After a steady half hour climb up Diamond Head’s rocky path I approached the very steep 99 stairs leading to the top of Diamond Head my brain sternly told me, “No Way!” I always say I have a fear of heights… but really it’s more so the steep climb that scares me. “What if I slip and fall?” I think. I’m not exactly the most graceful stealthy person I know.

I shifted off to the side of a small look out area and slouched down defeated onto a rock. I took a few sips of my water and looked back over my shoulder at the monstrous stairs as a stream of people came filing down one-by-one. One kid hopped the last 2 stairs without a care in the world before he sprinted off down the tunnel back towards the rocky path. Sucking up my last bit of courage I stuffed the water bottle back into my backpack, approached the staircase and gripped the handrail for dear life. Step-by-step I made my way up not looking up or behind me just focusing on the next step ahead and keeping a firm grasp at all times. I made it, but at the top of those stairs was another steep spiral staircase! Again, I followed the people in front of me to the top and finally made it to the old “lookout hole” (Diamond Head is an old military fortress) I climbed out to the top and was greeted with this lovely view of the coast!