Satellite view of Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. - stock photo

March 18, 2001 - Satellite view of Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. On the bottom lefthand side of the image is Pearl Harbor. Just to the East of Honolulu is Waikiki Beach. Overlooking Waikiki is Diamond Head, a volcanic crater formed from 70,000 to 500,000 years ago, long after Oahu's principle volcanoes, Ko'olau and Wai'anae, stopped erupting. North of Diamond Head are the eroded remains of Ko'olau. The clouds in the upper right hand corner of this image are an almost permanent feature of Oahu. Trade winds blowing from the northeast are stopped by the 3,000 foot high mountain range, where they rain out most of their moisture. As a result, the windward side of Oahu is usually cloudy, and the leeward side is relatively clear and dry.