While in Oahu, I spent a morning at Diamond Head State Monument, which is a crater formed by volcanic activity hundreds of thousands of years ago. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the island of Oahu and in the State of Hawaii. These days, most people go to this state park to hike up to the top of the crater lip to catch a glimpse of the views of Honolulu and the surrounding area.
From the parking lot, the hike up to the top of the crater is less than a mile (0.8 miles or 1.3km) but you are walking up an elevation of 560 feet to the top. The hike may be short, but it is also strenuous due to the elevation and the uneven surface of the path while walking up to the top. I also did not realize how out of shape I was during the hike.
The hike started simple enough with a paved path going to the base of the crater, but then the paved path ended and I was walking on uneven ground with rocks and loose gravel. I was huffing and puffing at this stage but I continued to press on to the top. There were various rest stops with views of the surrounding area.
After a little bit more walking, I now faced stairs going into a tunnel that took you into the rocks itself, and at this point I was really struggling with frequent rests. I did not give up, and continued to move forward, as I was almost at the top. After the tunnel and many more staircases, I was finally at the top of the crater, and the views surrounding the crater were exquisite.
It was true that Diamond Head offered the best views of the city of Honolulu and you can see the waves of the Pacific Ocean roll across the water to the land. Even though I was suffering from extreme exhaustion from the hike, I surprised even myself that I was even able to make it up to the top. My heart was beating out of my chest, and my reward was some of the best views on the island of Oahu.
If you are staying on the island of Oahu (whether in Honolulu or elsewhere), I would recommend going to Diamond Head (as of writing this post, if you are an out-of-town tourist, you will need to book a reservation). The good thing is that your visit is not time-constraining at all (I only spent a couple of hours here) and the visit could most likely be one of the most memorable things you could do on your Hawaii trip. It certainly was for me.
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