Hiking Diamond Head in Hawaii

Prominently featured on almost every postcard of Waikiki, Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. With a trail that allows visitors to hike to the top, Diamond Head offers some of the most incredible views overlooking Honolulu and the surrounding island. There are also a handful of bunkers at the top of the volcano leftover from World War 2 that further add to the character of Diamond Head and its landmark status.

Diamond Head got its English name from British sailors in the 19th century who mistook calcite crystals on a nearby beach for diamonds. Today a casual 1.1km (0.75 mile) hike leads to the edge of the crater with a gain of 560 feet in elevation.

At the top of Diamond Head you'll find a former coastal artillery observation platform, small bunkers, tunnels, an interior spiral staircase, and a long exterior outdoor staircase. We were pretty casual and took our time at Diamond Head, and the hike and sightseeing still only took a couple hours. It's well worth a visit for the views alone.