Hiking Diamond Head

Yes, you have seen it in movies, on TV and on postcards. It is an extinct volcano known to ancient Hawaiians as Leahi, and more recently to locals as Kaimana Hila. Today it is the icon of all things Hawaii and it dominates the skyline of south shore Oahu. It also happens to be where one of the most popular hiking trails in Hawaii is located. The trail is scenic, adventurous and free.

This trail is popular, often crowded and paved for family hikers. The gates are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the best time to avoid the crowds and heat is in the early morning or late afternoon. Midday is nice too, especially, if you pack along a lunch to enjoy at the summit. Bring your camera, a bottle of water and a small flashlight to keep you on track.

To get to the trailhead from Waikiki you can drive along Kalakaua Avenue to Monserrat Avenue, which is the street where you find the zoo on your left. The Waikiki Shell will be on your right. Drive past the Waikiki Shell, continue up for about two miles past Kapiolani Community College until you find the Diamond Head entrance sign on your right, which is just before the 18th Avenue intersection. Turn right at the sign and proceed up the road through the tunnel and into the parking lot ahead. If driving is not your deal, then feel free to catch THEBUS. From Kuhio Avenue, board the #58 or #22 Hawaii Kai-Sea Life Park to the crater entrance at Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue. To return, stand on Diamond Head Road and wait for the #58 Waikiki-Ala Moana or #22 Waikiki Beach and Hotels bus. Buses run about 30 minutes apart.

Once there, you will find the trailhead to the left of the restrooms that are located at the far side of the parking lot. Remember to lock your car and DO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES in it. Also, remember that any cars remaining in the parking lot after 7 p.m. will be towed away. It is 0.7 miles, or about an hour to the summit and about a half-hour for the return. The trail climbs the inside slope of the volcano steadily for about .6 miles, then steeply upward through a series of stairs and tunnels. The first staircase has 79 stairs and the last has 99. About halfway through the first set, I was glad that I had been a regular in a step class at my local gym. The second set continued from a long straight staircase into a spiral onward and upward into an old, World War II bunker. Then just when you think you can't take it anymore, the stairs end, and the magnificent vistas become visible all around you and you feel like you're on the top of the island.

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