Diamond Head State Monument

Diamond Head

A. Introduction

Diamond Head State Monument is known to the Hawaiian people as Le’ahi, which means “brow” or “back,” because of its resemblance to the dorsal fin of Tuna. Hawaii is known as a very peaceful place to escape to and relax in the flora and it has many breathtaking sights of natural landscapes. Diamond Head is out of big importance to the already rich Hawaiian history and what it means to them.

Diamond Head is located in the Honolulu which is the capital city of Hawaii and it rests on the Waikiki’s coastline with a very rich geologic history. Many years ago, sailors came to the island and discovered some sparkles that looked like diamonds. These diamonds were actually calcite crystals that came from the volcano crater

Due this activity collar pieces and basalt are mixed and can be found in the tuff and magmatic debris of the cone. Diamond Head is a part of the complex of cones, vents that are associated to eruption flows which are known as Honolulu Volcanic Series. This Volcanic Series of the volcanic eruption has created many of O’ahu’ recognized landmarks, including Diamond Head. (Diamond Head Crater, n.d.)

In addition, it is believed that Diamond Head was built up by a brief single eruption that occurred 300,000 years ago. The highest peak of the crater is southwestern due to the winds that were blowing ash in this direction during the eruption. Since the eruption, the slopes of the crater have been eroded and weathered by rain, wind and the beating of the sea. There is a coral reef that now protects the seaward slopes of the crater. (Diamond Head Crater, n.d.) Generally, Diamond Head is made up of massive disconformity geologic structure that is caused by lava flows. As mentioned above, in its geological structure includes extrusive igneous rocks such as olivine, tuff, and basalt. It is safe to say that Diamond Head has a rich and amazing history how it became one of the most popular National Parks in the

The islands can receive a lot of rainfalls from trade ends on their north and east sides and that is caused by orographic perception. It is known that Hawaii has Dry and Rainy Season. The wettest months are usually from November to March, while the hottest months are from April until the end of August. A couple of times during the year the trade will completely stop and wind will change its direction from south or west and bring stormy and sticky weather. The average daytime temperature is around 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 78 Fahrenheit during cold days. During the night time, it can become much colder than during the day with an approximate temperature of 10 Fahrenheit and lower. (Hawaii Weather, n.d.)

Ala Wai Canal is the closest body of water to Diamond Head excluding beach. This canal is manmade waterway that is two miles long. It was constructed in 1920’s with the purpose to drain extensive wetlands. Due to storms drains Ala Wai Canal drainage patters have changed into existing streams. The streams in Ala Wai Canal serve as the only link between freshwater ecosystems. One of the biggest concerns of the canal is that heavy rain could overflow the canal and potentially flood the area from Diamond Head to Ala Moana with about five feet of water. (Ala Wai Canal,