The Ko'olau Cliffs
Dec. 24th, 2021 08:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerOahu travelog #7
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, HI - Fri, 24 Dec 2021, 1pm
On Saturday after hiking Manoa Falls we headed over the mountains to the windward coast of Oahu. Driving up highway 61 the mountains around us were beautiful. They were stark in their volcanic steepness, with near-vertical sides and jagged peaks, while simultaneously lush with green plants clinging to the sides and groves of trees at their feet. We were torn between wanting to get to our next hike and wanting to stop in the mountains to appreciate the beauty already around us.
We found an ideal stop at a the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout and the mountain crest. From here one can see down over the ridge to the windward side of the island. I was especially intrigued by the Ko'olau Cliffs just to the north of us (pictured above). There you can see the verticals walls, some 2,000' tall, with sides undulating like drapes.
Ko'olau is actually an ancient volcano. ...Well, okay, all of Hawaii is actually ancient volcanoes. Ko'olau is half an ancient volcano. The other half slid off into the ocean 2 million years ago, leaving this unusual half-crater behind.
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, HI - Fri, 24 Dec 2021, 1pm
On Saturday after hiking Manoa Falls we headed over the mountains to the windward coast of Oahu. Driving up highway 61 the mountains around us were beautiful. They were stark in their volcanic steepness, with near-vertical sides and jagged peaks, while simultaneously lush with green plants clinging to the sides and groves of trees at their feet. We were torn between wanting to get to our next hike and wanting to stop in the mountains to appreciate the beauty already around us.
We found an ideal stop at a the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout and the mountain crest. From here one can see down over the ridge to the windward side of the island. I was especially intrigued by the Ko'olau Cliffs just to the north of us (pictured above). There you can see the verticals walls, some 2,000' tall, with sides undulating like drapes.
Ko'olau is actually an ancient volcano. ...Well, okay, all of Hawaii is actually ancient volcanoes. Ko'olau is half an ancient volcano. The other half slid off into the ocean 2 million years ago, leaving this unusual half-crater behind.
