Diamond Head State Monument
Diamond Head State Monument
4.5
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
This dormant volcano crater is one of Honolulu’s major natural landmarks, known for its history, amazing hikes, and stunning coastal views. The way to the summit is an easy-to-moderate hike up—though there's a steep flight of steps—and you'll be treated to some of the best views on the island. There are also many lookouts surrounding the crater. If you have limited mobility, don't worry, multiple other hikes within the park are accessibility friendly. It can get busy (and hot!) so try to reach early in the morning and bring sunscreen and plenty of water. Online reservations are required for non-residents but are often included in guided tours of Diamond Head. – Tripadvisor
Duration: < 1 hour
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Neighbourhood: Diamond Head - Kapahulu - St. Louis
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- Patty B18 contributionsGreat viewsDiamond Head State Monument was a great afternoon hike. We started at the visitor center and did the crater summit trail. It was challenging for me but I am 61 and in just ok shape. It is listed as a moderate hike. We were advised to skip the last set of stairs and do the longer but more gradual trail to the top. This was good advice! Stunning views and because we did it in the later afternoon we enjoyed some shade on the way down.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 5 October 2023
- John g5 contributionsAmazing views and experienceThe hike is steep but short. Well worth the 360° views from the top and a little piece of History with the bunker at the peak. Highly suggest getting there at 6AM when it opens, if you start at 6 you can get the sunrise on your hike which is as stunning as the views from the peak. Make sure to make a reservation!!!!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 October 2023
- HckycrlrVancouver, Canada22 contributionsBeautiful views from the topThe views are worth the hike! Just push through the steep hike. The first part of the hike is uneven ground, so watch your footing. The second part is stairs. Take breaks and bring water and a hat. The heat made the hike pretty sweaty. There is a long tunnel you have to walk through before ascending the final staircase. It has little lighting and is fairly narrow, if you have any fears of tight spaces, it’s something to think about. I have terrible knees and managed to get through the hike within an hour (that’s up and down).Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 9 October 2023
- islandlovingtwosomeLake Forest, California125 contributionsGo For It. You Won't Regret ItWhoo-Hoo, we did it. We wanted a challenge and we got it. We had a rental car and didn't want to deal with the on-site timed parking lot. We decided to park for free at Queen Kapiolani Community College and walk to the entrance. Diamond Head was not at all what I expected, which made it all the more interesting. Grab some water and give it a shot. The views of Waikiki at the summit are amazing. BTW, my husband is 68 and I'm 66. If we can do it, you can probably do it too.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 October 2023
- Melyssa W23 contributionsGreat experience with amazing viewsGreat experience with amazing views! It is a relatively easy hike up the mountain. Took us about 45min to get to the top. Bother my 7 year old and 1p year old had no problems hiking up. It was worth it for the breathtaking view. It was not too busy when we went so we were able to take some photos and enjoy the view for a bit.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 14 October 2023
- Neil BAuckland, New Zealand1,483 contributionsWalk to Diamond Head from Waikiki (despite Google Maps saying it can’t find a way there).Iconic O’ahu landmark. About a 40 minute walk to the visitors’ centre from Waikiki, then a 30 minute walk up to the summit. 3/4 of the climb is a relatively easy gradient but the last 1/4 is steep. You need to reserve a time slot in advance. Easy walk from Waikiki, despite Google Maps saying it can’t find a way there!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 October 2023
- Barry TSydney, Australia55 contributionsClimb of Diamond HeadThis is a must do experience if visiting Honolulu. It is a challenging climb but worth the effort. Book ahead is a must, the trails and stairs can be crowded. Catch the 2, 2L or 23 bus out of Waikiki makes it a cost effective experience.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 October 2023
- Lee-Ann LOrangeville, Canada25 contributionsWorth the hikeWe had an amazing time at Diamond Head. It was a hard trek for this fluffy girl but with lots of rests I made it to the top for the beautiful views. Would definitely recommend everyone have this experience if they are in Oahu. My only recommendation would be to have a water refill station at the top, it is hot and carrying lots of water makes the trek that much harder. We just sipped our water bottles on the way up and then once at the bottom we refilled and grabbed a Gatorade and juice from the vending machines which were reasonably price.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 October 2023
- Jeremy CAtlanta, Georgia950 contributionsMust SeeThe views from the top of the crater are amazing, looking both to the East coast and of Waikiki. The hike up is a little steep, including 100 steps at the end, but even if you are old or young, just take it slowly. Be aware, however, that reservations are now needed to enter the park and there is a charge both for parking and for each person.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 October 2023
- GAN LKuala Lumpur, Malaysia10,633 contributionsEndurance testWent online to book the entrance ticket, usd5 per adult for the 7 am slot. Took Uber here. Then upon checking in, went up the trail. It was a gentle steep climb upwards. Just 10 minutes before reaching the summit, we had to climb up a few dozen steps. That was indeed challenging. At the lookout points, we stopped for a rest and took photos. Beautiful scenery. We also saw the buildings at Waikiki beach area. At the summit, we saw the Diamond Head crater.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 October 2023
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4.5
24,439 reviews
Excellent
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Average
1,340
Poor
177
Terrible
82
Alison K
Milford, PA2,827 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Took an uber to the visitor center. The uber drivers have to pay $2 fee to get through the gate for the day, so I felt a little bad but the uber was $11+ from Waikiki. It was still early (around 9am) so he could make multiple trips up and make up for it.
