Atop Tantalus the wind whispers secrets. It speaks of Punahou schoolboys their youthful adventure naming this peak Tantalus after the Greek god forever hungry forever thirsty. Mount Tantalus or Puu Ohia as the Hawaiians knew it is more than just a mountain. It is an extinct cinder cone part of the Honolulu Volcanics formed after the Ko’olau Volcano went quiet. The city of Honolulu itself rests upon Tantalus’s cinders. Imagine the weight of history beneath your feet.
The Tantalus Loop a popular wagon trail in the late 1800s offered breathtaking views. Picnic parties enjoyed rugged canyons and aromatic eucalyptus trees. A Half-Way House a small two-room structure offered respite to trekkers. Prominent immigrant families built homes in this picturesque seclusion. The Waterhouses the Giffords the Wilders among others found peace here. Even a 25-foot cliff of pitch-black volcanic sand was once a local attraction before it was mined.
During World War II Tantalus played a strategic role. A fire-control station atop the mountain coordinated with Diamond Head to control coastal artillery batteries at Fort DeRussey and Fort Ruger. The southern slope even bore the scars of Operation K Japan’s failed second attack on Oahu. Today Tantalus is a popular spot for hikers cyclists and skateboarders. Since 1974 the Tantalus Time Trial a grueling bicycle race up the mountain has attracted competitors.
But Tantalus’s story is not just one of war or recreation. It’s a story of conservation. The Makiki-Tantalus watershed once suffered from deforestation. The sandalwood trade and the whaling industry stripped the mountain bare. The Kingdom of Hawaii acted to protect the watershed. Laws were passed to preserve the forests and protect the water supply that now provides Honolulu with some of the purest water in the world.
So stand here at the top of Tantalus. Breathe in the clean air. Feel the cool wind. Let the story of this mountain its history its beauty its resilience stay with you. The view is stunning the story unforgettable. Remember that next time you drink water in Honolulu that your glass might just contain a drop from Tantalus.