DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT

Crater of one kilometer in diameter at the eastern end of Waikiki. Formed 300,000 years ago by an explosive volcanic eruption, it was given its name because, at the end of the 18th century, English sailors thought they had found diamonds there, but they were just crystals! Long before, Hawaiians had called it "Le'ahi", or "crown of fire", because the lava at the top of the mountain was used to guide boats out to sea, like a kind of natural lighthouse... Today, Diamond Head is above all the mountain that is inseparable from Waikiki, and can be seen from afar wherever you are on Waikiki beach.

The hike to the top: a must ! The summit of Diamond Head is reached after a moderate level hike of about 45 minutes and 1h30 to 2h round trip by taking your time (many steps, as well as a bottle of water because it is quickly hot). The view from the summit platforms on Honolulu and Waikiki is simply sublime. Unforgettable! To fully understand what you see on the trail, you can get an audio guide (for a fee) at the Diamond Head Visitor Center at the entrance but it is in English only.

Good to know. Since May 2022, access to the site is subject to a fee and must be booked online well in advance. You will have to choose a time slot of 1 hour if you are on foot, 2 hours if you are by car. Choose the morning for the heat. It is imperative to arrive within the first half hour of your time slot to enter.