruger.
This place of beauty and wonder was a natural place to conceal those who wished to defend Hawaii from those who wished to wage war with America. An observation platform was built for soldiers to sight targets from, and it wasn't until the invention of more electronic target-sighting methods that this underground bunker and military fort was abandoned.
Even in ancient times, Diamond Head was a place where war was honored and revered. It is thought to be an ancient burial ground, and that at one time a "heiau" (Hawaiian temple) existed there that was dedicated to Ku, the Hawaiian God of War. It is also believed to be a place where human sacrifices were made to appease and honor Ku.
In more modern times, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Diamond Head Crater was also used as a lookout point for invaders of Hawaii and it was stocked with artillery and weaponry used for battle.
There is peace at the top of Diamond Head Crater and there are remnants of war. Both are important to experience when you tour this Oahu volcano. Diamond Head is an incredible wonder of nature and also an important place in the history of American and Hawaiian warfare.
Learn more about ancient and modern Hawaiian warfare on your Oahu volcano tours. Battle your way to http://www.hawaiitours.com/oahu-volcano.php for more information.
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