Hanauma Bay Beach Park

After climbing up Diamond Head, we decided to explore the other nearby crater known as The Punchbowl. Since 1948, this extinct volcano has been used as the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and is the final resting place for thousands of Armed Forces servicemen.

It was a very easy stroll up to the summit on a cloudy and sometimes rainy morning. At the top we were taken aback by the beauty of the installation and the pristine landscaping. The crater is filled with headstones that are aligned with customary military precision and which bear dates from 1943 to 2016. Once again our thoughts are of the tragedy that the loss of so many young lives represents. However, although these men and women likely experienced a violent demise, they have been laid to rest in a place of great peace and serenity.Read more