A few years ago my husband and I went on a two-week trip to Oahu, Hawaii. It was the first trip we packed carry-on only, rented a car for two weeks and stayed in vacation rentals. We didn’t want to miss a thing, so I researched as much as I could in advance of our trip. While doing my planning, it became very clear, one of the things we had to do was to hike the Diamond Head Crater. Before we left I looked for information about the Diamond Head hike, and it looked like it would be a fairly easy hike for people in generally good health. The views looked absolutely stunning, and I needed to see if it was really as amazing in person once you got to the top. Spoiler alert: it was.
Here are a few things to know before you get to Diamond Head:
- The parking situation was a nightmare. If you plan to hike Diamond Head, you need to get there early to beat the crowds. It took us quite some time to even get into the parking lot, let alone do the hike. If I could do this again, I would plan to arrive as soon as they open to try and beat the crowds.
- The hike to the top is over a lot of uneven and rocky terrain. Wear proper footwear if you are planning to hike. Even if you are taking a leisurely walk to the top, I would suggest closed-toed running or hiking shoes.
- You have to climb 2 sets of very steep stairs – 173 to be exact. The first 74 will lead you to a long and dark tunnel. Once you get through the tunnel you have to climb another set of 99 steps to get to the viewing platform.
- Bring essentials with you. Don’t forget to bring water with you as once you begin your hike you cannot get water on the route. Also, make sure you bring your camera or phone to take some pictures of the incredible views of Oahu.
- Don’t follow other hikers too closely on the way down! Due to the uneven and rocky path, we saw a few people trip and fall on their way down. On our way down (we could see the paved walkway from where we were!) a woman tripped and fell in front of me, and I had to side-step to not walk on her (hence the following to closely). In doing so, my foot ended up twisting and coming down very hard between two rocks and I ended up with a small fracture in my foot… one that causes me pain to this day! And I was wearing supportive running shoes. Moral of the story, be careful of others.
In summary, this is something you have to do if you are in Oahu. And although I broke my foot the first time, I would certainly hike it again for those city and ocean views.
