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 | Honolulu Diamond Head Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 38 |  |
 | |  |  | Diamond Head: Climbing Diamond Head | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
Ah well, having put on appropriate hiking gear, jeans and trainers, it was time to try and kill myself by climbing the hill....... A strenuous climb for one so unfit, I noted the distinct lack of cardiac resuscitation equipment along the way and the elegant sandals and shoes of the Japanese Tourists.... with frequent pauses (to admire the views) it is possible to climb it in about 45 minutes, going down was much easier.... The path is sometimes rocky and uneven so good footwear is a must unless you want broken ankles, although I did see a rather fetching pair of high heeled glittery slingbacks on one fashion conscious girl, also a rather well dressed couple with elegant umbrellas..... so it seems it is possible to wear what you like. Take water and plenty of film, also a good pair of binoculars.... when you get to the top you can see for miles and it is also a good place for whale watching. One humpbacked jumped right out of the water.... magical. The sea is a deep blue, although not the royal blue of the Mediterranean and you can watch the paragliding surfers in action. Lots of helicopters flew by on sight seeing tours which looked like fun, if you don't get airsick. Leave a Comment Directions: Look at Honolulu from the sea and it is on the left..... well, you know I haven't got a clue where anything is.....
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| | | | Diamond Head: Diamond Head Crater Hike | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Diamond Head State Monument is a tuff cone formed by subterranean explosions thousands of years ago. Long ago, Hawaiians used the summit for human sacrifices. In 1908 the United States built the trail to the summit as part of the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery defense system. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968. Now it is open to the public as a hike that ends in an amazing view. If you take a bus there, it will drop you off near the tunnel going into the crater. If you drive in to the parking lot, there's a $5 day use/parking fee. I rated the level of difficulty here as beginner because of the good paths and steps. But there are hundreds of steps near the top that will give your heart a real work out, so keep that in mind. There are also a couple of long dark tunnels. They suggest that you take a flash light with you. We didn't, and got along ok. There are hand rails to guide you through the tunnels. I did take a bottle of water, though, and am very glad I did. It seemed to be more humid here then down in Waikiki. Once at the top, the views into the crater and towards Waikiki are amazing. If you plan to take pictures, I'd recommend going up there in the morning so you have better lighting. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours to make the roundtrip hike! The park closed at 6 when we were there in Aug. I'm not sure how they know everyone is down, or if they just lock you in. We didn't wait to find out. The first two times we went to Oahu, we didn't do this hike. I'm glad I finally got to. It was well worth the effort. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Diamond Head: Climb An Extinct Volcano | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Diamond Head is the most recognizable landmark in Hawaii. The crater of an extinct volcano, it looms above almost every photo of Waikiki Beach, like the one on my Honolulu intro. I've seen the hike to the top described as "easy to moderate," but I didn't find that to be accurate. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest, I'd say that this is a 7. We started up the trail at 7:30 a.m., while it was still cool, but even so, I was sweating and out of breath by the time we reached the top. If I hadn't taken a puff off an asthma inhaler when we first started, I probably wouldn't have made it. I consider myself fit and am accustomed to walking long distances, but there was something about the combination of the heat, the altitude, and the steep climb that almost did me in. I was glad that I did it, though, as the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. The only problem was that we had to share it with about 50 other people, with everyone jockeying for a good camera angle. I'd advise going very, very early in the morning or very, very late in the afternoon: it's open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The trail is paved for most of the way, and there are two sets of stairs: 76 and 99 steps, respectively. Guidebooks say to allow an hour for the ascent and 45 minutes for the descent, but it took us only about 30 minutes going up and 20 minutes coming down. Coming down was MUCH easier. Wear sturdy walking shoes, and bring a flashlight (there is a long, dark tunnel -- the only shade on the whole hike), bottled water, and of course, a camera. Leave a Comment Phone: (808)587-0300Directions: It's hard to miss. Follow the signs to the crater, or take the #58 bus from Waikiki to Diamond Head Road.Website: www.hawaiiweb.com/html/diamond_head.html
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| | | | Diamond Head: Climb Diamond Head | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Diamond Head, one of the best-known volcanic craters in the world, can be seen from the southeast coast of O'ahu not far from Waikiki. The view from the summit of this 760-foot, extinct crater is well worth the climb. The steep trail to the top is mostly paved and defined by two sets of stairs-one, 99 steps, the other 76 steps. It leads through a 225-foot tunnel and ends with a spectacular view of the island's west side. This is also an excellent spot for whale watching during the winter. Known in Hawaiian as Le'ahi (brow of the ahi-yellowfin tun), Diamond Head was so named when Brttish seamen saw calcite crystals sparkling in the sunshine and thought they'd found diamonds. The volcanic crater, a major O'ahu landmark, has been extinct for 150,000 years. Admission to the park, which is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., is $1. Parking is $5. From Waikiki (Kapiolani Park) to the Diamond Head Entrance is about a 20-30 minute walk. Directions: Go up Diamond Head Road at the end of Kapiolani Park and turn left at Triangle Park. Or take Bus 22 or 58 from Waikiki. Bus fare only $2.00.
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