Diamond Head State Monument || Oahu, Hawaii

 

Diamond Head State Monument 

Located in Oahu, Diamond Head is an iconic landmark at the end of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.  It is a volcanic cone and was previously used by the US military.  From the top of Diamond Head, you get panoramic views of the city and beyond.  

The total elevation gain from the trailhead is about 500 ft, and the total length of the trail (out and back) is 1.8 miles.  It took us about half an hour to reach the top, and we stopped frequently for photo-ops.  

The trail begins as a paved path before transitioning to dirt switchbacks.  There is a first set of stairs followed by a small tunnel.  At the end of the tunnel you have two choices: a second set of steep stairs leading directly to the overlook or a slightly longer path to the left that takes you through an old bunker.  Our group split at this point and met back up at the top.  The longer path only took about 5 more minutes to reach the overlook at the top. 

Once you reach the top, you can climb on top of the bunkers to get the views of Waikiki beach, Honolulu, the Pacific Ocean, and the surrounding area.  We were able to spot our hotel, the Royal Hawaiian, along the shores of Waikiki Beach.

As of the publication of this post, visitors are required to purchase entrance tickets beforehand.  I highly recommend booking your entrance time-slot earlier in the day to beat the heat.