Hiking Diamond Head: What to Know Before You Go
Diamond Head is one of Oahu’s most popular hikes, for a good reason! The views at the top cannot be beat, especially at sunrise or sunset. The following tips will help as you plan your trip to Diamond Head so you can have the best experience possible!
Come Early
I say this for every hike on Oahu, but Diamond Head is the most important. Come early! It opens at 6am. We arrived at 6:30am on a Wednesday in February (keep in mind, this is a weekday on the off-season) and the parking lot was already half full. The hike up to Diamond Head was nice because it wasn’t too crowded, but the top already had a lot of people taking photos!
Expectation … 
versus Reality!
These photos are the reality of what the top of Diamond Head looked like when we got there at about 7am. Coming early, on a weekday, and in the off-season (all non-peak times) will help increase your chances of having less people in the way of your hike. No matter what, just be patient and enjoy the scenery!
Driving Directions
Type “Diamond Head State Monument” into Google Maps or your GPS. This will get you to the base of the hill. Drive up the hill, through a tunnel, and you will find yourself at the entrance of the parking lot. We saw some people park elsewhere and had to end up walking up this hill; save yourself the time and energy, and drive up the hill so you can park closer!
Cost
Diamond Head State Monument costs $5 if you’re parking your car, and $1 per person if you’re walking in. If you end up finding parking at the base of the hill, or if you park in the side parking (you will see it on your left-hand side, right before the tunnel), you will only have to pay $1 per person.
Other Helpful Tips
We were able to walk up Diamond Head, take photos, and walk down within 45 minutes. We attribute this to our good physical ability, the fact that we went early and there were less people, and the weather wasn’t hot, rainy or humid.
If you only plan on doing one hike on Oahu, you have to choose Diamond Head! This amazing hike gives you the opportunity to enjoy the views of urban and rural Honolulu from up above.
