travelgasm®

2023 Travel Update: As of 2023, Hawaii is open for tourism by both vaccinated and unvaccinated US citizen travelers without Covid-specific documentation or testing. It also essentially is open to vaccinated non-US citizen travelers with proof of vaccination but no additional testing although some exceptions apply. Nevertheless, be sure to double check the official state of Hawaii requirements and national CDC requirements for up-to-the minute details.

Towering over the eastern edge of Waikiki at a height of 761 feet (232 meters) is Honolulu's most recognizable natural landmark, the 400,000 to 500,000-year-old volcanic crater, Diamond Head.

Although native Hawaiians long have referred to this crater as Lē'ahi — because its ridgeline is reminiscent of the forehead and dorsal fin of an ahi tuna — Western explorers in the 1700s dubbed it Diamond Head because they mistook reflective calcite crystals on the slopes and nearby beaches for diamonds. The crater was thought to be the source.

Today, there is no mistaking that Diamond Head is well worth the hike for the view over Waikiki's skyline and the endless aquamarine blue of the Pacific Ocean.

Reservations Now Required

Formally the Diamond Head State Monument — a Hawaii state park — Diamond Head is free for local kama'aina with Hawaiian identification. Visitors from the mainland United States or internationally are required to pay an admission fee of US$5 per person.

If arriving by private vehicle, out-of-state visitors have to pay another US$10 for parking, but travelgasm.com provides everything you need to use TheBus so you can avoid this extra parking cost. You also might consider buying the Go City Pass Honolulu, which includes entry to Diamond Head and a shuttle bus from a Waikiki hotel in addition to several Pearl Harbor attractions, the Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, a number of boat tours, water activities, bike rental, and more.

When we first visited Diamond Head, no reservations were required — and reservations still are not required for locals — but starting on May 12, 2022, Hawaii now requires visitors to advance book one of eleven one-hour time slots for a specific day and arrive within the first half hour of that specific time frame. If you show up without a reservation and you do not have a Hawaii ID, you will be turned away.

The hike is less than a mile (1.6 kilometers), but it is steep, increasing in altitude by 560 feet (170 meters) from the crater floor to the viewpoint. If you prefer smaller crowds and cooler temperatures for your hike, a morning time slot is your best bet. If you're a photographer, though, the light toward Waikiki should be more favorable in the afternoon. Note that the last available time slot is 4 PM-4:30 PM; the park closes at 6 PM.

Where to Eat Nearby

There is only one place to eat within Diamond Head State Monument — the Honolulu Pineapple Co — a food truck known for its fresh pineapple and ice cream. It sells hot dogs and burgers, as well, but there are far more options for a proper meal down in Waikiki or over on Kapahulu Avenue.

Below, we have mapped out the route from the nearest bus stop to the interior of the crater as well as the path up to the rim for the most famous viewpoint over Waikiki.

How to Get Here: Take TheBus route 9, 23, or 24 to Diamond Head Road & Opposite 18th Ave (Stop 241). As a visitor in Honolulu, route 23 from Kuhio Avenue in the heart of Waikiki likely will be the most convenient; stand on the makai side of the street — toward the sea — to go toward Diamond Head. TheBus route 9 might be most useful from the Hawaii Convention Center or route 24 from Kapahulu Avenue.

travelgasm.com's Diamond Head State Park Map (Full Screen)

Cities > Honolulu > Honolulu Best 7 > Next: (3) Eat Through Kapahulu... >>

Like Diamond Head or Lē'ahi? Tell your friends and frenemies on social media that you discovered it first:

Intelligent and good-looking readers of travelgasm.com like you also sign up for our free monthly-ish mailing list.

Live in Honolulu? What tourist attraction do you most like to share with visitors? Spotted anything out-of-date or inaccurately translated? Please tell travelgasm.com. Mahalo! Thanks!