Halona Blowhole

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii

A scenic overlook east of Honolulu offers a naturally breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and volcanic cragginess of the shore. But the parking lot is overly large, and we soon realize it is to accommodate a ceaseless stream of cars, tour buses and other vehicles stopping for ten minutes to witness the spectacle of the Halona Blowhole.

The blowhole is Hawaii's version of the Old Faithful geyser, without any timing. A quirk in the volcanic rock along the coast propels incoming surf to concentrate in a narrow lava tube that exits straight up -- like a whale's blowhole. Sometimes water shoots up 30 ft. high; occasionally a careless visitor will get too close and be sucked into the powerful Blowhole and drown in violent surf action.

At the overlook, onlookers crowd the rail a safe distance above, waiting for the next salty gusher and post-wave misting. Japanese visitors gasp with delight when the blowhole is prodigious; they mutter and chuckle when the blowhole is less forthcoming. Guys attempt to photograph their wives or girlfriends smiling in the foreground as a massive ejaculation occurs in the background -- a tricky bit of synchrony.

The beach cove next to the Blowhole earns a spot in movie history as the location of the oft parodied kiss scene in From Here to Eternity (1953) between Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster.