Intro to Diamond Head

Are you headed to O’ahu Hawaii any time soon? Make sure you check out Diamond Head crater so you can tell all of your friends you hiked a volcano. Keep reading if you would like to know the ins and outs of this beautiful hike.

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The History Behind Diamond Head

From 1904 until 2001, Diamond Head was used by the FAA for air traffic controls, but is now used by tourists for hiking and sightseeing.

The volcano is, of course, dormant and has been for some time. I couldn’t find a straight answer on when it last erupted, because there were so many “educated” guesses. Those guesses ranged anywhere between 5,000 years ago to 400,000 years ago. So… who really knows.

Now that you know a little bit of history on the volcano let’s move on to the good stuff… planning your trip.

How to Prepare for the Hike up Diamond Head

Hiking to the top of Diamond Head proved to be quite strenuous for us. We walked past several people who passed out because of the heat. If you don’t want to end up like those people, keep these things in mind…

• Go early
• Drink a lot of water… like A LOT of water
• Wear good Hiking shoes or boots
• Apply sunscreen
• Pace yourself

When and How to Arrive at Diamond Head

The trails for Diamond Head normally open at 6 in the morning. In order to beat the heat and the crowds, I would suggest arriving as soon as it opens.

Parking is $5, that is if you can find a spot within the crater. If the lot is full you can always go to the park right outside of the crater or the Kapi’olani school. Unfortunately, the park fills up quickly, and the school is over a mile away.

Waikiki is about 3 miles away from Dimond Head. You can always walk from your room to the volcano, but that’s a good distance (who wants to do that!? unless you just love pain).

The good thing is, if you don’t park inside of the crater there is only a $1 walk-in fee. (Keep in mind that these prices may change over time)

About the Actual Hike

Even though the hike to the top is less than a mile, it felt longer. It was so hot, and the air seemed to thin the farther we climbed.

There were two sets of stairs, one set contained 76 steps and the other set had 98 steps. The trail is fairly rugged and uneven at times. don’t let that discourage you, because the views at the top are absolutely worth it.

Magoo’s Burgers

When we hiked to the bottom of Diamond Head, we stopped by Magoo’s Burgers, and bought some shaved ice. They didn’t make the best ice around, but man was it refreshing. I did some research to try and find out if the truck was still there, and it’s not. There are plenty of other places to get shaved ice on the island (that’s kind of what Hawaii is known for). Check out more things to do In O’ahu Hawaii Here.

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