Every time I've climbed Diamond Head, I've stopped at the Kahala Lookout
just before the tunnel that takes you inside Diamond Head Crater.
just before the tunnel that takes you inside Diamond Head Crater.
Stretched out before me is a sight I never tire of seeing,
beautiful Maunalua Bay and the prominent peaks of Koko Crater and Koko Head.
Maunalua Bay, Koko Crater (left), and Koko Head (right)
Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA
March 19, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
This year, thanks to our friends Kathy and Bruce, Terry and I finally visited
the scenic coastline wrapping around these striking volcanic features.
From downtown Honolulu it's a drive of about 13 miles and takes 25-30 minutes,
depending on traffic, via the H-1 Freeway East (Kalanianaole Highway)
and continuing onto HI-72 South toward Hawaii Kai.
Terry, Kathy, and Bruce
Koko Head District Park, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA
March 16, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Koko Crater (Kohelepelepe) reaches1,208 feet (368 meters) in height,
almost twice the height of Koko Head (Kuamo‘okāne) at 642 feet (196 meters).
These landmarks are part of a series of volcanic vents that erupted
through the seaward edge of the older, dormant Koʻolau Volcano.
Famous Volcanic Vents Along Southeastern Oʻahu
The Koko Crater and Koko Head Area
We stopped first in Portlock at Koko Kai Mini Beach Park, otherwise known as China Walls.
Koko Kai Mini Beach Park
Portlock Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA
March 16, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
What a spectacular spot!
At long last I was standing near the base of Koko Head,
the place I had gazed at many times from Diamond Head.
I walked to the end of the stone path, and there stood Diamond Head
4.5 to 5 miles (7.2–8 km) directly across Maunalua Bay.
Diamond Head from China Walls on Koko Head
Koko Kai Mini Beach Park, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA
March 16, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I did not scramble down to the flat-topped lava benches that form China Walls.
One look told me that it was a dangerous spot.
An unexpected wave could sweep people into the ocean with no easy exit,
or smash them into jagged rocks underneath the water.
It reminded me of the dangerous rocks in my beloved Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia.
People die every year at these places, because they don't understand the danger.
Lava Benches at China Walls
Koko Kai Mini Beach Park, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA
March 16, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
A Warning to Pay Attention at China Walls
But, of course, this geologist was interested in the rocks!
You may know that the island of O'ahu was formed by two volcanoes over a hotspot in the Pacific Ocean. As the Pacific Plate, the largest tectonic plate on Earth, moved over this stationary hotspot in the Pacific Ocean, a plume of magma from the mantle rose to the surface forming a series of shield volcanoes one after another. It took around 70 million years for this process to create the Hawaiian Islands, and today the islands continue to move northwestward about 4 inches (7 to 10 centimeters) a year.
Oʻahu was created by the merging of two of these shield volcanoes,
massive, gently sloping volcanoes built from very fluid basaltic lava flows:
the Waiʻanae Range to the west and the Koʻolau Range to the east.
Waiʻanae is the older of the two, emerging from the ocean 3.9 to-2.8 million-years ago.
Koʻolau volcano emerged prior to 2.9 million years ago.
You can see the remains of these volcanoes in the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau ranges.
Koʻolau Range
Kualoa Ranch, Kaneohe, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, United States
March 14, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
The Koko Head area is much younger geologically,
forming long after Koʻolau Volcano went dormant about 30,000–35,000 years ago.
When magma found new routes to the surface of Koʻolau Volcano,
a rejuvenation stage of volcanism occurred.
These secondary, explosive eruptions of the Koʻolau Range
created the Koko Head area volcanic tuff cones and craters,
some of the last volcanic activity on Oʻahu.
The flat-topped lava benches at China Walls formed from
basaltic lava flows during the rejuvenated volcanism.
Next week, I share a little more about the places and geology of this storied coastline.
This mural celebrates China Walls and is a collaboration
between Kamea Hadar, Melón James, Jeff Gress, and Gavin Murai,
a local nonprofit Huli, and Kaiser High School students.
China walls was historically known as Kawaihoa.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I'm linking to Gillena's Lunch Break, Nicole's Friday Face Off, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Debra's She Who Seeks.
Have a great weekend!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2026 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be IWSG Day
Wednesday, May 6th. 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
