Standing in the sand on Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head looks great. Some call it Diamond Head Crater. We call it a must see.
Origins of Diamond Head
Diamond Head is known in Hawaii as Le’ahi which means “brow (lea) of the yellowfin tuna (ahi).” It got its name in English in the late 18th century when British sailors saw calcite crystals shining in the sun and thought they had found diamonds.
Geologically it is an ash cone formed by a series of explosive eruptions more than 150,000 years ago.
Get there
You can get there by bus, car or taxi. We take a bus near our hotel to the end of the road that leads to the door that takes you to this monument. You have read it well. You will walk a bit to see Diamond Head.
The Diamond Head State Monument is located on Diamond Head Rd. Between Makapu’u and 18th Ave. on the south shore of Oahu. It is right on the southeast coast of Waikiki. There is ample parking.
Facilities
The only bathroom is at the bottom and we recommend using it. There is no visitor center, just a booth where you will pay and receive a brochure.
The walk
Diamond Head is well maintained by the State. We found Diamond Head to be a refreshing change from our more difficult hikes on other islands, despite some lava to climb. The way up, for the most part, is not too difficult. There are handrails the entire length of the 1.4 mile round trip. There are also benches to sit on if you want a break. Some people actually run the trail “for fun.” Some may not find the hike fun, depending on their physical condition.
On your walk, you can see cute little mice, as well as magnificent red-topped Brazilian cardinals.
There are two tunnels that you will walk through to reach the top. It is recommended that you bring a flashlight. There are lights in the tunnels that work most of the time.
You start your ascent from the bottom of this 761-foot crater. The trail is steep so wear sneakers or hiking boots. After a considerable walk, you will go through a tunnel. Then you will go up exactly 99 stairs. The stairs are real stairs instead of dirt or lava. Then you will go through a second tunnel. After a few more steps you will be on the lower level of the top of Diamond Head.
Oahu views
There are some levels to climb to the top. Once you get to the first level, a few more stairs don’t matter. You will see a spectacular 360 degree view of Oahu. This is a great place to have binoculars and of course a camera.
Since we walked very fast to go up, we took our time to go down and read the published material on Diamond Head. There is a very safe lookout where you will see WWI and II pillboxes and gun emplacements.
What to wear
It was very hot at Diamond Head. It was hotter than we expected, but once we reached the top we found a nice cool breeze. Wear a hat, suntan lotion, and make sure you have a bottle of water per person. There is no water available on this trail. Most people prefer to do the hike in the morning when the sun is not shining on the crater and there are fewer hikers on the trail.
You can read that it will take you two hours for the hike. You can, but if you don’t have a lot of time and you only have an hour and you can walk, go for it. If you can squeeze in two hours or more, you’ll enjoy it more, and maybe even have a picnic on top.
A must do activity on Oahu
Unless you’re not mobile, climbing Diamond Head is a must. The views from the top are some of the most impressive we have seen.
There will be taxis waiting for you at the bus stop. They will offer to charge you a flat fee. We learned that it is illegal for the taxi driver to do this, but it may be more convenient for you.
Diamond Head State Monument is a true gem and one of the best things to do on Oahu.
Jo Levy is a Boston, Massachusetts-based freelance writer who has written extensively about her travels in the United States.
