Hike Diamond Head crater

Honolulu, Hawaii | OAHU. In this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know to hike Diamond Head crater in 2021: What IS Diamond Head, Know Before You Go, What to Expect, Getting There, Facilities, and What to Bring.

***UPDATE: As of May 12, 2021, a reservation is now REQUIRED to hike Diamond Head. 

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Know Before You Go:

• Hours of Operation: Daily 6am-4pm (last entry). Gates lock at 4pm.
• Cost (reservation required!): $5 entry, $10 per car; No charge for kama’aina with local ID
• Distance: 0.8 miles from trailhead to summit 
• Elevation gain: 560 feet
• Time: Allow 1.5-2 hours to do the hike​ ​

Our Experience:

What IS “Diamond Head”?

Diamond Head is a 700+ foot extinct volcanic crater with GORGEOUS 360° views. Diamond Head crater is located on the Eastern edge of Waikiki’s coastline. It’s about 2 miles (3.2km) away from the center of Waikiki.

I definitely recommend this hike. It’s worth it!

The main thing to do there is to HIKE to the summit. This attraction is great for all ages and is family-friendly. There are benches and a food truck inside the crater too if some in your group want to visit the crater but not do the hike!

History of Diamond Head Crater

Leahi means “brow of the tuna” in Hawaiian. Leahi was named Diamond Head back in the 19th century by British sailors because they (mistakenly) thought they discovered diamonds at the crater. Instead, it was lookalike calcite crystals.

In 1908, the trail was built as part of the island's coastal defense system. Check out the signage when you get to the summit to learn more.

What to Expect:

• Well-marked trail with plenty of signage (impossible to get lost!)
• Well-trafficked trail (a hike that you can easily go solo as there are plenty of people around)
• The first 0.2 miles (0.3km) is fully paved with a slight incline. After that, the terrain is uneven. Wear athletic shoes (tennis shoes, runners, gym shoes, etc.). You will not need hiking shoes or hiking spikes. 
• Wear sunscreen. The hike is not shaded.

Getting There:

• Drive (easiest, recommended!) ⇨ It’s a short 7-10 minute drive from Waikiki. There is a parking lot INSIDE the crater. You’ll pay $10 cash per vehicle. The parking lot is organized. There’s a parking attendant with a radio that will direct you where to park – you don’t lose your place in line and you don’t have to drive in circles looking for parking.

Other options without a rental car:

• Uber/Lyft/Taxi: Another easy drop-off option.
• Moped: If you have a moped rental, there is a parking area for bicycles/mopeds.
• Bicycle: If you have a bike rental, there is a parking area for bicycles/mopeds. Keep in mind, the route to Diamond Head is uphill … then you’re going to do an all uphill hike. Unless you’re up for a completely killer workout, I’d probably skip the bicycle route.
• City Bus (“The Bus”): Bus: #3,13, 23, 24 (drops you off by Kapiolani Community College, across from Diamond Head Crater). Bus #2 drops you off a bit farther away but it's walking distance. 1-Day bus pass is $5.50 (cash only, exact change) and is purchased on the bus itself. It’s about a 25-30 minute bus ride.
  For the most updated bus information: https://www.thebus.org/

Facilities

• Public Restrooms?: YES. This is located at the base of the trailhead and is the ONLY bathroom on the entire hike. So, go. Or forever hold your pee-ace.
• Gift Shop?: YES. There’s a small gift shop to pick up souvenirs to take home with you (or as a gift for those who couldn’t make it on the hike with you!)
• Food? YES. There’s a food truck with quick bites, water/beverages, Dole whip, etc. The food truck accepts BOTH cash and card
• Water refill area
• Benches and picnic tables (Great if some in your group want to visit the crater but do not want to do the actual hike!)

Packing List

1. Cash
2. Water. I’d bring 32oz/1L! But bring At LEAST 16oz/500ML at the bare minimum. 
3. Small backpack (I use the CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack, 50 oz/1.5L). Since the terrain can be uneven, keep your hands free with a small backpack. Leave the sidebags, totes, purses, etc. in the car.
4. Headlamp (if you do the hike very early at 6am, the tunnel is lit but the main hiking trail is NOT)

Changes to Diamond Head Crater

Hiked Diamond Head before December 2020? Here are the main changes

• Reservations are now required. Click here to make a reservation on the Division of State Parks Website
• Hours of Operation changed (last hiker entry is 4:00pm, instead of 4:30pm)​​

Resources

• For the most up-to-date information on this hiking trail: Division of State Parks | Diamond Head State Monument
• AllTrails app: Diamond Head Leahi Summit Trail

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