I enjoy a good view but like magic, it comes at a price.

Yesterday, I had the esteemed joy of hiking up Diamondhead, here on Oahu. Now, exercise and I are not the best of friends so ascending 560 feet was an adventure in perseverance but, I survived. 

I knew what I was getting into, but that didn't belay any pain in my lower extremities. However, it was worth it. I got to see Waikiki with a more birdish view.

The weather was only okay for the views but absolutely perfect for the climb. The overcast was a blessing and kept the sun at bay. Also, there was a persistent breeze that made the whole experience a lot more palatable. 

A word of warning to some with more claustrophobic tendencies. There is a long cave that curves so you can't see the end and there is no way to bypass it. In addition, there are stairs that lead into another cave area, but that can be avoided if you take the path to the left when you see the long, steep staircase. Truthfully, I would just avoid that staircase in general. It leads up to the top in a more direct manner, but you don't get any good views on the way up because it's all inside and you have to crouch to get to where you want to go. And by the way, there are no comfort facilities up there. The only water fountain and bathrooms are located at the bottom near the parking lot before the 560ft ascent. So fill up and empty out before you climb up.

Oh and it's unpaved. So watch your ankles and I would suggest bringing comfortable close-toed shoes. I also saw a few women in dresses that would drag on the ground. I would suggest against this practice. Flip flops are probably a bad idea too.

Once you reach the top there are several platforms that afford some magnificent views of the surrounding island and ocean and it's easy to see why Hawaii continues to attract several million visitors a year. From up here, as I have stated, you can see Waikiki and some of the military installations. It is a spectacular view of paradise.

Overall, it was an wonderful place that I was happy to visit. However, I would probably not be willing to repeat it for my own uses without a little more physical preparation. In fact, a lot more.