Waikīkī and Honolulu seen from high on Diamond Head, with the crater wall at the right edge

Plan Your Visit

To visit Diamond Head State Monument, book a timed entry reservation online up to 30 days ahead if you are not a Hawaii resident ($5 per person, plus $10 to park), arrive within the first 30 minutes of your slot, and allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the 1.6-mile round-trip hike. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and good shoes. The park is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; pets are not allowed.

At a Glance

Planning Checklist

BookUp to 30 days ahead (non-residents)

Cost$5 entry per person, $10 parking per car

Hours6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; last entry 4:30 p.m.

Hike1.6 miles round trip, 1.5 to 2 hours

BringWater, hat, sunscreen, good shoes

Not allowedPets (service animals only), bikes on the trail, fires

RestroomsComfort station on the crater floor

Step 1: Book

Reserve at gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead. Buy an entry ticket for every person, and a parking reservation only if you will drive into the crater. Busy times can sell out, and the park sees more than 3,000 visitors a day. Hawaii residents with a Hawaii ID skip this step. Details: reservations.

Step 2: Choose How to Get There

Drive: enter from Diamond Head Road between Makapuʻu Avenue and 18th Avenue, through the Kahala Tunnel. The crater lot is small; carpool if you can. See parking.
Walk, bus or drop-off: no parking reservation needed. See getting there from Waikīkī.
Tour: the operator books entry through the state's commercial portal. See tours.

Step 3: Pack

Plenty of water; there is little shade on the trail.
A hat and sunscreen. The agency notes it is always hot.
Good walking shoes for uneven rock and steep stairs.
Your reservation confirmation. Fees are paid online by card; no cash is taken at the entrance.

Step 4: Time Your Day

The park opens at 6 a.m. and the gates lock at 6 p.m. The last reservation is 4 p.m., with entry until 4:30 p.m. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours on the trail, more if you stop at the visitor center. If you parked, you must leave by the end of your parking slot.

The grassy inside of Diamond Head crater and its rim, seen from the summit trail, with Honolulu neighborhoods and mountains behind

On Site

Restrooms: a comfort station on the crater floor.
Visitor Center and gift shop: inside the crater, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with exhibits and a self-guided audio tour.
Accessibility: the crater-floor facilities are fully accessible; the summit trail is not.
Safety: the agency asks every hiker to watch its short safety video from Hawaii's first responders before going. In an emergency, call 911.

Rules to Know

No pets except service animals. No bikes on the trail, no open fires, and stay on the trail. Pack out what you bring in. Full list: rules and regulations.

If You Have More Time

Pair the hike with the coast below the crater: the Diamond Head Lighthouse and Diamond Head Beach Park along Diamond Head Road, Kapiʻolani Park at the Waikīkī end, or the Saturday KCC Farmers Market.

Diamond Head behind palm trees and a lifeguard tower on Waikīkī Beach

FAQ

Plan Your Visit FAQ

How much time do you need at Diamond Head?

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the hike, which the agency recommends, plus time for the visitor center and getting in and out.

What should I bring to Diamond Head?

Water, a hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes, as Hawaii State Parks recommends. Prepay your entry online; cash is not taken.

Are there bathrooms at Diamond Head?

Yes. The agency's map shows a comfort station on the crater floor by the parking lot and trailhead.

Is Diamond Head worth visiting?

Hawaii State Parks calls it the state's most recognized landmark and one of its most heavily visited parks: a short hike to a summit view from Koko Head to Waiʻanae, past Army tunnels and bunkers from 1908 to 1915.