Hike Diamond Head

You arrive in Waikiki and you’re playing or attending Gay Bowl games at Kapiolani Park. It’s right there! You’ve seen it on tv and in photos. It’s Diamond Head National Monument. Wow!

From the smooth slope of its face to its pointed peak, Diamond Head's profile resembles the long brow of an ahi (yellowfin tuna) with its dorsil fin upright, and the Hawaiian name for the crater is Leahi, (lit. the forehead of the ahi). 

Sailors later mistook the calcite crystals in its sparkling sand for jewels and renamed it "Diamond Head." 

On a crystal clear day, the hike offers views of Waikiki to the west and the islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Maui to the east. 

Note: A reservation system is now in place to improve the visitor experience at this popular recreation site. All out-of-state visitors must have an advanced reservation to enter Diamond Head State Monument. Reservations may be made 14 days in advance. Hawaii residents can access the site for free without reservations, but entry depends on parking availability. For more details and to make reservations, visit the Hawaii State Parks System.

Open daily, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.; gates close at 6 p.m.. 

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Funding for Gay Bowl XXII has been provided via a grant by Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) through the Community Enrichment Program (CEP). For more info about HTA and CEP, click here.