Diamond Head State Monument

Diamond Head (Hawaiian: Lēʻahi) is an extinct volcanic cone on the southern edge of Waikīkī on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, and today a State Monument. The crater is about half a mile (0.8 km) across, and its highest point, Leahi Point, stands at 760 feet (232 m). It got its English name in 1825, when British sailors mistook calcite crystals for diamonds.

A heiau for the war god once stood on the mountain. The summit trail was built in the early 20th century (sources say 1908 or 1910) for military lookout posts on the crater rim. According to Lonely Planet, the crater has information boards, toilets, drinking water and a picnic area. From the top you get sweeping views of Honolulu and the Pacific.

Getting there and access: by bus 23 or 24 from Waikīkī, it is about a 20-minute walk from the nearest stop. By car, take Monsarrat Avenue and Diamond Head Road through the Kahala Tunnel into the crater. According to hawaii-guide.com, out-of-state visitors need a reservation through gostateparks.hawaii.gov (5 US dollars per person, 10 per vehicle, daily 6 am to 6 pm). Rules and prices change, so check ahead (as of November 2026).