Diamond Head Visitor Center

The Diamond Head Visitor Center is the interpretive kiosk and gift shop on the crater floor, near the parking lot and the trailhead. Hawaii State Parks built it in 2000 and renovated it with Pacific Historic Parks in 2014. Pacific Historic Parks lists its hours as 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, closed December 25 and January 1. It has exhibits on the crater's history and native wildlife, souvenirs and books, and sells the official audio tour.

What Is There

• Exhibits on the history and natural resources of the crater. A native wildlife exhibit, researched and illustrated by teachers and students of Waikīkī Elementary School, was added in 2024, with native birds and plants and interviews with experts.
• The gift shop, run by Pacific Historic Parks, with books, hats and local gifts. Its sales support the park's educational programs, remembrance ceremonies and preservation work. There is also an online store.
• Visitor services and information about the trail.
• The audio tour, a self-guided narration of the hike. See tours.

Hours

Pacific Historic Parks gives the Visitor Center's hours as 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, closed December 25 and January 1. The park itself is open longer, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., so early and late hikers will find the shop closed. See hours and fees.

Restrooms and Accessibility

The agency's map shows a comfort station on the crater floor beside the parking lot, near the trailhead kiosk and information booth. Hawaii State Parks says the facilities on the crater floor are fully accessible to people with disabilities, while the summit trail is not. Visitors who will not hike still need an entry ticket.

Why Stop In

The kiosk is a good place to understand what you are about to climb: the 300,000-year-old volcano, the Army's fort and tunnels, and the plants and birds of the crater. If you are visiting with someone who cannot do the stairs, the crater floor and Visitor Center are the accessible part of the park.