European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 28, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A a v. So hot  offers satisfying Survey of Oahu a delights by James Kindall new Day deep in our hearts All of us realize that Paradise is wherever we Are Happy. But let s face it for most Paradise is easier to find while smearing on Cocoa butter at a Beach than pulling on a Parka in a snowstorm. Lots of people discover this axiom in Hawaii. Room temperature weather Cobalt Blue water Lush vegetation a it s a template for perfection. But what if your Only crack at this Eden comes on a Layover to somewhere else like the Orient what can you do with say two Days in Paradise plenty. 1 climbed an extinct Volcano swam among schools of tropical fish hiked to a mystical Waterfall and discovered a number of idyllic beaches marked for future lounging. Granted at times i Felt overwhelmed by All i missed but it beat hanging around a hotel Pool listening to tiny bubbles. A plan a map a Wristwatch and the proper attitude Are necessary for a Blitz like this. Also you la probably have to restrict yourself to one of Hawaii s major islands. Inter Island hops Are cheap and Quick but you spend a precious half Day just getting there. This also Means you la probably end up exploring Oahu since this is where most flights land. Although not exactly a Remote outpost it does have its advantages. Waikiki Beach for instance is a draw for International crowds and glitzy shopping and nearby Pearl Harbor is a site Rich in world War ii history last year a Salvage company found a live japanese torpedo still stuck in the Harbor mud. The Good news is the Urban infestation lessens As you drive North toward the Island s Small villages and generally uncrowded beaches a two Day car tour is just enough time to Sample the East coast Northern tip and Middle Valley. Oahu is Only 44 Miles wide and 30 Miles Long. Still you must make choices. I bypassed the drier Western part of the Island for instance since the Lack of connecting roads would have added too much time. Here s your Quickstep itinerary chances Are you la be staying in Waikiki so get up Early stroll past the Cartier and Christian dior shops the elegant turn of the Century hotels and Ogle the upscale sunbathers reclining on Sand imported from Australia. Next jump into the car and head for Diamond head an extinct Volcano. Although postcards make this famous landmark seem Distant the drive to its Center an area occupied by a military base and a Park takes five minutes. The Trail up its inner rim sometimes seems More fun House attraction than hike including Steep stairs a walk through a dark Tunnel signs recommend taking a flashlight but you can Grope along the Handrail and a spiral staircase. The exit at the top through a Concrete world War ii Bunker is Worth the trip. There at your feet is a stunning sight All of modern Honolulu to the West the Distant mountains and beaches waiting in the misty East. With Luck you might be up and Down by noon. If so slap yourself on the Back jump into the car and head for a dip in Handuma Bay a hyped tourist attraction but Worth the Stop. Nowhere else can you see so Many species of fish in such a Short period. Splash around lie on the Beach a half hour and Lope for the car. Minutes Down the Highway pull Over to watch the sea crash through the Halona blow Hole. Eat a papaya and think shallow thoughts. Hit the Road. Head for what could be the Best experience of the trip it was for me sacred Falls. Signs at the Park Entrance warn of Slippery trails Flash floods and falling rocks in terms ominous enough to scare off Indiana Jones. Actually the initial part of this 4v-Mie trek is a stroll. But after the first Stream crossing mountains Rise around Waikiki Beach left draws an International crowd. Workers right pick pineapples at the Del Monte Plantation. You like Green shark s Teeth and the Jungle closes in. Mostly the Trail is a mild obstacle course. Streams Are crossed by jumping from Rock to Rock and the Root snarled paths Lead along precipices High enough to get the heart palpitating but not threaten the body. The Climax is an 87-foot Waterfall cascading into a swimming Hole a spot where hikers often strip off and dive in. Of go ahead. As dusk approaches you la have just enough time to wander the villages that Dot the coastline and visit a. Roadside stand or fruit Market. Another option is the nearby polynesian cultural Center a Disney style theme Park where polynesians display crafts and explain ancient beliefs. Day two of our trip allows More Beach time. Good thing since rounding the Point is like discovering another Island. Here the steady winds of the Eastern Shore subside As nature gathers its strength for wipe out magnets such As the Banzai pipeline. This is surfer s heaven a place of four Story High Waves. Sit chill and thrill. Afterwards you can drive along the beaches of Waimea in search of a favorite. Mine was a tiny Crescent shaped spot occupied Only by two children playing with a body Board. The Sand s Grainy texture conformed to my reclining body a half hour later i awoke. The nearby Waimea Falls Park is a Well known attraction but one i avoided because of its cultivated look. A turn South takes you along the Kamehameha Highway into the Island s Fertile Middle. This is the site of the Dole Plantation where Tours Are available. Drive slowly along the Sweet smelling pineapple Fields which Are a dramatic contrast to the Distant Waianae Mountain Range. Once round the Northern Point of the Island Honolulu is Only an hour or so away. There should be enough time for souvenirs at the 50-acre Ala Moana shopping Center. There s enough Gold by the Inch Here to restore the russian reserves. A recommended option is the one hour Sunset cruises at Waikiki Beach. A thai dinner dancing at a club a Moonlight Beach stroll and congratulations you be run the trip s Small scale Gamut. January 28, 1993 stripes Magazine 9