‪Diamond Head State Monument - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
‪Diamond Head State Monument

‪Diamond Head State Monument

‪Diamond Head State Monument
4.5
Hiking TrailsScenic Walking Areas
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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  • pauline s
    Adelaide, Australia6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking views on an enjoyable hike
    I was looking forward to this hike and it didn’t disappoint. There are a number of opportunities to enjoy the view on the way up, so if you don’t make it to the top, it is still worth the effort. I’m in my mid 60’s and as a regular walker found it a reasonably easy hike. As per previous reviews I recommend booking early to avoid the heat. I started at 9am and it took about 90 mins with plenty of stops for photos. The views at the top were amazing.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 12, 2023
  • Anita S
    Lake Cowichan, Canada77 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Busy but good!
    Took taxi for my 8am reservation. Great hike, busy but scenic on way up with some switch back on trail that made it easier. When you get to part where they suggest on sign to go around and not 99steps dont do it! The steps were worth it as you go inside, up spiral staircase and thru a opening in bunker to amazing views. Going back down I took the alternate route for a change of scenery. I decided to walk back to Waikiki so I went back thru tunnel and down to main entrance and went RIGHT at sign. I walked along road, some residential but nice safe sidewalk. I got to Diamond Head beach and took paved walkway down. AMAZING beach. Walked beach as far as i could (to right facing ocean) and up back to road passing other smaller parks/beaches back to Waikiki
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written May 15, 2023
  • Glenn and Terri H
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the effort
    Great hike with exceptional views of Wakiki Beach and surrounding areas. Plenty of switchbacks and places to rest, lots of steps. Surprised by the large amount of gnats at the top - didn't want to stay at the top long as a result. Lots of folk were skipping the bunker and the spiral staircase but that was a fun way to exit. Suggest going in the a.m. - it was rather hot to do it in the p.m.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 18, 2023
  • TCB
    Breckenridge, Colorado27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must do
    Such a great morning walk.The path is clear and paved so anyone with a ok physical can do this just fine . Bring water and sunscreen for sure . You will be rewarded with a glorious Honolulu panoramic view up top . it gets windy up there ,a wind breaker would be helpful.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 20, 2023
  • Winning1
    Seattle, Washington101 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing
    Good views but crowded. entered at 10am (my reservation was 10am-12pm). there was a helicopter rescue going on so people were stopped at the entry watching that. may have affected the crowding. many benches to sit down and catch your breath. would return here!
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 21, 2023
  • NottawaChelle
    Collingwood, Canada29 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gorgeous view!
    The trek up Diamond Head is worth it for the view of the coastline and the Honolulu area. The path is somewhat rough and uneven not to mention fairly steep. There are places to rest as you go. A moderate level of fitness is best but if you're prepared to take your time, pretty much anyone could accomplish it and be happy they did!
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 26, 2023
  • Vicstix
    Newcastle, Australia163 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great View From the Top
    If you are in Honolulu make sure you do the Diamond Head Walk. It is best to do it earlier in the morning as there is no shade along the way. Make sure you pre book the time you would like to visit online before you go. Depending on how fit you are, the walk could be a little strenuous, we are in our early 60's but found it ok, just take your time and you will be fine. The walk is well worth the view when you get to the top :)
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 27, 2023
  • Carrie M
    Vernon, Connecticut19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I made it to the top!
    Initially was aiming for a sunrise hike but alas, the day I had a reservation for this it was of course overcast and raining. I still went and glad I did. The light rain falling made this hike more bearable to me. Lots of steps!!! Took my time and made it to the top. I don't think I would have made it all the way if the sun was out in full force.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 28, 2023
  • Rex
    Wellington, New Zealand12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An amazing day out!
    We only had one day left so we had to choose either Bishop museum or Diamond head crater. We wanted to do one outdoor activity everyone was talking about so we decided to go here. We took bus number 2 from Waikiki which took us directly to the starting point. It was a very easy walk, beautiful scenery and nice day out. The only thing I wasn’t aware of was that you need to make a booking in advance to enter! I didn’t realize it until I saw the sign. I asked some people coming back from the crater and they said they didn’t make a booking either but it wasn’t that busy that day so they just walked in and paid $5. You might want to check how busy it is on the day you visit. The weather was very breezy and a little bit cloudy so a perfect day for hiking! We enjoyed the views and took a lot of photos saw many birds and even mongoose!!
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 30, 2023
  • Michael S
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit Diamond Head!
    Always great to visit Diamond Head. The walk can be challenging for some, but totally worth the hike. The views from the top are spectacular and the trip back in time to WW2 is amazing. You MUST get a reservation prior to entry if going in a vehicle to the walk area. No big deal, can be done online and you can easily get your reservation for the next day if need be. If you can walk a little over a mile at a moderate climb, negotiate about 50-60 stairs you can do this. There are benches to sit on if you need to take a break on the way up. Bring a small bottle of water! Use sunscreen and have fun. Restrooms on side at the parking area.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 2, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles24,373 reviews
Excellent
15,847
Very good
6,930
Average
1,340
Poor
177
Terrible
79

Alison K
Lodi, NJ888 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written January 6, 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, CA16 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 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 August 4, 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, Canada117 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 January 14, 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 February 2, 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, PA285 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 December 19, 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
287 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 November 12, 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, TN25 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 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 June 19, 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, HI20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written March 6, 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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 February 18, 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, CA40 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written January 23, 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.

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‪Diamond Head State Monument - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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