Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head

Some fun facts about the Honolulu area: The Hawaiian translation of Honolulu is “sheltered/protected bay”. The area of Waikiki, which is known for gorgeous, protected beaches, used to be a swamp (Waikiki in Hawaiian means spouting water). Western explorers and traders hiking the slopes of Diamond Head in the late 1700s mistakenly thought calcite crystals sparkling in the rocks were diamonds. Thus became the common name for Oahu’s most famous landmark.