Diamond Head State Monument — Attraction in Honolulu

Oh, darling, Diamond Head State Monument is Waikiki’s crown jewel, a volcanic crater hike that’ll have you panting, praying, and praising the view—a must-do adventure! You’re conquering the 1.6-mile round-trip trail up this ancient tuff cone (born from a fiery eruption 300,000 years ago, no biggie), and trust me, those switchbacks and stairs? They’re a workout that’ll remind you you’re alive, especially after a chill Mai Tai sunset or slurping oden at Lawson Station. The real kicker? That dark, narrow tunnel midway through—hello, claustrophobia central! It’s like the mountain’s teasing, “You want this view, brah?” with its tight, echoey squeeze. Pro tip: breathe deep and push through; it’s quick but intense! Then, boom—you hit the summit at 761 feet, and the payoff? Absolute Hawaiian magic that’ll steal your breath (in the best way). Overlooking Honolulu’s skyline, Waikiki Beach’s turquoise sprawl, and an ocean sparkling like it’s showing off—it’s a “pinch me” moment. Surfers slicing waves, palm trees vibing, and the Pacific stretching forever… I was gobsmacked by how insanely gorgeous the sea looked, all those blues you can’t unsee. It’s nature’s VIP show, especially at golden hour when the light’s pure poetry. And don’t skip the gift shop near the entrance—it’s a treasure trove of adorable souvenirs, including exclusive Hello Kitty merch you won’t find anywhere else! Think cute little Kitties decked out in leis or hugging tiny surfboards, practically begging to hop in your bag as the perfect Oʻahu memento. I snagged one and it’s already the star of my shelf! This isn’t just a hike; it’s a vibe, mixing history (WWII military lookout, with those creepy-cool bunkers) and aloha spirit. For non-residents, entry’s $5 per person, parking’s $10 per car (plus a small online fee). Book your spot online up to 30 days in advance—parking’s tight, and walk-ins without reservations get the boot. Go early to dodge the heat and crowds; the park’s open till 4 PM (last entry at 4 PM). After lei-draping Duke’s statue or turtle-spotting at Haleʻiwa, this is your Oʻahu must-do. Legs may wobble, tunnel may spook, but those views and that Hello Kitty swag? They’re forever. 90/100—tough trek, scary tunnel, unreal vistas, and...

We came across this place when looking for things to do on a drive around the island. This is state monument, so you do have to reserve your slot ahead of time online. They open about a month or two ahead of time. It seemed that there was a lot of availability all the way up until a day or two before that it was filled up more. The morning times are more popular than the afternoon times. You do have to pay entry fee, and then if you are parking, that is an extra fee as well. I did see many people park elsewhere down the hill and then walk into the park, which I believe is a discounted entry fee. Once you scan your reservation, you get handed a map (helpful for the hike since there are some forks in the path) and you park and take the path to the top of the crater. There is a very very small shack with some limited souvenirs at the bottom in the parking lot as well. The path starts out paved for a small bit, and then it turns to rocky and uneven as it winds it way up to the top. There are also many stairs. Please be sure to bring a water bottle! The trail isn’t very wide so everyone was courteous in pulling to the side if they needed a break, or if someone else was going the opposite way that you were. There are a few spots as well that have some pull off areas that have benches or just have different scenic views for photos. We chose to do the sunrise hike so we arrived at 6am (they open at 5:45am) for the sun to rise at 6:30am. The temperature was perfect before the sun was coming up. Many other people had the same idea as us because it was quite crowded at the top and hard to find a spot to sit and watch the sunrise, many others spread out along the path on the way up. There is a bunker built into the side that there are some signs about at the top. At the top you can get a view of the crater below, a view out onto the ocean, a view of Waikiki, and a mountain/island view. It was a very cool adventure to do. If you are fit and don’t stop along the way, it will take about 30 minutes up and 30 minutes down. Overall this was a cool thing to do as we have never seen or been on a crater before, and it had amazing views. This was also a great way to catch...

Great hike! I definitely recommend arriving early, as the park fills up quickly. After 10, it gets really hot and the hike becomes more of a chore.

Right now, there is no outdoor mandate for masks in Hawaii. The signs that say masks are required in the park appear to only be required when within six feet of others at the entrance, and when buying things, also at the entrance. There is no enforcement of masking on the hike.

We chose to park at the park, which is 10$ for a vehicle and you have to wait for a spot to open up. The trade off is that your car is not likely to be broken in to while on the trail. If you've hiked other hikes in Hawaii, you know break-ins are a problem, so 10$ is worth it.

After your hike, cool off with a dole whip, (pineapple ice cream), or a pineapple smoothie. There are also mango smoothies and lots of other refreshments available at the small stands towards the right of the trail entrance. There is an area with picnic tables and shade trees to the left of the trail entrance.

It's 5 dollars a person to hike the trail, (unless you're local). There are 3 machines to pay for tickets, (located to the left of the trail entrance) and they accept credit cards. The attendant in the booth on the left as yoy walk towards the trail will take your receipt, or check your HI ID.

The trail starts off smooth paved, and then transitions into a rocky paved, but is solid, paved ground all the way. There are a few portions with stairs, all towards the summit. Be careful on your way down the stairs, we saw 2 people almost fall, as their legs were tired from the climb. You experience that the most on the way down, believe it or not.

Bring water on the hike. At least a liter per person should cover you. There is some shade in the beginning of the hike, and a cave towards the end, (no way to rest in the cave, it's stairs and a tight squeeze in passing two way traffic). Otherwise, you are exposed to the sun, especially if it is directly overhead during...