Welcome to Diamond Head, Mount Leahi
This is the view looking east. If you have a morning or afternoon, it's worth the time to hike up to the top of Diamond Head. Diamond Head is an extinct volcanic crater, so while it looks like a "solid" mountain from the outside, it's really "hollow" on the inside.
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This is the view of the "front" of Diamond Head, taken from the ocean. (28-85mm)
Just above the speedboat is the summit, located at 760 feet above sea level.
This higher peak was created when material thrown upwards by eruptions
was blown by the prevailing trade winds and deposited on the southern
side of the crater.
You can hike to the top by entering the crater through a tunnel located at the "back" of the crater. Bring a flashlight, and at least a liter of water, as it's dry in the crater and there's no water fountains. The hike takes about an hour going up. In recent years, lighting has been installed within the enclosed tunnels that makes the hike safer. It's still a good idea to bring a flashlight just in case |
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Taken with a fisheye attachment to the 28-85mm lens, one gets a sense of what the view is from the lookout at the "front" looking out towards the mountains (or Mauka) in the "back". This lookout is actually the remains of an old artillery gun emplacement. You can see the crater floor. There's a park in the middle. Along the left hand side of this photo, you can see the FAA operations facility that oversees all the aircraft transiting the Hawaiian and Central Pacific airspace. The operations has since moved to the grounds of the Honolulu International Airport and the facility has been demolished. |
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The View from Diamond Head Kapiolani Park, Waikiki Beach and Honolulu as seen from the top of Diamond Head. Here's what it looks like through a wide angle. The horizon's a little washed out. (20mm) |
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Koko Crater and Koko Head at sunrise This photo was taken from the back side of Diamond Head just as the sun was begining to rise. (85mm) |
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Koko Crater and Koko Head are visible at the horizon. You can see the park in the inside of the crater and if you look very closely, you'll see the entrance tunnel. (Well, maybe not.) (20mm) |
Another page of Diamond Head photos
Here is another page of Diamond Head photos.
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Updated: April 12, 2006 DISCLAIMER: Ron Hashiro Web Site is not responsible for the content at
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