Hiking Diamond Head for Epic Honolulu Views (including a lighthouse!)

Probably the most famous thing to do when you’re visiting Honolulu besides checking out Waikiki Beach, hiking Diamond Head is a fun and beautiful challenge to include on your trip to Oahu. It’s not far from downtown at all and visitors are limited on how much time they can spend inside the famous crater, so you don’t have to worry about it taking up a ton of your time. It’s a unique place to visit and the hike to the highest point of Diamond Head can be intense, so take a look and see if this sort of activity is for you.

Read on and get the full scoop on what hiking Diamond Head is like, how you’ll need to prepare for your visit and suggestions of how to incorporate this little adventure into your itinerary. If you have any questions about visiting Diamond Head or Honolulu as a whole, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a wonderful Aloha trip!

Highlights of Hiking Diamond Head

It sounds funny, but what I really enjoy about doing the Diamond Head hike is actually the challenge of time, and then of course the beautiful Waikiki view at the top. Yes, because entry to Diamond Head State Monument is timed and you are limited as to how much time you can spend within the crater, you really do have to do the hike up to the peak of the crater rim with fervor and determination. You can take your time if you want, but then you won’t have time to enjoy the view or enjoy anything else while you’re within the crater. As somebody who is a little competitive with myself, I like the deadline of the hike.

I also really enjoy how unique of a hike Diamond Head is. You start on the crater floor and then have a paved trail for nearly the entire hike, but you also have staircases, tunnels and going through bunkers. It’s a fun hike that is more than a singular dusty trail. It’s pretty cool. The absolute best part though is the view from the top of Diamond Head. You’ve got the whole crater to look down into and see how far you’ve come (just a mile and only 560 fee elevation gain) and you’ll feel like you really accomplished something in such a short time.

Beyond the Diamond Head crater you’ll be able to look down on Waikiki Beach below and if you follow the beautiful waters along the beach to your left it’ll bring you to the Diamond Head Lighthouse and more gorgeous reefs. Off in the distance to the east you’ll see another crater hike to try, the Koko Crater Rail Trail, which is even more intense than Diamond Head. Between the views and the physical challenge, you’ll enjoy your visit to Diamond Head State Monument.

Tips for a Great Diamond Head Visit

There are MINIMAL services within Diamond Head State Monument. Yes, there are restrooms and there is a small outdoor visitor center, but that’s about it for things that are actually a part of the state park. There is an area where local food trucks set up and serve shave ice, coffee and snacks, but they have limited hours and you cannot rely on your timing to be spot on with their for snacks and drinks.

To visit Diamond Head, whether you’re doing the hike to the top or if you just want to see the inside of the crater and check out the nature trail, you’ll need to get an entry reservation for your day you want to visit. Reservations open 30 days in advance for non-Hawaii residents, and at the time of your reservation you’ll choose what time you want to enter the crater as well. You’ve got a total of two hours allowed within the crater, so be sure that you’re planning your itinerary to get you there and commencing with your activities at Diamond Head within your given time.

Is There More to Do in Diamond Head than Hiking?

There isn’t a ton more to do within Diamond Head State Monument beyond the hike. There is the visitor center KIOSK, which is not a large building and it’s mostly high level information about the crater and then there is a selection of souvenirs and t-shirts available for purchase. There is a small nature trail and you can enjoy the kid-crafted exhibit to learn about the plants and birds that are found within the crater. Often on weekends there are community events where rangers and educators are available to talk to visitors about Diamond Head’s history and nature, but it’s not every day.

Tip: download the plants and wildlife brochure in advance and visit the linked pages via the QR codes before arriving. Cell service within the crater isn’t great, so you may not have the easiest time downloading once there.

Where do I find the Diamond Head Lighthouse?

The Diamond Head Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful light stations I’ve seen. Set against the backdrop of the Diamond Head crater from one side and the colorful shallows on the other, it’s an icon in its own rank. The best view of the Diamond Head Lighthouse is actually from the trail lookouts while you’re hiking in the crater. Unfortunately, you cannot visit the lighthouse directly or enter it. There is a beach park next to the lighthouse, but again, you don’t get access and the view is quite blocked. That makes the best view from the Diamond Head hiking trail.

Being Prepared for Hiking Diamond Head

Bring lots of water and an appropriate amount of snacks for when you’re hiking Diamond Head. Even though the hike to the top shouldn’t take more than an hour, it’s much warmer within the crater than when you’re on the beach or in Honolulu. Salty snacks and water bottles are key to staying healthy and safe at Diamond Head because it really is that much warmer.

The Diamond Head hiking trail is paved or on stone or stairs the whole way so you don’t need hiking boots for this. Tennis shoes are best because you want to have good footing and have your shoes be lightweight, but flip flops/slippers aren’t a good idea. I love my Keens for nearly every hike we do.

You’ll want to bring your camera on the Diamond Head hike, for sure. In addition to the awesome views of the Diamond Head Lighthouse and Waikiki, if you’ve got a telephoto lens and you’re hiking in the winter months, you’ve got a great opportunity to see humpback whales from the viewpoints. When you’re inside the crater, there are lots of birds, so that’s another great reason to bring your camera.

Accessing Diamond Head State Monument

Entry into Diamond Head State Monument is very specific and must be reserved in advance if you’re not a Hawaii resident. Timeslots are for two hours of access and you need to enter in the first half hour of your visitation window. Entry is controlled through a tunnel into the crater, so there’s no way to be sneaky to visit, so don’t try. Once you’ve shown you access pass within the crater, you can park anywhere in the lot which does have the correct amount of parking spaces for the number of passes. There is wheelchair accessible parking near the visitors center kiosk and restrooms, but the trails themselves are not wheelchair accessible.

How Else can I Visit Diamond Head?

There are a few tours that bring you to Diamond Head State Monument, but not all of them go inside. If you’re planning on doing the hike AND you’d like to visit via a tour, be sure that you’re choosing one that actually gets you into the crater, either on the tour bus or via access with walking through the tunnel. Some tours will drive you around the outside but not enter, so be smart about it.

If you want to walk into the crater through the tunnel, there is a path on the east side that goes through the same tunnel as the cars do, but even if you’re entering this way you still must have an entry reservation. Yeah, this is a pretty well controlled area and the only people who don’t need reservations are kama’aina (and yes, guests of Hawaii residents DO need reservations even if they’re visiting together).