Friday, February 6, 2015

Paragliding @ Tantalus Drive


Tantalus Drive winds around the mountain top 
high above the city of Honolulu.


It's a great 'top-down' drive in the convertible, 
affording sweeping views of Oahu, 




From the city of Honolulu and Diamond Head Crater




To Pearl Harbor and beyond.



We drive it occasionally, because we love how it feels like 'Old Hawaii', navigating the curvy road, maneuvering all the switch-backs, through the lush, jungle-like foliage.




There's a nice park up-top, called Pu'u Ualaka'a State Park, with a lookout point.  

(Just pronounce every vowel, none are blended or silent, and you've got it!   Poo-ooo Ooo-ah-lah-kah-ah)

We usually bring our Hawaii guests up here for a peek.


On this particular day, we are fascinated by the extra entertainment. There's a couple of paragliders swooping around on the air currents up here.  They look so graceful, we are captivated.



Then we realize that they are taking off from and landing back on this little patch of grass just outside the railings of the lookout. You are seeing the entirety of it, it must look the size of a postage stamp from up high.




Wow!  This is a thrill!   


We are spellbound as we watch the first one land flawlessly.   They have headsets on, so he is radioing to the second guy, who we watch swirl downward on the currents, getting closer, and closer still, and then ~ poof, he spirals back up into the clouds again. 



 He does this over and over, until we start to think he's going to  hang out up there all day.  It would seem that the navigation is a little tricky since this is a really small patch of grass, that the currents must be just-so for him to land there.




After making several passes, finally the currents cooperate, 
and he is back safely on the ground.  





What an unexpected delight.  
You just never know what you're going to see on the island. 
And that's why I love the island life!

2 comments:

  1. Gorgeous car!!! I know that is a blasty blast zipping around the island, convertible top down, sounds, smells, sun and wind in the hair!! Lovely. What a view from that location and to chance upon this paragliding is such fun! The road up to that view point must be a bimmer lover delight!!! Looking like you are loving life! So very happy for you! Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. The BMR is a great island car, for sure. It adds so much to the experience, to have the top down ~ you do get the sounds and the smells and the feel of the sun and the wind. This was one of those great 'In the right place at the right time' kind of gig. I love that about the island!

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