Not too hard of a hike, but plenty of people on the path going up and coming down which was kind of annoying at times. Trying to get by people took some time because there was always someone coming down and there is only room for 1 row of people on either side.
There were points where the path was pretty uneven, and I was a little shocked to see a lady with flip flops carrying a baby in a sling. At the top viewpoint some people were a little pushy and hogging the best photo spot, but people were also helpful in taking each other's photos. The little bunker before the top was cute. Tunnels were a bit tight.
Worth doing once to say I did it but not necessary to do it again. I think we hiked it in about 45 minutes. Bring a bottle or 2 of water.
Not too hard of a hike, but plenty of people on the path going up and coming down which was kind of annoying at times. Trying to get by people took some time because there was always someone coming down and there is only room for 1 row of people on either side.
There were points where the path was pretty uneven, and I was a little shocked to see a lady with flip flops carrying a baby in a sling. At the top viewpoint some people were a little pushy and hogging the best photo spot, but people were also helpful in taking each other's photos. The little bunker before the top was cute. Tunnels were a bit tight.
Worth doing once to say I did it but not necessary to do it again. I think we hiked it in about 45 minutes. Bring a bottle or 2 of water.
Written 6 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew F
Thousand Oaks, CA17 contributions
July 2021 • Family
My family of 4 hiked diamond head, took us about 30 minutes to go up, 25 to go down, and It was amazing, one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. HOWEVER, the reason for only two stars is the parking problem! We drove our car all the way into the crater to the parking lot, but as we kept getting closer we noticed they were steering people away, and making them turn around. When we got to the near front of the line, we saw a sign saying “parking lot full”. Now, I understand it’s crowded and all, but they really should have put the sign up more (maybe by the cave tunnel you have to drive through) so people don’t have to drive all the way there just to get turned around to leave at the entrance to the lot. What we did was park our car in a neighborhood and got a olive that dropped us off at the lot. They really need to get there parking situation under control. If all those cars were able to park (and therefore pay the parking fee) this monument could be making a whole lot more of money! So, I’d recommend either making the sign that the lots full more visable and further up, or allowing people to park in the huge open dirt field right next to the parking lot!
Written 4 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lidia O
Minto, Canada115 contributions
Dec 2019
This was our third climb so I had to rate it a little less than the first when it was a nivel experience. Having said that, I would consider it a must do if you are in Honolulu. Public tranportation is available and cheap. It was $2.00 for a city bus, but it does not get you real close to the crater. About a 15 min walk and it does get hot. There are trolleys that drop you off right at the visitor's centre but they are more expensive. We went by rental car and the fee was $5.00 for parking. No other charge. Since we are both seniors we took our time going up. Also my wife has a bad knee, but that should not deter most people. They say 20-30 min is a good time to reach the top. The ascent is fairly gentle with the stairways the hardest part. 99 and 76 steps. There is a long tunnel too, if you are claustrophobic at all. The view at the top is spectacular. We liked being able to see our hotel, the Royal Hawaiian. You really should go.
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geena Z
7 contributions
Jan 2020
Amazing hike. They charge you a dollar to get in and then you follow the trail all the way up. It's a combination of ramps and stairs. I would suggest still wearing good shoes as there are some uneven paths at times. It's pretty busy as it's a popular hike but very much worth it for the views. They don't let anyone hike after 4.30pm so make sure you get there in time.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
307leven
Stroudsburg, PA307 contributions
Dec 2021
We took a cab from Waikiki on the first Thursday of December. The cost for Diamond Head was $5/person, but if you drive, they also charge $10 to park. The park doesn't accept cash - only credit/debit card. Hike to the summit took over 1/2 hour due to some parts being steep and taking photo breaks, etc. When you go through the tunnel toward the top, you have to go either left or right - we went left because it's not quite as steep as going right and through the steps and spiral steps in the bunker. We spent about 20 minutes at the top admiring the great views before we started our descent going through the bunker on the way down. We arrived at 8:45 am so it wasn't too busy, but it started getting crowded before we left at about 10:30 after drinking a pineapple drink at the bottom. We walked back to Waikiki (about 2.5 to 3 miles because we visited the Honolulu Zoo which is on the way back. If you go, bring water, sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes. I would describe the hike as moderate as it wasn't too difficult, but it helps to be in reasonably good shape.
Written 19 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sightseer779040
509 contributions
Oct 2022
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 the sunrise.
