Haunama Bay and The Punchbowl Cemetery

I spent today hiking Haunama Bay with some great friends.   This was a breath taking hike that gave us a 360 degree water views the entire hike.   The trail takes you down near the water with gorgeous views of Koko crater, Hanauma Bay and most of Koko Head.  The best way I can describe this part of the journey is that it feels like your venturing on a private island that somehow floated over and got connected to the side of the mountain you were just walking on. From this perspective, you will see a marvelous, amphitheater shot of Haunauma Bay. A view you can only probably see from one of the tour helicopters flying above.

After our hike we stopped by The Punchbowl Cemetery.  The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.    The most common translation for Puowaina is “Hill of Sacrifice” Historians say the first known use of Puowaina was an altar where early Hawaiians offered human sacrifices to their gods. In the early 1800s, the crater served as a key stronghold for Oahu natives who tried in vain to defend their island from Kamehameha‘s invading army.Formed some 75,000-100,000 years ago during a period of secondary volcanic activity, Puowaina Crater in Honolulu is today the setting for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as “Punchbowl.” Among America’s national cemeteries, this is often considered to be the most beautiful and poignant.

The 112-acre cemetery serves as the final resting place for more than 44,200 U.S. war veterans and family members. These include men and women who perished in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Thank you Dawn our great "tour guide"!