Great
Updated May 16, 4:44 PM HST
Looking strong today
Rain chance is low. UV is high — sunscreen and shade recommended.
1.6-mile crater-rim trail with stair sections, tunnel, and panoramic Waikīkī view at the top. Non-resident reservation required — book up to 30 days ahead.
Reservation info last verified: May 16, 2026
NWS forecast for this exact lat/lon — forecasts can change, re-check before you go.
We hand-author beach details from on-the-ground sources. The city dataset (Diamond Head Beach Park) is an official inventory that can lag reality. Worth a cross-check on arrival.
Drinking-water flags vary across datasets and the fountains themselves can be out of service. Refill bottles before you leave home if it matters.
Typical mid-day driving — add buffer for weekday rush hour.
Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815
Doable with kids 6+ who can handle stairs. Mostly paved or hard-packed dirt with one 99-step section + a low tunnel + a final spiral staircase. About 90 minutes round-trip with photo stops. NOT stroller-friendly. Book non-resident slots 30 days ahead — walk-ups are often turned away. Hawaiʻi residents enter free with ID.
Younger kids tire on the stairs. Bring water + sunscreen + a small flashlight for the tunnel section (~225 ft). The final spiral staircase is steep and narrow — hold smaller kids' hands. Snack break at the top before the descent.
Stairs can be slippery after morning showers. Trail closes at sunset (last entry typically 4 PM). Heat exposure is real — exposed rim with limited shade.
Inside the crater. $10/vehicle for non-residents (credit card only); free for HI residents with ID. Lot fills early — arrive before 9 AM or after 2 PM for easiest parking.
Restrooms at the trailhead visitor area. None at the summit.
Lower trail has some tree cover; upper switchbacks + summit are fully exposed. Start before 9 AM for best shade + cooler temps.
First entry 6 AM (residents) or with your reservation slot for non-residents. Most pleasant: 6–8 AM before heat + crowds.
Accessibility: Trail has stairs + uneven surfaces — not wheelchair or stroller accessible past the first ~0.5 mi. Visitor area + restrooms ADA accessible.
Honolulu's biggest open lawn — runners, kite-flyers, weekend pickup soccer, and shady banyans at the Diamond Head end of Waikīkī.
Two enclosed swim ponds along Waikīkī, walled off from the surf — the safest Waikīkī option for non-swimmers.
Diamond Head-end of Waikīkī, less crowded than central Waikīkī, with a small reef-protected swim area.