Diamond Head Crater
Honolulu, Oahu, HI
On our second day on Oahu (April 6, 2026) we had reservation (yes, you need them) to enjoy the hike to the pillbox at Diamond Head Crater State Monument. Though most of the trail was paved (to help with erosion) and it was busy, this was a fun hike. The trail is fairly short but rises steeply up the inside of the crater. The trail then pass through a tunnel to the “outside” of the crater, and nearly to the top of the crater rim. The trail then winds around the rim, juts out for an observation point, rises up to a pillbox than has a winding stairs down to the level that will head back to the tunnel. The top provides amazing views of the ocean as well as Honolulu.
Walk-Specific Map
Elevation Profile
Images
DMNDHD01: Kim at the entrance
DMNDHD01: Starting up the crater
DMNDHD01: Winding up the crater
DMNDHD91: Kim at the observation point
DMNDHD91: Beautiful view
DMNDHD01: Tunnel through crater rim
DMNDHD01: Kim in the pillbox bunker
DMNDHD01: Beautiful views from the top
DMNDHD01: Beautiful views from the top
GPX Download
A sanitized GPX file of our hike is here.
Summary Information
| NUM | trackID | Primary | Description | Distance | CumDist | DeltaElev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DMNDHD01 | Diamondhead Crater | Visitor Center to | 0.71 | 0.71 | 376 |
| 2 | DMNDHD02 | Diamondhead Crater | to Overlook spur | 0.04 | 0.75 | 4 |
| 3 | DMNDHD91 | Diamondhead Crater | Main trail to Overlook | 0.02 | 0.77 | 12 |
| 4 | DMNDHD91 | Diamondhead Crater | Overlook to Main trail | 0.02 | 0.80 | -12 |
| 5 | DMNDHD04 | Diamondhead Crater | Overlook spur to Pillbox | 0.07 | 0.87 | 96 |
| 6 | DMNDHD03 | Diamondhead Crater | Pillbox to | 0.04 | 0.90 | -17 |
| 7 | DMNDHD01 | Diamondhead Crater | to Visitor Center | 0.71 | 1.62 | -376 |