Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) Summit Trail: [ Ссылка ]
Today, I’m going to talk about the hiking trail on Lēʻahi, commonly known as Diamond Head, just 5-minutes away from the tourist hub of Waikiki.
I haven’t done this hike in years, but since it’s one of Oahu’s (and the state’s) most popular tourist attractions, according to Tripadvisor, I thought I’d give it another shot and let you know whether or not it’s worth your time.
Okay, let’s do this. The Diamond Head State Monument is open daily from 6 AM - 6 PM. Note that the last entrance to hike the trail is 4 PM as the gates are locked at 6 PM and all visitors must vacate the premises.
I went on a Wednesday and started kind of early, a little after 7:00 AM because I know how notoriously crowded the trail can get later in the day. I parked outside the entrance and decided to make the trek to the trailhead as I didn’t want to fight any traffic on my way out, and I also didn’t mind the added exercise for my fat butt.
It’s a little more than half-a-mile walk from the nearest bus stop on Diamond Head Road.
Okay, here are all of the fees involved if you’re a non-resident:
Entrance Fee = $5 per person
Parking = $10 per vehicle
Good news for Hawaii residents, the entrance and parking are free! Yayyy
The hike is 1.8 miles out and back, which begins from the middle of the Diamond Head Volcanic Crater, gaining 560 ft of elevation up the side to the top of the rim, where stunning coastal views await.
The trail starts paved then leads to the switchback portion. As I slog my way through several switchbacks, here are some neat facts about Diamond Head Crater:
- Diamond Head State Monument encompasses 475 acres, including the interior and outer slopes of the crater.
- It is said that Lēʻahi got its name from Hi’iaka, sister of the fire goddess Pele because the summit resembled the brow of a tuna.
- The crater was named “Diamond Head” by 19th century British Sailors who thought they discovered diamonds in the crater’s slopes but were ultimately identified as calcite crystals and had no real value. The name stuck, though.
- The trail to the summit of Lēʻahi was built in 1908 and used as a strategic military lookout and became a National Natural Landmark in 1968.
Armed with all of that knowledge, and after completing the many switchbacks, you make your ascent up the first set of steep stairs. You’ll climb through a tunnel, and then you’ll have a choice of either heading left for an easier path to the summit, or you’ll go up the second set of even steeper stairs. I decided to take the more challenging route because it looked more exciting than the other option. After reaching the top, you’re going to make your way through a spiral staircase, where you’ll eventually arrive at a bunker at the top of the rim.
Here you can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and the picturesque shoreline from Koko Head to Waikiki to Waianae.
You can also see the 55-foot tall Diamond Head lighthouse below built in 1917.
It was a bit past 8 AM, but as you can see, the main lookout point was already packed full of people, but hey, at least the scenery is decent.
After you’re done taking in the views, you start heading down.
If you decide to hike Diamond Head, here are some things to consider:
- Allow yourself 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the hike.
- Bring suitable footwear, sunscreen, a hat, and lots of water as there isn’t much shade throughout the trail.
- Go super early before sunrise if you want a quiet(ish) hike to the summit without hoards of tourists blocking your view.
- For non-residents, keep in mind there is an entrance/parking fee, and it’s credit card only.
- And lastly, this is an easy hike good for families and people of all ages, shapes, and sizes.
Other than that, do I think the Diamond Head Trail is overrated or underrated? Hmmm, let me think…. I’m sorry, it’s overrated.
Not only do non-residents have to pay an entrance fee, which sucks, by the way, because a majority of the bucket-list O’ahu hikes are FREE, but for me, the crowds are a dealbreaker.
Trust me; you can get just as stunning (if not better) views by doing easy hikes like the Makapu’u lighthouse trail or the Lanikai Pillbox. And you know what the best part is? Those other hikes don’t cost you a damn dime!
Now, I’m not saying the Diamond Head trail is all crap. It’s a good option if you’re staying in Waikiki and are strapped for time to explore other parts of O’ahu and have no car rental. Other than that unfortunate situation, I’d say skip this one because I can think of ten better trails just at the top of my noggin compared to Diamond Head.
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