Ancient Hawaii legends say that Hi’iaka, the sister of the fire goddess Pele was the first to give this crater a name. Hi’iaka felt that the crater summit resembled the head of a tuna fish or ‘ahi, and so it was called Le’ahi. Ancient Hawaiians were known to light the rim of the crater with huge fires to assist canoes traveling along the south shore of O’ahu. Also located on the summit of the volcano was a temple dedicated to Lono, the god of wind where ancient Hawaiians would pray and sacrifice to appease the god’s never ending desire to send updrafts that would extinguish the navigational flames.

Later, westerners discovered glimmering crystals in the soil and rocks of Le’ahi crater. Thinking the crystals were diamonds, the name Diamond Head was widely adopted. The volcano is also sometimes referred to in modern song and culture affectionately as Kaimana Hila which is a literal Hawaiian translation of Diamond Head.

Diamond Head has also been a strategic location for military purposes. Bought in 1904 by the Federal Government, nearby Fort Ruger was created for coastal defense and fortification purposes. In more recent times the crater has been used by the National Guard and Air Traffic Control, concert goers and civil defense. The tunnels, old bunkers and batteries are still a visible part of the landscape and trail.

Today, the crater is dry, hot and dusty. Kiawe and koa haole trees thrive everywhere in the crater along with a good count of cardinals, sparrow and doves.

The trail was built by the military and improved on by the state over the years. Today, the monument features a parking lot, information center, comfort station and snack stands. The trail offers opportunities to experience the old military cabling and observation platforms and to enjoy the unforgettable panorama of south shore O’ahu. Views stretch from the ‘Ewa plain all the way to Hawaii Kai. On a clear day it’s possible to see Molokai in the distance.

From the parking lot, the trail is less than a mile long with many switchbacks. The ascent first starts out as a paved walkway quickly gives way to a dirt trail is steep and uneven. Further up the trail just past the first lookout, there is a set of 74 steps, followed by a tunnel and another set of 99 steps, then a spiral staircase and then finally a slip through a low narrow slits outside to the overlook and the view.

The best time to visit the Monument is early in the day or later in the afternoon when it’s cooler. Bring along water, sunscreen and a camera. Be sure wear sturdy shoes, start no later than 4:00 pm and allow at least two hours for an unrushed experience.

Written By: Lottie  Tagupa

Features
Parking  |  Shady Areas  |  Picnic Tables  |  Bathrooms  |  Picnic Area  |  Kid Friendly  |  Walking Trails

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