The Waianae Coast, Oahu

The Waianae Coast on Oahu is quite dry, especially during the summer. The Waianae Range blocks moist trade winds from the northeast. The difference in vegetation between the windward and leeward faces of these mountains is startling.

This view reveals the Waianae Range as a giant volcanic crater wall. A rough semicirclular shape remains on land, with the rest of the crater lost to the ocean. This was also the favored route by Imperial Japanese low-flying aircraft during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Photos taken June 29, 2001. Camera: Kodak DC4800.