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BRIEF HISTORY OF DIAMOND HEAD STATE PARK
It came to be known as a national landmark back in 1968. The hike is only about 0.75 miles going up and another 0.75 miles going down. Once you have reached the top you will see the pillboxes or bunkers which were used back in the early 1900’s as lookout points for the military. These were in perfect locations because it gave the troops such a great range of view of the whole south shore of Oahu.
AT DIAMOND HEAD STATE PARK
Diamond Head is located in Honolulu, Hawaii close to Waikiki Beach and the Honolulu Zoo. Once you arrive to the state park you will have to pay a parking fee. When we went it was $5 but please keep in mind that these prices are subject to change.
As you make your way to the trail you will see a gift shop and the bathrooms. If you are traveling with kids then I highly recommend taking them to the bathroom before going on the trail. This is the only bathroom in this area and once you make your way on the trail you won’t see any other bathrooms.
HIKING DIAMOND HEAD CRATER TRAIL
The first part of the hike is paved and then shortly after it is a rugged and rocky path. It can be slippery in some areas but there’s rails going all the way up for you to hold on to if needed. Make sure to stop at every overlook and take pictures. The views are stunning.
Once you have finished the rugged path you will end up in an area with lots of stairs. You can either go up the old path of stairs or walk a little further up and get a view from the other set of stairs. Once you’re at the top of the stairs the view is gorgeous.
This hike begins in the inside of the crater and works its way up to the top of the rim showing off gorgeous views of all around the southeast side of the island such as Waikiki, Haunauma Bay, Koko Head, and all of Honolulu. On the far west horizon you can see a glimpse of Ewa Beach as well.
The way down is much easier and faster than going up. At least for me it was like I had kids and my daughter was having a rough time going up the mountain. She made it up though and had a great time and that’s that she’s only three years old. She’s a trooper!
If you do this hike with kids please make sure to come prepared and take it at their pace. We took frequent breaks to avoid exhaustion and drank lots of water.
TRAIL DETAILS
Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 560 feet
Difficulty Level: moderate
Duration: approximately 2 hours.
Terrain: hot, dry, rugged trail with slopes.
AFTER THE HIKE
Once you have completed your hike you can head on over to the gift shop to treat yourself. You can sometimes also find some food trucks and shaved ice trucks to cool you off.
If you are looking for something local to do in Honolulu you can head on over to Leonard’s Bakery to try their delicious Malasadas and then go for a swim at Waikiki or Sand Island. I went ahead and pinned these locations on the map below for easy finding.
If you are looking for a nice place for dinner then I highly recommend going to Kona Brewing Company. Their fish is amazing and so is their beer.
Looking for another family friendly hike in this area? Then you should check out Manoa Falls. It is located in Honolulu as well and the trail will take you through the lush jungle leading up to a waterfall. You can also check out my list of our top 5 favorite kid-friendly hikes on Oahu here.
Related Article: A Day In Honolulu, Hawaii
WHAT TO BRING
Parts of this hike are shaded and other parts aren’t but it is always important to wear proper clothing, shoes, and sunblock. Hawaii can get hot during the day so it is always important to have water on you for hydration. For all my hikes I usually use my camel-back and fill it up with water and ice so it’s easy to hydrate as I go and easy to carry. I also use my Hydroflask as it keeps my water nice and cold all day long.
- Money for parking, gift shop, food truck vendors.
- Hydration: I put my water in either a Camelbak or my Hydroflask.
- Sunblock: I prefer to use my eco-friendly sunscreen from Raw Elements. You can read my review here and also check out why Reef Safe Sunscreen is important here.
- Comfortable shoes.
- Comfortable clothing that is good for warm weather.
- Camera
- Snacks: I recommend bringing a high energy snack such as a granola bar. Check out my post on Healthy Snacks for Kids for more healthy snack ideas.
- Bag
You can check out my Amazon Storefront to view all of my favorite hiking products or check out my gear reviews here for more information.
If you are looking for more tips on how to be better prepared when hiking with kids then these two articles will greatly benefit you. These are Baby Hiking Essentials and Must Haves When Hiking With Kids.
LOCATION
Diamond Head Rd
Honolulu, HI 96815
(800) 464-2924
Overall, Diamond Head State Park provides an easy 2 hour hike that is perfect for families. Once you reach the top you will be rewarded with gorgeous views overlooking all of Honolulu and the entire south and southeast side of the island of Oahu.
Have you ever been to Hawaii? How about Diamond Head State Park? Did you like it?
You can check out more of our Hawaii travel guides here if you like. Also, if you enjoyed this article feel free to sign up for our newsletter here (Free 21 page Camping Planner when you sign-up and full access to our TWM Tribe Resource Library which has monthly freebies and activities for you and your family) or follow our adventures on Instagram so you can stay up to date on upcoming travel adventures, tips, gear reviews, recipes and more. Don’t forget to share or pin to save it. Thank you for reading.
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