Scaling to New Heights: Conquering the Diamond Head Hike (updated 2023)

When you visit Honolulu, one of the must visit sites to start off your vacation in Oahu is to do the Diamond Head hike and experience the climb up the Diamond Head crater to see the magnificent views from the top.

This iconic crater developed half a million years ago into an impressive lava formation that sits at the edge of Waikiki. Diamond head Hawaii is an iconic landmark on the Waikiki Waterfront.

Everyone visiting will want to climb up and capture their prized images and selfies of of the Waikiki skyline. It truly is a fantastic experience to see Honolulu from above and a large part of the eastern side of the island to the North Shore.

Check out why this Diamond Head hike should be on the top of your list in visiting Honolulu soon.

Experience the Diamond Head hike (Le’ahi) crater in Oahu

Visiting Diamond Head State Monument

The state park entrance is open seven days a week and with parking available at $5 per car and entry to hike the trails at $1 per person. You pay at the gate entrance and drive directly to park entrance or park if you are driving. There is a visitor center with souvenir stand, restrooms and even a food truck for cool drinks and fresh pineapples that you can visit and relax before you begin your Diamond Head hike.

how to get to Diamond Head from Waikiki

There are a few key ways to get to Diamond Head from Waikiki and the main entrance area which is on the northeast end of the park entrance. Here’s the main options on easily getting to the park and doing the Diamond Head hike.

1. Take an Uber – easy access on your phone app to book a trip to Diamond Head, it’s hassle free to book directly with Uber. The difficulty tends to be the return trip and price increases due to less availability when you are waiting for a return trip.

2. Go by bus – taking the bus to and from Diamond Head is definitely the affordable option at $3 per direction. You just need to check the schedules on when the bus goes in either direction to the bus stop right at the entrance to the park grounds. You can also get a day pass on the bus to visit many other attractions around the island.

3. Drive yourself – if you have access to a car then driving to the park is fast and easy and parking per car is only $5 for the whole day. The is also a per person entry fee of $1 per person.

4. Walk to the entrance – A very long walk from Waikiki, it is doable but definitely takes a bit of time and you have a lot of walking to do right from the start of the park entrance

5. Take the cable car buses – these regular trolley buses plying through the Honolulu and Waikiki areas stop directly at the park entrance. You can book a day pass directly with the Waikiki trolley lines for trips to most attractions in the Honolulu area.

Here’s some updates on the online reservation for Diamond Head and some other tips to visiting

History of Diamond Head State Monument

Created between 400,000 to 500,00 years ago, the Diamond Head crater was created from the Ko’olau volcano which is over 2 million years old. Diamond head was created during the same time frame as the Punchbowl and Koko eruptions were also happening on Oahu.

Ancient Hawaiians used the site as a place of worship and did animal and human sacrifices on the slopes of the crater. The Hawaiian’s called the site Le’ahi for the shape representing an ahi (fish) forehead.

The name Diamond Head was given to the crater after early western explorers and traders visiting the area mistook the the crater’s calcite crystals for diamonds and the English name Diamond Head stuck.

In the 1900s Diamond Head was converted into a military base with bunkers and artillary and other buildings in the base inside the crater and bunkers and lookouts built on the tops of the summit area to protect the island.

Eventually the Military deeded the property to the state which turned it into a state monument and park in 1965 for the public to enjoy and climb to the top for an only in Oahu experience with amazing views around the southern part of the island on the rim of Diamond Head.

Here’s some more fascinating things to know about Diamond Head below

Starting the Diamond Head Crater hike

There is a Diamond Head trail marker past the restrooms that shares the history of Diamond Head and how it was used in the past to present day. The trails are paved and easy to follow from the start and then change into gravel and sand when the trail starts uphill. It gets narrow at this point and traffic does get busy for both uphill and downhill climbers.

For those early birds here’s a look at the Diamond Head Crater hike in the early part of the morning to see a gorgeous sunrise from above.

The average time to do the Diamond Head hike is about two hours round trip, more if you take more time for pictures and time frame that you are busy. The best time to visit is earlier in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and excessive heat going to the top.

Check out this gorgeous aerial drone of Diamond Head and panoramic views

Look out points from the Diamond Head hike

Along the way to the top of Diamond Head are many lookout points to the crater floor and views to the east side and coastal views. At the the mid point, you’ll hit your first set up stairs which then leads to a long dark tunnel and eventually a circular staircase that is a real work out so take your time.

** Those that are physically challenged should take plenty of rests with benches located throughout the trail areas.

Tip – if you don’t want to enter the tunnel and circular climb, you have an option to do the route from the left side to nice views and a slower climb to the top without doing the circular stair case.

Entering the long dark tunnel at Diamond Head towards the summit area

After the tunnel area, you enter another climb with a circular stair case to the top of Diamond Head and the bunker areas. (You can choose to go on the left side option after the first stairs if you choose not to go up the circular stairs). Take your time going up the stairs because it is used for climbing and also descending.

Reaching the top of the Diamond Head hike and the crater rim

After you pass through the staircase you finally get to the opening with nice views of the areas below, but there is another short staircase with a viewing platform created from an old bunker that is very busy so can your time enjoying the views and doing your selfies of gorgeous Waikiki and Honolulu.

You’ll see a variety of bunkers situated around the rim areas of the Diamond Head summit areas. These areas are typically off limits for visitors to hike to.

Observation Point at the summit

The highest point of the summit is an old radio tower which has some observation areas to see mostly the downtown Honolulu and Waikiki area and it is stunning. There are no covered areas up here for shelter so be prepared for complete sun at the summit and trails

Descending Diamond Head

You have an option of climbing back down the circular staircase but the best route back to the Diamond Head crater valley is to take the slow declining route on the left side with nice views of the east side coatline, beaches and the ritzy areas of Diamond Head, Lanikai, Portlock and Kahala.

It’s typically nice and breezy on this easy downhill route with not stairs until it connects to the main route midway.

Check out this beautiful light house below

The trails connects back to the main trail and stairs down to the crater floor and in no time you get back to the restrooms and visitor center.

Tips on doing the Diamond Head hike to the crater rim

1. Bring plenty of water or you can purchase at the vending machines when you enter the park.
2. It is very hot and busy mid day so if you want to avoid both go early or later in the morning
3. You can take various transportation modes and the cheapest is the bus coming from Waikiki and costs $3 one way
4. Wear good shoes, the climb is over 560 feet over mixed terrain
5. Bring sunscreen, the sun is harsh mid-morning to later afternoon
6. Diamond Head is not ADA compliant and a challenge for non-active visitors
7. There are no bathrooms at the top of the lookout areas.

Check out these Diamond Head video highlights below

Here’s another fun Diamond Head impression

Love photography – check out these tours

If you love to capture some of the best photographs of Honolulu and Oahu consider some of these cool tours to take.

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Please pin this Diamond Head hike post for later

Diamond Head hike FAQ

Conclusion to doing the Diamond Head hike and State Monument

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