Honolulu (Oahu Island) - Diamond Head - Helpful Info for Visitors

Diamond Head Address

Diamond Head State Monument, Honolulu, HI 96815

Diamond Head Admission Fee and Hours

Diamond Head Admission :

$1 (Cash) per Pedestrian

$5 (Cash) per Car

There is a $1 cash entrance fee for each pedestrian and a $5 fee in cash per car.

Buy Tour Tickets - Diamond Head Crater Adventure - with Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off

Diamond Head Hours :

6 AM - 4 PM (Daily)

Open 365 days a year, and the Visitor Center is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Diamond Head State Park is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The last Entrance to hike the Diamond Head trail is at 4:30 p.m.

It takes about 2 hours (round trip) to hike Diamond Head.

The Diamond Head State Park's main gates are locked at 6 p.m. every day, and all visitors need to be out of the park by this time.

Getting to Diamond Head in Honolulu

By Car to Diamond Head : (From Waikiki)

- From Waikiki is to head east on Kalakaua until you get to the Honolulu Zoo.

- Take a left turn onto Monsarrat Avenue and continue for 1.25 miles until the road turns into Diamond Head Road.

- After another quarter-mile, you will come across a crater tunnel with an entrance into the crater.

Car Parking at Diamond Head :

- If you are driving, be aware - there are only 78 parking spaces within the Diamond Head crater.

- To avoid the busy morning period, you may want to consider going in the slower afternoon between noon and 4 p.m.

By TheBus to Diamond Head : (From Waikiki):

- Take Bus Route 2 or 23 to the Diamond Head State Monument stop.

- Walk about 15-20 mins through Crater tunnel to the ticket booth at Diamond Head State Park.

By Waikiki Trolley to Diamond Head (from Waikiki): (Hop-on Hop-off Bus)

- Take Waikiki Trolley Green Line, Diamond headline, get off at stop 7 "Diamond Head Crater" at Diamond Head entrance (ticket booth).

- Waikiki Trolley Green line hop-on hop-off bus stop 7 (after crater tunnel) is at the entrance.

- Waikiki Trolley Saves 15-20 mins of walk compare to TheBus.

Waikiki Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of Honolulu - $25.00

Recommendations and Tips

Hike at Diamond Head :

It takes about two hours round trip (1.6 miles) to hike the Diamond Head trail in Honolulu. 

If you plan to hike at Diamond Head State Monument, make sure you arrive before 4:00 p.m.

The Hike up to this monument will take about 2 hours round trip.

The last entrance to hike the trail is at 4:30 p.m.

The gates are locked at 6:00 p.m. (daily), and all visitors must be out of the park by this time.

While the hike at Diamond Head isn’t long, it can be challenging due to steepness.

Parts of the trail are on the uneven rock.  

Trail Steep stairway of 74 concrete steps leads into the first narrow tunnel.

The dimly lit tunnel is 225 feet long. 

After that, you will encounter a Second stairway consisting of 99 steep steps with overhead beams.

At the top of the stairs is the entry to the lowest level of the Fire Control Station with observation equipment for Fort DeRussy at Waikïkï.

The lighted spiral staircase accessed the 4 levels of the Fire Control Station at Diamond Head.

Go up the 52 stairs to the third level, where the mounts for the observation equipment are still present.

Exit to the exterior of the crater through slits once covered with metal shutters.

When you are ready to leave from the summit, follow the trail along the rim and take the 82 metal steps down to the lower trail.
This trail loops back to the tunnel.

We recommend taking the 82 metal steps up the trail if you have a baby backpack because the height inside can get low in places. 

Besides, it is a prettier hike as it is outside in the open. 

Unfortunately, The hiking trail to the summit is not ADA accessible because it is a steep and uneven pathway.

Make sure to bring a water bottle or bottled water! 

There is a refill drinking water fountain and bathrooms at the entrance of the trailhead.

There is a self-guided audio tour available for a small fee. 

The one-hour self-guided audio tour focuses on the history, culture, geography, plant and animal life, and scenery at the Diamond Head summit.

You can rent at the Visitor Center or online.  

Each tour includes a free State of Hawaii official "I Hiked Diamond Head" certificate.

It gets crowded in the morning and late afternoon hours because it is a cooler hike at Diamond Head. 

Hiking in the middle of the day is less crowded, but it does make for a harder hike due to heat, so make sure to drink lots of water!

Wear good walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. Don't wear flip-flops as there are rocks on the trail.


Other Tips for Diamond Head :

- We recommend taking the Waikiki Trolley Green line if you don't have Car and going in the busy morning time as parking is limited.

- If you are looking for a guided tour with Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off, then go for :
  - Diamond Head Crater Adventure - with Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off

- If you are going to Multiple attractions in the Honolulu area, we suggest buying a “Go Oahu” card by Smart Destinations.   
  The go Oahu card Honolulu covers the Diamond Head guided Tour with transportation to and from Waikiki Hotels.

- No pets are allowed except service animals at Diamond Head.

Website

Hawaii State Parks - Diamond Head State Monument Website page