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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) Summit Trail: dlnr.hawaii.go...
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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I feel butterflies in my stomach when I view your videos in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Oahu. Thanks 👍
Thanks Shane! I just went to the Diamond Head trail couple weeks ago when visiting Oahu. I agree that there are so many other great trials, but I think Diamond Head is worth going at least once. We went there around 12 but there's no parking, so we went back around 1:30pm and had no problem. The view is pretty amazing to those of us who live on the mainland.
Your videos are great! We are heading to Hawaii and my husband is beyond tired of me watching youtube videos about Oahu. We found your channel and they are the only videos he will agree to watch. He laughs the entire time! Keep up the good work. These are the types of videos people want to see!
Ahhhh I really appreciate it!! Thanks for watching 🤙🏼🤙🏼
love your channel bro been watching your videos all day, headed to waikiki next week
Thanks Shane. My family and I just returned from Oahu last week and we were able to visit all the places we wanted to go, except Diamond Head. We tried going to Diamond Head, but we couldn't get close to it because of the crowds. But after seeing your video, now we don't feel so bad that we couldn't make it there. We went to several other "free" and awesome hikes too. Appreciate man! Keep posting...
I appreciate you watching, Dean! You’re truly not missing a whole lot by not hiking Diamond Head. The views are nice, but I just can’t get passed the crowds. I understand why it’s so popular, though, due to its proximity to Waikiki. 🤙🏼
Love your honest advise. Visiting soon, you are our #1 “inside” unofficial tour guide. Thanks! from VA, USA.
😂😂 I appreciate it!!
Made my first trip to Hawaii (Oahu and Kauai) last month. Enjoyed my hike up Diamond Head-felt like it was the thing to do while staying in Honolulu. Albeit, next time, I’m not sure I would do it again. It was pretty crowded and touristy. Like an “ok, I checked that box off” sort of thing.
On a general note, your content is awesome. Raw and real. It greatly informed my first trip to Hawaii. Keep it up!
I appreciate you watching, Michael! Yes, I agree. I think with anything touristy, especially one as iconic as Diamond Head, it's good to experience once to see what the hype is about.
We were there last summer for first time and went to Diamond Head around 10 am and yes, I did not like that it was packed with peeps! I wanted to go to lanikai and the pillbox hike but we went on a weekend and just couldn't find parking. We ended going to waimanalo beach which was a gorgeous beach. Makapuu light house was also nice and the mountains in ho'omahulia botanic garden were breath taking. We want to back and see Kualoa Ranch. We stayed at Hyatt Regency in Waikiki and hated the parking lot because it was too narrow. we rented a van and it was a pain going in and out. Hopefully next time we can go somewhere cheap or maybe rent via Air bnb. We do miss Hawaii.
thank you for the videos! So helpful! I just watched them all!!
Thanks, Elion! I appreciate you watching 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Thank you for advice !
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching 🤙🏼
I like your honest opinion. We'll be visiting Waikiki soon. Thanks for your advise.
No problem, Mayka! I’m glad I could help 🤙🏼
I'm glad I skipped Diamond Head. I just got back from Oahu and went to Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach and Lanikai Pillbox. Even though I stayed at the Rainbow Tower in Waikiki, I feel I made the right decision by exploring other parts of the island and spent less time in Waikiki/Honolulu.
nice video, visuals and facts! I actually like Diamond Head because of it's medium effort to high reward views. Easy up and down for me! ...no car, so I've run, biked and bussed to it.
I have done the hike twice on two different trips, it is still worth going if you are limited for time. It is tourist friendly if you are on your first visit. From the top you get a great view of Honolulu out past the airport. You can also understand and appreciate the sense of history of what role it played for the military over the years from its early days, through the WW II years, to its present use today.
Depending on the hotel chain you are with some have an hourly bus service that goes there and does a drop off and pick up, about hourly. The shop prices there for food and water are a bit steep. Take what you need with you.
I agree, Vasso! It's worth doing if you're staying in Waikiki, TheBus is your main mode of transportation, and you've never done it before. Thanks for the tip regarding hotel shuttles. Any convenient way to get to the trailhead is always welcomed 🤙🏼
It's Dec 2022 what is the homeless situation like
Kapiolani park I understand was taken over by homeless
I lived on both Oahu n bigisland n found myself homeless twice but found my way out
Going t write an article on if one finds themselves in a picked
Devised a 6 point plan
Thx f ur time n effort
Want t move back t Oahu, but homeless sit is a concern
How do I get accurate info
Thx
I think we must be related or at least the have the same mindset on travel reviews.
Solid channel
Appreciate it 🤙🏼
Thanks, Shane! Really nice video. Can I fly my drone here? Are they strict? I only have a DJI Mavic Mini.
Hi Nico! Unfortunately, you can't fly your drone at the state monument. If you want drone shots of Diamond Head, I suggest taking off near the lighthouse on Diamond Head road
@@shaneohawaii Understood. Thank you Shane!
Nice video and info, Shane-O!
We loved our Diamond Head hike when we were staying in Waikiki. It was good for us largely for one of the reasons you mentioned - for most of our workation (about two months) we didn't have a car but had bus passes, so the ability to take the bus there was key for us.
We laughed about the fact that our bus driver told us "your hike starts here!" as we got off the bus stop - but he was right! Just as you said, that first .5 mile just to get in to the start of the hike felt a little long.
Yeah, it was kinda crowded for sure. And it wasn't super cheap. But it was really an iconic view of Waikiki - and it was cool to see our building from way up there.
I agree that other locations will probably be nicer and certainly cost less (I think they changed the fee from $1 to $5 literally while we were on our visit) but DON'T skip Diamond Head if that is the only hike easily available for your stay. It was still majestic and beautiful!
Thanks so much for watching!! I agree, Diamond Head is a good option for those staying in Waikiki, but aren’t renting a car. I wish I went even earlier before sunrise to beat the crowds. If you’re here for an extended period like you guys were, I think it’s worth doing once. 👍🏼
Hey man! How can I get in touch with you?
Hey Shane 👋 I am Indigenous from Vancouver Canada. I want to connect with the local culture and gain a better understanding of the native hawaiians. What do you recommend I do/see? Thanks homie 🙏
I’d say if you’re on Oahu, visit the Bishop Museum and Iolani palace to understand Hawaii history. To understand Native Hawaiians specifically, I suggest doing a quick google search on topics such as the “Mauna Kea Protest” and you’ll get a sense of how Native Hawaiians and they’re ancestors have been continually screwed over the course of the islands’ history. Other than that, eat at local establishments as much as possible and you should be good to go. I hope this helps 🤙🏼
@@shaneohawaii Thank you so much for this knowledge. I will for sure look into the history and struggles. I am so down to eat everything local. I appreciate your recommendations, thank you! :)
We were surprised that we had to pay $5 each to hike and $10 to park. Other than that, it was a nice and easy hike...rather short, though. I found that Waikiki, in general, is quite pricey.