Diamond Head State Monument - Hawaii

Address:Between Makapu'u Avenue and 18th Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii
Tel: (808) 587-0300

Diamond Head was formed by volcanic steam explosions that took place over 300,000 years ago, exposing calcite crystals that English explorers mistook for diamonds, hence the park's name. Considered significant by many island cultures, the summit was once used for human sacrifices. Today, one can take the moderate hike to the 761-foot summit and take in the incredible views of Waikiki, Honolulu, and the Pacific Ocean and enjoy a picnic on the crater's floor. The climate here is pleasant and mild throughout the year, which makes it a pleasure when viewing the local critters, including field mice and red-topped cardinals. With its wonderful and diverse geology, this monument is truly a spectacle and should not be missed.

The 19th-century British sailors who came here were fooled by this crater's calcite crystals, thought they were diamonds and named the crater Diamond Head. Hawaiians once used the 761-foot summit as a platform to light navigational fires to direct canoes offshore. The military built an observation station on the summit in 1910 to spot ships off the southeastern coast of Oahu. The crater and tuff cone were formed by violent steam explosions 300,000 years ago. Today Diamond Head is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. A steep but short (less than a mile) trail takes hikers to the summit of the crater and offers a spectacular 360-degree view of Honolulu and the coast. A flashlight is handy for the long, dark tunnel encountered partway up the trail. The trail, built by the U.S. Army in 1906, includes 271 steps and a spiral staircase that leads to the observation post at the summit. Picnicking in the landscaped meadow on the crater floor is a favorite family activity.