Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii: Part 2

A continuation of my photo set of the Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Lions Park Flood Mitigation in Medicine Hat

Over the last few months there has been a lot of discussion about the flood mitigation taking place in Lions Park in Medicine Hat, Alberta. A number of old trees have been cut down to make way for a new embankment / flood berm to help protect the flats from future flooding.

Earlier this spring I took a few pictures after the trees had been cut down to compare them to what I shot back in the fall. A huge section has been cleared and the change is actually quite dramatic. While it's sad to see the beautiful trees go, I can certainly appreciate the need to protect homes - hence the reason for all of the controversy. Here are a few shots I captured.

Recently cleared land in April.

The entrance to Lions Park closed off.

The entrance last fall.

The view entering Lions Park. Cleared land to the left.

Same street in the fall.

A shot of some of the trees that are now gone.

Hiking Diamond Head in Hawaii

Prominently featured in almost every postcard of Waikiki, Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It's a popular tourist attraction that features a trail that allows visitors to hike up to a lookout point. From the top you're rewarded with incredible views overlooking Honolulu and the surrounding island. There are also a handful of bunkers leftover from World War 2 that can be explored here.

Diamond Head got its English name from British sailors in the 19th century who mistook calcite crystals on a nearby beach for diamonds. Today a casual 1.1km (0.75 mile) hike leads to the edge of the crater with a gain of 560 feet in elevation. At the top is a former coastal artillery observation platform, small bunkers, tunnels, an interior spiral staircase, and a long exterior outdoor staircase. We were pretty casual and took our time at Diamond Head, and the hike and sightseeing still only took a couple hours. I'd definitely recommend it.

Honolulu and Waikiki Beach from the lookout at Diamond Head.