UPDATED FEB 2020. Today I am sharing a practical guide on how to hike Diamond Head which is one of the most popular hikes on the island. When I was writing this post I thought of just how much there is to do here on the island. When I think about what adventures I have here on the blog, it is not even a quarter of the things I have actually done, and then what I have actually done is not even a quarter of the adventures here on the island. It is almost like the never-ending adventure island and I constantly feel like I tick one thing off the bucket list then find three more things. It’s not really relevant to the post, but just a thought I had an wanted to show appreciation for a little island with so much to offer.
How To Hike Diamond Head – An Uber Popular Trail On Oahu
Disclaimer
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FAQ for hiking Diamond Head
Where is it located?
Honolulu, about 15 minutes drive from Waikiki.
What skill is needed?
Beginner – it’s uphill on a clearly maintained trail.
How long does it take to hike?
Approx 2 hours depending on your pace.
Is there a cost to hike?
No, only a cost for parking. Depending on where you park, it’s either $5USD or $1USD.
What are the opening hours?
6am – 6pm.
What should you bring with you?
- Cash for the entrance fee
- Hat
- Water bottle
- Snacks or lunch
- Camera (I use a GoPro with this compact selfie stick and tripod combo
) - Swimwear and towel if you want to go to the beach afterward
)
Where to park
There are two options.
You can drive through the tunnel and park in a lot close to the start for a $5 parking fee.
Otherwise, you can park further back wherever you can find a legal spot, walk in through the tunnel and instead only pay $1 entrance fee.
How to get to the Diamond Head hike on the bus
Take the bus #23 to Diamond Head Road + 18th Ave.
Ask the bus driver or staff at your hotel to make sure this is current.
From there you will walk up through the tunnel and to the entrance and allow about 30 minutes or so for this walk.
How to hike the Diamond Head trail
The trail is well marked and very easy to follow.
It can be a little uneven at times so I recommend some good walking shoes. Regular sneakers will be fine or, if you are looking for a new pair of hiking shoes, I use the New Balance Minimus
and they’re my favorite hiking shoes.
During the hike, you will walk the trail up to the top and also get to climb a steep staircase as well as an indoor spiral staircase, walk through a tunnel, stand in what was a fire control station, and even in an old bunker.
If you prefer not to take the stairs, there is a path around them and you don’t have to go inside the bunker if you don’t want to). The crater and park are rich in history which you can learn all about at the gift shop.
It’s an open trail with little to no shade for most of it.
Protect yourself from the elements with a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. to avoid any heat-related illnesses and also bring a water bottle. If you can avoid it in the hottest part of the day that’s also another good idea.
What to expect
It’s easily accessible, not strenuous, and well-known which all comes together to make this is one of the most popular hikes on the island. Expect a touristy crowd.
To avoid the crowds, try to go as early as possible, but expect a tourist attraction and not an off-the-beaten-path nature experience.
It’s an easy trail in terms of skill but it’s full of inclines and switchbacks so expect to get a burn going on your legs.
There are picnic benches and shaded areas before the start of the trail so it’s a nice spot if you want to pack a picnic lunch too. There’s even a shave ice van at the bottom as well which is always so refreshing after a hike.
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Other things to do in the area
There’s a lot to do in the area and it’s a good idea to combine a few of these for a ‘downtown day’ and use other days to branch out to other areas of the island.
If you’d like to go to the beach you could visit Waikiki, Ala Moana Beach Park, or even Kahala Beach. Beaches around Waikiki are not my favorite beaches but they do give you the fun, touristy vibes and there’s always a lot going on around them.
If you’d like to do another hike in the area, I recommend:
- Manoa Falls
- Wa’ahila Ridge Trail
- Tantalus Lookout
Here’s my guide on beginner hikes on Oahu for more ideas.
Where to eat nearby
For food, I recommend going to South Shore Grill for lunch, Leonards Bakery for some of the famous Malasadas, Tucker and Bevvy for brunch or breakfast.
Another thing I like to do is stop at Safeway for a Poke bowl – sure they’re not the best on the island but you can get one fast then get back into the adventures.
Arvo Cafe is further away but a very cool, hipster-like cafe worth visiting as well, or if you prefer bubble tea, check out Mr. Tea.
Where to stay on Oahu
If you plan to stay in Waikiki, and it’s a good place to base yourself from because there’s always a lot going on and it’s easy to branch off to different areas of the island if you want to explore more, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is my favorite place downtown for a staycation.
No matter where you’d like to stay, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I use to book accommodation when I travel and I can always find a good deal there.
I hope this guide has been able to help you plan your own adventure if you had been wondering how to hike Diamond Head.
As always use your best judgment as far as if this is a suitable hike for you, stick to the trail, and remember to take any trash with you so these beautiful adventures will be around for others in the future.
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