Hiking up the Diamond Head Crater Trail (known as Lē’ahi in Hawaiian) at sunrise in Honolulu had been on my Hawaii must do list for many years. Diamond Head is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Oahu and hiking to the top for an incredible view of the city and Waikiki Beach is one of the most popular things to do whilst in Honolulu.

I finally visited Hawaii this year and flying over Diamond Head before we landed into Honolulu I was filled with excitement looking down at the amazing view below. One of the best things about Diamond Head is that it is a very easy hike meaning anyone can do it without too much trouble. In this blog post and travel guide I have included as much up to date details and information as I can including tips and advice to help make the most of your visit.

Since May 2022 you must now make a reservation to visit Diamond Head before you get there on the Hawaii State Parks website – you cannot turn up on the day without a booking as you will be turned away unless you are a resident of Hawaii with a state ID. This system was introduced this year to help control the crowds of people that were visiting. Reservations can be made thirty days in advance and you can purchase both your admission as well as parking if you have a car with you.  If travelling during peak times remember to book as far in advance as you can to avoid disappointment. Entrance prices are currently $5 per person (children aged 3 years and under are free) and parking is $10 per vehicle.

The drive from Aulani where we were staying in Ko Olina to Diamond Head took just under forty minutes (there was not that much traffic at that time of the morning) and we arrived at the Kapahulu Tunnel at the entrance to the crater at 5:45am. There were less than ten cars already waiting and do not be alarmed if nothing is moving as the tunnel itself does not open until 6:00am.

If you do not have a car it is also possible to walk to Diamond Head from Honolulu (it will take roughly an hour each way) or take a taxi, Uber or the bus.

The best and least crowded time of the day to hike Diamond Head is first thing in the morning when the park opens at 6:00am. Due to the time difference in Hawaii, you will probably be awake very early anyway (we woke up at 3:00am that morning due to jet lag) so try to make the most of these early hours and head to Diamond Head early before it gets too hot and the sun becomes too strong as there is very little shade on the trail. This way you will also have the rest of the day to explore more of Oahu or relax on the beach or by the pool at your hotel. The last reservation to hike Diamond Head is at 4:00pm and you must enter the park no later than 4:30pm and you have to leave by 6:00pm when the gates are locked.

As soon as you have parked your car, make sure to start the hike as soon as possible as you only have two hours before you need to leave the parking lot. Do not worry though as this is more than enough time to do the hike and get all the photos that you want without having to rush. Make sure to arrive at the time that you have booked to make the most of your two hours and if you do not have a car with you then you do not have the same time limit and can leave whenever you are ready.

There are toilets available next to the Visitor Center so make sure to use them as there are no others on the trail until you get back.

The start of the trail is clearly signposted from the car park and the hike from the trailhead to the summit of the Diamond Head Crater is 0.8 miles (1.3km) with an elevation gain of 560 ft (171 metres).

The trail begins very easy as you are walking along a mainly flat paved path with only a very slight incline until you reach the base of the crater wall.

Gradually the trail becomes both steeper as well as very rocky and uneven with a series of switchbacks so sensible shoes are essential especially if it has been raining (which it does a lot in Hawaii) as it could get very slippery in places. However there are also handrails that you can use to hold onto if needed.

We did not rush the trail and took our time as we wanted to enjoy it after waiting so long to visit. We made frequent stops to look at the views and take photos as well as stand to the side to let anyone pass us if they were walking quickly. There is a great lookout point located half way up which overlooks the crater below so you can see how far you have walked so far.

The next section of the trail is where the majority of the elevation gain happens. Just after the lookout point is the first set of stairs – there are 74 steps to climb but take your time, do not rush and they are easily doable. At this time we also encountered people that had already reached the summit and were heading back down.

At the top of the stairs is a tunnel which is 225 feet long and a great place to escape the sun as you are walking through. There are lights but if you suffer from claustrophobia, be aware that it is quite narrow and there is no avoiding this tunnel (there is no other way up) if you want to reach the summit of Diamond Head.

When you reach the end of the tunnel you will see the above sign which tells you the best way to get to the summit from this point as you can take two different routes.

The first route that the majority of blogs and videos talk about starts with walking up the 99 steps that will be on your right which are very steep and very intimidating followed by another 52 steps up a spiral staircase – this route is slightly quicker albeit definitely more challenging.

However take the easier and recommended option to the left and walk up to the summit outdoors past several lookout points with amazing views along the coastline towards Koko Head before walking up 82 steps which are not as steep as the other route. Walking in this direction around the loop of the trail means that you will only have to walk down the steep staircase on the way back down which is much better.

No matter which route you take to reach the summit of Diamond Head, there is one last staircase of 54 steps to reach the top. But before you walk up them take a few minutes to enjoy the views all around around you including towards Hanauma Bay in the distance as well as down to the Diamond Head Lighthouse below.

When you reach the summit of Diamond Head the view overlooking Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and out across the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking and if you’re lucky, you might even see a rainbow too. I could not believe I was finally there and seeing that iconic and picture postcard view with my own eyes after waiting for this trip for so long. I also could not believe that we had blue skies given the rain that had come down when we were driving to Diamond Head that morning. The weather changes constantly in Hawaii so if it is cloudy when you reach the summit just wait five minutes and the sun will more than likely appear.

Even though we took our time and stopped to take plenty of photos on the way, the hike from the trailhead to the summit only took us forty minutes. I did not find it difficult at all – it was more like a walk with a few stairs to climb towards the end.

After taking way too many photos of the view we walked back down the 54 steps and into the bunker and observation station to continue the trail and head down the 52 steps on the spiral staircase. We then walked down those 99 steep steps before walking back through the long tunnel and back down the final 74 steps of the hike – thankfully walking down all of the stairs is not hard work at all.

As we were walking back down towards the trailhead, there were a lot more people hiking up to the summit than there had been earlier so I knew that we had made the right decision to arrive when we did at 6:00am. It was already noticeably hotter too (and it was still early morning) so starting the hike as early as possible when Diamond Head opens for the day is definitely recommended.

We arrived back at the Visitor Center twenty five minutes after we left the summit of Diamond Head. The entire hike had taken us just over an hour and a half without rushing, taking lots of photos as well as taking in the view for ages at the top.

Before heading back to our car (as you have to leave the car park by the time stated on the reservation) we both got a Dole Whip from the Honolulu Pineapple Company who have a truck in the car park to celebrate completing the hike and our first full day in Hawaii.

The best tips I can give anyone who is planning to hike Diamond Head is to make sure you wear comfortable and sensible shoes such as trainers (leave the flip flops for the beach and the pool) and make sure you have a hat, sunglasses, your camera as well as plenty of sunscreen (as there is very little shade) and water.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting Hawaii, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

I would recommend the hike to the summit of Diamond Head to anyone and everyone of all ages. The views over Honolulu are incredible and a perfect way to start your day in Hawaii.

Since this blog post was written back in 2022, some of the information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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