Diamond Head Crater in Honolulu, Hawaii
With out question, mountaineering to the summit of the Diamond Head Hike is probably going one of many hottest points to do in Honolulu. I first caught a glimpse of the enduring volcano crater from my window seat as a result of the airplane circled Honolulu whereas making able to land.
It’s a formidable landmark that dominates Waikiki’s shoreline.
Sadly, after we arrived at Oahu, we had been greeted by a strong tropical storm with heaps and loads of rain. The storm lasted for 4 days, which has similarities time frame we had allotted to stay at Waikiki Seashore sooner than transferring to Ko Olina Seashore.
The torrential rain would come and go, giving us momentary moments to find Waikiki Seashore.
Each time we walked up and down Kalakaua Avenue I may even see Diamond Head inside the distance. It was calling me. Nonetheless as a result of the rain continued, it felt like my function of mountaineering to the Diamond Head Summit was not inside the enjoying playing cards for this journey to Oahu.
Nonetheless, as luck (or future?) would have it, our flight home was cancelled. Further on that story proper right here.
We opted to spend an extra night time time at Waikiki Seashore. The model new flight departure time was 4:30 PM native time, which meant I had time to do the Diamond Head hike in any case.
On this publish, I share my experience mountaineering the Diamond Head Crater Path.
Sooner than we get started, I must stage out that solely Braydon and I (Cameron) did the hike. Nicole and Connor opted for a lazy morning on the resort pool in its place.
Diamond Head State Monument is taken into account one in every of Hawaii’s most well-known landmarks.
It’s talked about to have been formed larger than 100,000 years up to now. Throughout the early 1900’s it was really used as a military lookout, given Hawaii’s strategic location inside the Pacific Ocean. In 1968 it was acknowledged as a Nationwide Pure Landmark.
Examine further regarding the fascinating historic previous of Diamond Head State Monument proper right here.
The morning hike did not start successfully
I booked an Uber sooner than leaving the resort room at Marriott Waikiki Seashore Resort. The meeting stage for the driving force is to be on the street nook in entrance of the resort on Kalakaua Ave.
As shortly as we stroll exterior, I uncover the street is blocked off. There usually are not any autos on this often busy road. Nonetheless, the sidewalks are full of pedestrians.
“What’s occurring proper right here?” I ask myself.
An athlete walks earlier me and I uncover a bib on his chest. Then I see one different. And one different. I see people carrying medals spherical their necks.
Then I perceive what’s occurring.
We are attempting to catch an Uber on Kalakaua Ave in the midst of the Honolulu Marathon. Good luck with that!
The Uber driver makes an try to navigate the a way streets of Waikiki Seashore, nevertheless it certainly’s not occurring this morning. He cancels the journey.
So, we stroll just some blocks from the closed streets and take a look at as soon as extra. We’re worthwhile this time and make our means within the course of the Diamond Head Buyer Center.
Sadly, the journey is decrease transient because of the road near the doorway to the park could be blocked because of marathon.
The Uber driver informs us that we’re only one mile from the Diamond Head State Monument parking lot. With no completely different selections on the market, we get out of the auto and start strolling.
We’re proper right here to hike, so an extra mile of strolling simply is not a large deal.
The uphill stroll in the end leads us to the Diamond Head Tunnel.
It’s a single lane road with a pedestrian walkway. The tunnel passes by way of thick volcanic rock that surrounds Diamond Head Crater.
Although it looks like each outdated tunnel, we took a second to know the reality that we had been really strolling by way of a volcano wall. How cool is that?
Our stroll continues until we’re contained within the crater, pictured above.
We pay the park admission on the ticket gross sales house and seize a bottle of water sooner than starting the hike.
The first part of this well-marked path is paved with stone. It’s an easy slope that cuts by way of the forest.
Related – What it was favor to journey to Oahu correct in the midst of the pandemic
Views of the terrain on the half means stage to Diamond Head Summit.
In case you look intently, you’ll see just some people inside the center of the image. The tiny figures give you a manner of scale.
At first look, this looks like a typical mountain hike in a dry native climate. Nonetheless then you definately positively perceive you’re really mountaineering inside an outdated volcanic crater. It’s a singular mountaineering experience.
The Diamond Head hike has various lookout elements on the trail.
Don’t be shocked for those who should wait your flip to grab {a photograph}. It’s a most popular hike and everyone needs {a photograph} to remember the second.
Honolulu is a huge metropolis!
You can see town sprawl consuming the mountains inside the distance.
Witness the cone-shaped crater from this viewpoint.
The landscapes from this vantage stage are excellent.
The steep stairs on the Diamond Head hike are a powerful leg burner.
In case you don’t like heights, like me, merely protect wanting up. The steps are pretty extreme and can be dizzying within the occasion you’re liable to vertigo.
You may wish to attend your flip, counting on the stream of foot website guests going up or down.
Sooner than you attain the summit, you must first transfer by way of an prolonged tunnel that’s carved into the volcano.
The air it skinny in proper right here, so take your time. It was empty on our means up, as you may even see inside the above image.
Nonetheless, this skinny prolonged tunnel was full of people on the best way through which down.
Further stairs! This half is steep.
The last word set of stairs are a windy spiral staircase.
At this stage, you in the meanwhile are strolling inside an outdated military bunker. In 1904, america authorities purchased Diamond Head and it used it for military capabilities. They constructed various tunnels, bunkers and comment lookouts, identical to the one picture underneath.
Discover out about Diamond Head’s military historic previous proper right here.
Views of Oahu’s beautiful south shore from inside an abandoned military bunker.
