We stopped in Oahu for three weeks on our way to Australia. We stayed in Waianae, on the western or leeward side of the island. To us, Oahu was a study in contrasts: luscious greenery versus near desert-like dryness, glamor versus austerity, wealth versus intense poverty. In order to keep the mystique of its fabulous resorts and beaches, homeless individuals were moved to the western side of the island, where homeless encampments line the shore for miles.

We stayed in a condo community in Makaha, a small town in the northern part of Waianae. Don't let the green trees fool you; the area is brown and dry as bone.

But Makaha Beach is very pretty!

Not too far from our condo, the Army has a small recreation area complete with a very nice restaurant, where we had more than one tropical drink and excellent meal.

The Dole Plantation was a fun and tasty adventure. Pineapple everything!

Koko Crater is on the south end of Oahu. It's the remains of a tuff cone -- a heap of volcanic ash.

Inside the crater is the Koko Crater Botanical Garden . . .

The desert conditions inside the crater are ideal for growing cacti of all sorts.

In stark contrast is the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve. Since it's on the eastern slopes of the Oahu mountains, it gets considerable rain.

And the watershed creates a truly luscious green landscape.