Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The challenging but rewarding hike to Diamond Head Crater.
Diamond Head was created by a volcanic explosion about half a million years ago. The
Hawaiians called the crater Leahi (meaning the brow of the ahi, or tuna, referring to the shape
of the crater). Diamond Head was considered a sacred spot; King Kamehameha offered hu-
man sacrifices at a heiau (temple) on the western slope. It wasn't until the 19th century that
Mount Leahi got its current name: A group of sailors found what they thought were dia-
monds in the crater; it turned out they were calcite crystals, but the Diamond Head moniker
stuck.
Before you begin your journey to the top of the crater, put on some decent shoes (rubber-
soled tennies are fine) and take a flashlight (you'll walk through several dark tunnels), binocu-
lars (for better viewing at the top), water (very important), a hat to protect you from the sun,
and a camera. You might want to put all your gear in a pack to leave your hands free for the
climb. If you don't have a flashlight or your hotel can't lend you one, you can buy a small one
for a few dollars as part of a Diamond Head climbers' “kit” at the gift shop at the
NewOtani
KaimanaBeachHotel,
on the Diamond Head end of Kalakaua Avenue, just past the Waikiki
Aquarium and across from Kapiolani Park.
Go early, preferably just after the 6am opening (park closes at 6pm), before the midday sun
starts beating down. The hike to the summit of Diamond Head starts at Monsarrat and 18th
avenues on the crater's inland (or mauka) side. To get there, take TheBus no. 58 from the Ala
Moana Shopping Center or drive to the intersection of Diamond Head Road and 18th Aven-
ue. Follow the road through the tunnel (which is closed 6pm-6am) and park in the lot. The
trail head starts in the parking lot and proceeds along a paved walkway (with handrails) as
it climbs up the slope. You'll pass old World War I and II pillboxes, gun emplacements, and
