Diamond Head State Monument

The park requires reservations in advance that you make online. Cost is very reasonable at $5/person, plus $10 parking fee. There is limited free parking before you get to the park, but good luck finding an open spot. Reservations are in 2 hour increments and you are not allowed to stay more than 2 hours. They will let you in up to a half hour before your scheduled time, so you can stay a total of 2-1/2 hours. The hike took about 1-1/2 hours round trip and that was taking my time. People who just want to go up and down for exercise can do it an hour. I found it to be moderate in difficulty, but I am in reasonably good physical condition. I do not recommend this hike if you are not at least somewhat physically fit or prone to claustrophobia due to the long, dark and very narrow tunnel that cannot be avoided. The trail is also mostly exposed to the sun, so going early morning is highly recommended. Most of the trail after the first 1/4 mile is very rocky, uneven and very narrow. I saw numerous abandoned strollers along the way because the trail starts out wide and paved, but that is only for the first few hundred yards. I would not recommend bringing toddlers because you will have to carry them 90% of the time.

Great views once you reach the top. Our 2 teenagers really enjoy the hike up an seeing so much of HI from the top was well worth the stiars to heaven. Very popular site, we ended up going around 330pm, the last entry visitor was around 4pm but we seen a slow trickle of visitors going up past 4pm. The park does close at 6pm, so don't get locked in.

Checked this one off my bucket list! Be sure to book a reservation for parking and entry at least 3 weeks in advance as the park gets full fast. Wear comfortable attire and hiking shoes as well as taking along some water to sip. The walk begins on a wide concrete paved pathway through the park-like setting. It then turns into a narrow, rocky, twisting path up the craters interior wall. The paths is a bit uneven due to erosion, but not difficult for an able-bodied person. The ascent includes some staircases and a tunnel with several awe-inspiring lookout to stop for photos and memories. Take a moment to enjoy 360⁰ views from the top lookouts and the historical significance of being inside of the Pillbox. Begin your descent down the spiral staircase and loop back down the same path you came up. Stop at the gift shop to get a momento to mark the occasion along with the wonderful photos you took to remember your 2 hours conquering Diamond Head! Definitely recommend it if you can physically make the hike.

Loved it. Easy to get to by bus. Then it's 10 minutes to the entrance/gate. The hike is moderate. It can take you 30-60 minutes to get up there. Some people i dont think had any idea what they had signed up for and really struggled. It's not a hard hike, but you still have to be remotely in shape. The area is beautiful. It's cool that you get to go inside the bunker and the views from it are astonishing.

To the summit and back is 1-2 hours, you should be in good health and bring water for everyone in your party. Definitely go online and make a reservation especially during the summer (peak tourist time) it's like 5 dollars per person and 10 dollars for parking. You can take a trolley from Waikiki for 12.50 but you then pay the park entrance fee and the return trolley fee if I'm not mistaken. It's definitely worth going. I had some issues so I stayed near the visitors center while the rest of the party hiked to the top. I'll update photos later. Plus side was I got to see a mongoose which is a fairly rare thing. There are food trucks there mostly serving drinks, shaved ice etc no "real" food. Small gift shop.

This hike is a wonderful and well-worth-it experience for the entire family. It features a gentle, gradual incline that’s easy to navigate. At the top, you have two options: take the stairs or the trail. The choice depends on your desired level of challenge. I recommend taking the trail on the way down, but the breathtaking, spectacular views make it a worthwhile experience regardless.

This was my first time in Hawaii, and I climbed this mountain to see the city and the surrounding ocean. The path up the mountain was difficult, but the trees provided shade. From the mountaintop, I could see the coastal city in the distance, the beautiful clear blue sea, and the sunny weather made for excellent visibility. The sunny weather made for a beautiful view and a great day for hiking.