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Diamond Head State Monument

Hiking ·Honolulu ·Open now
4.641.9K
#1Hiking in the US#1Hiking in HonoluluTravelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026
  • Visit: 90–120 min
  • Not step-free
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About

Diamond Head State Monument, or Lēʻahi, is a volcanic tuff cone near Waikīkī in Honolulu, known for its distinctive outline.

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Diamond Head State Monument

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Why go

  • The broad, saucer-shaped crater formed in a single explosive eruption about 300,000 years ago.
  • The crater’s distinctive outline has long served as a navigation reference for Honolulu and Waikīkī.

Opening hours

Today08:00 – 15:15Show all
Monday08:00 – 15:15
Tuesday08:00 – 15:15
Wednesday08:00 – 15:15
Thursday08:00 – 15:15
Friday08:00 – 15:15
Saturday08:00 – 15:15
Sunday08:00 – 15:15

The trail

Length
0.8 mile (1.3 km) from the crater-floor Visitors Center to the summit
Ascent
560 feet (170 m)
Duration
Allow 1.5–2 hours for the hike.
Difficulty
Steep and strenuous The final 0.1 mile (160 m) is especially steep and entirely stairs.
Route
A concrete walkway gives way to natural tuff, with switchbacks across the steep inner slope.
Tunnel
A lit 225-foot (70 m) tunnel The route passes through it before reaching the Fire Control Station.

Season and conditions

  • Winter — Humpback whales may be visible offshore from the summit.

Safety

  • Part of the monument is closed to the public and has U.S. government antennas; stay in public areas.
  • Non-Hawaii residents must reserve entry and parking online.

What you see

  • From the summit observation deck, the shoreline panorama stretches from Koko Head to Waiʻanae and includes Waikīkī.

Photo spots

  • Diamond Head from WaikīkīPhotograph Diamond Head’s distinctive outline from Waikīkī.Waikīkī
  • Diamond Head LighthousePhotograph the lighthouse beside the crater’s slopes.Beside the crater’s slopes

History

Lēʻahi refers to a tuna’s ridge. The crater and nearby slopes housed Fort Ruger, Hawaii’s first United States military reservation. The 1916 Hawaiian-language song “Kaimana Hila” celebrates the monument. The Native Wildlife exhibit features student research, botanical illustrations, and interviews with experts.

  1. 1825British sailors named it Diamond Hill after mistaking calcite crystals found on the nearby beach for diamonds.
  2. 1908Construction began on coastal defenses and a tunnel through the crater’s north wall.
  3. 1911The summit Fire Control Station was completed to direct artillery fire from batteries in Waikīkī and Fort Ruger.
  4. 1968The crater became a National Natural Landmark.
  5. 1969All-day music festivals began in the crater. The festivals drew more than 75,000 attendees and featured performers including Santana and the Grateful Dead.
Show all
  1. 1976–1977The festivals ran for two days in both 1976 and 1977, before being canceled over noise and environmental concerns.
  2. 2000The Division of State Parks built an interpretive kiosk with visitor services and crater exhibits.
  3. 2024A Native Wildlife exhibit developed with Waikīkī Elementary School teachers and students opened.

How to get there

  • CarFrom Waikīkī, head south to Monsarrat Avenue and turn right. It becomes Diamond Head Road and leads to the turnoff. Enter the crater through the Kāhala Tunnel to reach the parking area.

Accessibility

  • Crater-floor facilities Accessible to visitors with disabilities.
  • Summit trail Not ADA accessible.

Shorts

Sources: Diamond Head, Hawaii - Wikipedia · Honolulu/Eastern - Wikivoyage (see) · Diamond Head State Monument – Division of State… · Diamond Head (Hawaï) - Wikipedia · Diamond Head (Hawaii) - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026

Where
Diamond Head Road - 18th Ave, HI, Honolulu

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

What can I learn at the Diamond Head State Monument visitor kiosk?

The interpretive kiosk provides visitor services and crater exhibits. A Native Wildlife exhibit opened in 2024, developed with Waikīkī Elementary School teachers and students. It covers native birds and plants through student research, botanical illustrations and expert interviews.

What gives the Diamond Head State Monument trail its distinctive rock surface?

Ash and fine particles cemented into tuff, which is visible along the trail.

When was the Diamond Head State Monument summit trail built?

In 1908, as part of Oʻahu’s coastal defense system.

Do non-Hawaii residents need reservations for Diamond Head State Monument?

Yes. Non-Hawaii residents need online reservations for entry and parking.

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