The above image reveals an outdoor view of the Diamond Head bunker and comment deck.
Summit of Diamond Head Crater
The views from the Diamond Head Summit are spectacular and successfully positively definitely worth the effort to hike the favored Diamond Head path.
There could also be an comment deck (pictured above) to view the Honolulu skyline and surrounding shoreline.
It’s not a very giant platform so it’d most likely get pretty busy all through peak events. You’ll might need to attend your flip to get that Instagram-worthy shot of the Honolulu skyline.
Can you see the small rainbow above the abandoned bunker?
Whereas it may appear as if a tracked path principal as a lot as that outdated bunker, this house is out of bounds and by no means open to most people.
There is a park ranger on the summit who shows hikers and makes constructive people carry on the acceptable paths.
There are steep cliffs up proper right here, in order that you could be careful.
Absorbing the gorgeous views of Waikiki Seashore and Honolulu.
We did it! Braydon may very well be more than happy with himself for reaching the Diamond Head Summit.
It’s not a very strenuous hike, so it’s doable for teens. He’s 10 years outdated on the time.
“Wouldn’t or not it is cool to see a whale from up proper right here?”
Truly 3 seconds after Braydon made that comment, an unlimited humpback whale breached about 200 toes from the shore. Unbelievable timing!
The whale appeared to float in gradual motion as a result of it turned mid-air and flashed its white abdomen sooner than splashing into the ocean.
“I fully referred to as that!” Braydon shouted with amazement.
He did! What are the possibilities of that occuring? We focused our eyes on the spot the place the whale breached nevertheless it certainly did not ground as soon as extra.
Descending from the Summit of Diamond Head.
When you come down, you will take a particular path than the one growing, making a small loop.
Supplied that it’s a carefully trafficked path, most of the steep sections have stairs, making it easy to navigate.
The trail zig-zags alongside the aspect of the crater. You can see just a few hikers inside the above image.
Is the Diamond Head Hike worth it?
Certain. I would say that the Diamond Head hike is worth doing.
It’s one in every of many prime vacationer sights in Honolulu for a trigger. The views on the prime are unimaginable.
Nonetheless, within the occasion you’re looking out for a further a tough hike, there are greater selections. This is not a quiet nature hike with waterfalls and opulent vegetation. It’s extremely regarded and carefully trafficked, so you will not likely really feel alone in nature on this hike.
How exhausting is Diamond Head hike?
It’s powerful to answer this question because of “exhausting” is subjective. It’s dependent upon your well being stage.
I would say that it’s not a tricky hike. Braydon, who’s 10 years outdated on the time, did not have any factors and he did not uncover it powerful.
It’s a successfully marked path, so that you just don’t wish to fret about getting misplaced or taking a mistaken flip.
Some sections of the trail are paved, nevertheless there are moreover free rocks and uneven sections, too.
There are an entire lot of steep stairs on the upper part of the trail. So, within the occasion you’ve acquired harmful knees or accidents, you may want to skip this one.
How prolonged is the hike to Diamond Head Summit?
The Diamond Head hike time will differ relying in your well being stage. Nonetheless, it usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours round-trip, along with just some transient breaks and 10 minutes on the summit.
It’s an out-and-back path, so whenever you get to the very best, you retrace your steps once more to the parking lot.
Full distance is 2.9 kilometres (or 1.7 miles). Elevation obtain is 560 toes.
View the Diamond Head path map proper right here.
How quite a bit does it worth to hike Diamond Head Path?
Non-residents pay a $5 entrance cost to the park. Hawaii residents are free.
You have to purchase your entrance cost from the ticket gross sales house. Financial institution card solely.
Cash simply is not accepted. There could also be no individual there to advertise you tickets – it’s a machine.
Further knowledge about Diamond Head Summit Path proper right here.
Can you stroll to Diamond Head trailhead?
I considered strolling from our resort to the Diamond Head entrance. All through our time in Honolulu, we stayed on the Alohilani Resort and Marriott Waikiki Resort, they’re every located on Waikiki Seashore.
Google maps reveals the stroll is approx. 45 minutes from these lodging to the park entrance.
So, within the occasion you’ve acquired the time and energy, it is doable to walk to Diamond Head State Monument from Waikiki Seashore. It’d most definitely take 3-4 hours in full.
Can you drive as a lot as Diamond Head Summit?
No. You have to hike to the Summit of Diamond Head. There usually are not any roads to the summit.
Is there parking at Diamond Head path?
Parking at Diamond Head State Monument is proscribed. It costs $10 per automotive.
Counting on everytime you arrive, it may very well be powerful to find a parking spot. To stay away from a aggravating situation, keep in mind taking a taxi or ride-share like Uber (that’s what we did).
You may additionally take the Waikiki Trolley service. This hop-on, hop-off tour makes a stop at Diamond Head. Nonetheless, within the occasion you choose this function, it will be finest to take a look on the schedule and plan accordingly.
When is the best time to hike Diamond Head Crater?
There could also be quite a bit debate about the best time to do the Diamond Head hike. Some people actually really feel that daybreak is best, whereas others counsel that it’s too busy inside the morning because of all folks needs to catch the daybreak.
We did the hike on a Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. It wasn’t too busy, or too scorching.
The park is open on daily basis, from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The gates closes at 6:00 PM.
Sooner than you allow, seize a current pineapple juice or smoothie from the favored Honolulu Pineapple Co. vendor. It’s located straight beside the Diamond Head Buyer Center.
You may additionally purchase bottled water proper right here (in case you neglect to ship your particular person water bottle).
Be taught further weblog posts from Hawaii:
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