Written 12 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R C
Kingsport, TN36 contributions
June 2021 • Family
I would recommend either going very early in the morning or late in the afternoon . We visited about 9:30 am and it was very crowded and hot. The hike itself is not difficult, although it does involve a constant incline and steep stairs. Views on top are beautiful.
Written 19 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PLT142
Honolulu, HI23 contributions
Oct 2019
This adventure was taken with a full on workout in mind; I did it in flipflops and made it to the top of those many many many make shift stairs in 20 minutes. The climb for the average person would probably seem grueling bothersome and not worth the trouble, but low and behold once you make it to the summit you are rewarded with the most fantastic views that will surely be one of the most lasting memories of your entire vacation!
With all of that said, I would highly recommend gym shoes for the safety and overall comfort of the climb. Go for it!
Enjoy and have a safe blessed adventure.
With all of that said, I would highly recommend gym shoes for the safety and overall comfort of the climb. Go for it!
Enjoy and have a safe blessed adventure.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith S
Medical Lake, WA145 contributions
Jan 2020
We were here in January and the rainy season came early. We had a rental car for the day and first arrived in the morning but it was jam packed with cars; the wait for parking would have been long. So we passed and went on our rest of the day tour of the island. Toward the end of the day, we decided to give this place another try; to our surprise, there was plenty of parking and they weren't even charging to park, but we would have to hurry before they closed. The hike was much harder than I expected; not so much for our energetic 18 year old grandson. He kept slowing down/waiting for us. The view from the top does not include the actual Diamond Head crater, which was disappointing, but the views of the island were great. With the rainy season comes the rainbows. On the way down, I slipped on a wet area but luckily was holding onto the rail and just wrenched my shoulder a little, but better than falling. Wear good quality shoes! I was but still slipped in the steeper wet areas.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cruz M
San Diego, CA43 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
A must experience hike while in Honolulu! Omg! I cannot express how outstanding this hike was. Diamond Head is great for anyone who wants to experience nature at its finest. We did the early morning hike 6:30am so we could watch the sunrise and it was incredible!!! The hike itself was a moderate hike, but I recommend to get there as early as possible because it can get hot really fast. Take the essentials; water, sunblock, a hat and some really good shoes.
There is a food truck that sells acai bowls, water, hot dogs, pineapple drinks, and some other goodies. Nice treat to yourself after conquering the crater. There was also a nice little souvenir store at the bottom of the hill too.
There is a food truck that sells acai bowls, water, hot dogs, pineapple drinks, and some other goodies. Nice treat to yourself after conquering the crater. There was also a nice little souvenir store at the bottom of the hill too.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are they strict about reservation times? Has anyone been able to enter before their pre-booked time?
We made reservations for 11am, thinking we can realistically get there between 10:30-11am. I read online you could be denied if you arrived after 30 min into your slot, so just curious if they are lenient about letting people in early if its not crowded.
Written 16 August 2024
No not strict if you are just walking in... parking will be strict because there are limited spaces
Written 31 August 2024
We are planning a Diamond Head hike mid July. We've hiked it once before, before reservations were required. If we park outside the gate, is our time within the area timed? I read that if you park with in the gate, you have to leave when the reservation is up. How does it work for those who park outside the area (or say, take a bus, Uber, etc? (since this new reservation stuff, I've had both knees replaced and one revised)
Written 30 June 2024
Hi we ar going at the end of July and our son is almost 5. Is the hike easy for his age? Thanks
Written 24 June 2024
I’m trying to make a reservation but the website stalls on the payment page. I tried 6 times in the last 2 days. Is there a problem? Does anybody know when it will be fixed? For reference this is the website I’m using gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead
Written 26 May 2023
I booked my tour with viator.
Written 27 May 2023
Can i take a taxi or uber to the start?
Written 27 February 2023
Yes there’s a place for taxis and Uber Lyft drop off. The city bus drops off a couple minutes down the hill.. they ask for reservations for the park currently, but same day reservations we’re available when I was there. There’s a lot of walking involved so just prepare for the sun.
Written 28 February 2023
Entry and parking reservations are required. Entry fee is $5 and parking is $10. Reservation can be made online. Enjoy your hike, it is worth it.
Written 17 January 2023
Is there a bus that I can take from the Ilikai Hotel to the hike up Diamond Head
Written 4 December 2022
Bus service around the island is pretty good, and there is a bus that goes up to Diamond Head, but as noted by others, the bus stop is just outside the gateway tunnel to the park, so it's a bit of a hike to the visitor center in the middle of the caldera. From the visitor center you can then hike up to the rim and get some really great views, but hiking is the only way to the rim.
Written 5 December 2022
Starting May 1st, is not when the is busiest ... reservation is needed. As such, I believe the reservations will control the overcrowding for visitors to enjoy their visits. Reservations can be 2 weeks in advance.
Written 2 May 2022
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