For those who read my Blogging at 35,000 feet post, you know I just went to (and now returned from) Hawaii for a 5 day trip. Three days of being lazy (sort of) and sight seeing a bit, and 2 days of an intense CRS convention (look for an upcoming post on that).

Diamond Head State Monument (yep, it’s a mountain, well, actually it’s a crater believed to have been created about 300,000 years ago by a brief eruption) offers a great 30-45 minute hike (or a little longer one way depending on your physical condition and energy level) up about 560 feet to the summit (761 feet above sea level) where you can relish the 360-degree views of the island of Oahu.

The trail was built in 1908 as part of the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Defense System, and was used by mules to haul materials to the peak for the construction of the Fire Control Station, portions of which remain.

The trail include a bunch of switchbacks, 4 sets of stairs (one set of 54 metal stairs, one a spiral staircase) and a lighted 225-foot tunnel, but amazing views to distract you along the way.

The name Diamond Head became popular back in the late 1700s because traders and Western explorers visited and mistook the calcite crystals that are in the rocks to be diamonds. The Hawaiian name for Diamond Head is Lē’ahi.

The fee is $1 (a bargain, considering the views) and they recommend water, a flashlight for the tunnel (not REALLY needed but useful) and hiking shoes or tennis shoes (OK, I hiked up in my reef sandals). It is absolutely worth a couple of hours of time, and just a short cab ride from Waikiki.

Enjoy the photos of our trek up Diamond Head.

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