Diamond Head: Tourist Trap or Totally Worth It?

The view of Waikiki from the Diamond Head summit

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Hiking Diamond Head is at the top of every list of “things to do on Oahu”. Pinterest, Instagram, travel blogs—they all make it look like the ultimate urban hike with incredible ocean and skyline views. It’s equal parts natural landmark, historical site, and iconic photo op

It sounds perfect, but then you remember how many tourists pile into Waikiki every year (approximately 4 MILLION). (Whatever, I added it to my Hawaii Bucket List anyway!)

So, I asked myself: Is it really worth it?

The answer is: it depends on YOU.

Here’s what we thought of our hike to the Diamond Head summit:

Views along the Diamond Head trail. — *(There were a couple of cool stops along the way.)*

What is Diamond Head?

Diamond Head, a massive volcanic crater rising along the edge of Waikiki, is Oahu’s most recognizable landmark.

Hiking to the summit takes you inside the crater, along a partially paved trail that winds through old military bunkers, tunnels, and staircases (lots of them). Along the way, you’ll experience beautiful panoramic views of the ocean, coast, and Waikiki skyline.

Because of its popularity, it requires advance reservations for entry and parking.

What to Expect

Entrance Fee: $5 per non-resident (children 3 and under are free)
Parking: $10 per non-commercial vehicle (residents are free)
Trail Length: 0.8 mile each way (1.6 miles round-trip)
Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM)
Amenities: bathrooms, water fountain, food concession, gift shop, and picnic areas

(Views from inside the bunker at the summit.)

Our Honest Experience

Reservations & Parking

We planned to visit the park during the girls’ Christmas break from school. My mother-in-law was in town and we thought it would be something that she would enjoy too!

I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to get reservations, since Christmas is the busiest time of year on the island. But on December 15th, I was able to make our reservations for December 21st! So, even if you think you waited too long, give it a try. You might get lucky!

To enter the park, you have to drive through a tunnel in the crater wall. So, you’ll hike to the summit from the inside of the crater (which is not what I was expecting). The parking fee is $10, but there were plenty of spaces available when we got there.

It is possible to park outside the gate and walk in, but it’s about half a mile away. Plus, I don’t know how safe it is. I didn’t feel uncomfortable leaving my car in the parking lot at all.

*(Driving into the tunnel to enter the crater.)*

Driving into Diamond Head crater through the tunnel. — *(Driving into the tunnel to enter the crater.)*

The Hike to the Summit

The Diamond Head Summit Trail is rated as moderate on All Trails and I would agree with that. Like most hikes that end with an incredible view, you’re going to be walking uphill.

However, there are plenty of place to stop and take a break. We stopped at several benches along the way to catch our breath and get a drink of water.

The trail starts out paved, but quickly changes to a dirt trail when you start the switchbacks. This trail was originally built in 1908 for soldiers reporting for duty at the bunker/pillbox at the top. These lookouts were an integral part of Oahu’s coastal defense during WWII.

The hike to the Diamond Head summit starts out on a paved trail. — *(Starting out on the paved trail. There was bit of incline here, but nothing terrible.)*

*(Starting out on the paved trail. There was bit of incline here, but nothing terrible.)*

(You can find pillboxes all over the island. Another famous one is the Ehukai Pillbox Hike: One of the Best Views on the North Shore.)

If you’ve been on any hikes in Hawaii, then you know to expect some mud and this trail was no exception. There were a few muddy sections and large puddles, but overall the trail is in excellent shape.

Bottleneck on the Diamond Head summit trail as people try to get around a big puddle. — *(Bottleneck in the trail as everyone tried to get around a big puddle.)*

*(Rare view of the trail without a hundred people on it!)*

The Stairs

Since the hike to the top of Diamond Head gains over 500 feet of elevation in less than a mile, you can expect several sets of stairs. All of the blog posts and trail guides mention the 99-step staircase after the tunnel. They say that there is an ‘easier’ way to reach the summit, rather than taking this intimidating staircase.

The infamous 99-step staircase on the Diamond Head summit trail. — *(The infamous 99-step staircase to the summit!)*

However, they fail to mention the 74 steps that lead into the tunnel or the 50 steps of the spiral staircase that you have to climb AFTER you finish the set of 99.

Even if you choose the ‘easier’ route, there is a long set of metal stairs that you must climb. (I have no clue how many steps were in it and I was way too tired to count.) And then of course, there is one last long set of stairs to the summit, no matter which route you take. There is no ‘easy’ way to do it. It’s going to be a lot of cardio either way.

*(The 74-steps leading up to the tunnel.)*

Pro Tip

Turn left when you exit the tunnel to take the easier route up. Then go through the bunker to take the harder route on the way down. That way, you get to experience the full trail.

The Tunnel

One of the most memorable (and slightly unexpected) parts of the Diamond Head hike is the tunnel.

About halfway up the trail, you’ll walk through a long, dim tunnel that was carved into the crater as part of the area’s early military defenses. It’s cool, echoey, and feels like a step back in time, especially after hiking in the sun.

The tunnel is fully walkable and usually lit, but it can get crowded when it’s busy, since everyone funnels through the same narrow space on the way up and down.

It’s a small moment on the hike, but definitely one of those “only at Diamond Head” experiences.

Looking out of the tunnel at Diamond Head on Oahu. — *(The view looking out of the tunnel is pretty!)*

Inside the tunnel at Diamond Head. — *(Thankfully, there are lights inside the tunnel.)*

The Summit

Once you finally reach the summit, you’ll see bunkers and several platforms where you can take in the views.

From the top of Diamond Head, you can see the shoreline from Koko Head all the way to Waianae! You can also see the Diamond Head Lighthouse and during the winter months, you might get lucky and see some whales passing by.

Unfortunately, you can expect the summit to be crowded. There were so many people trying to take pictures that it was hard to move around.

You can see the Diamond Head Lighthouse from the summit, but you can get a closer view and great pictures on your way to the park.

View from the lower portion of the bunker on Diamond Head. — *(The Waikiki coastline.)*

The view of the Diamond Head lighthouse from the summit. — *(I had to get a picture of my girls!)*

Would We Go Again?

Probably not.

Not because Diamond Head isn’t ‘worth it’, but because it’s a one and done type of experience (at least for us).

There are so many other incredible hikes on Oahu with gorgeous views and way less people. For repeat visitors or people who hate crowds, I would skip this.

However, for first-time visitors, I definitely recommend hiking Diamond Head. The views are incredible and it is a pretty enjoyable hike. (The girls liked this one MUCH better than some of the other ones I’ve forced them into.)

Always remember that this is YOUR vacation and you should spend it the way that YOU want to!

Happy hiking, friends!