Comments on: Hiking Diamond Head (Le’ahi)

By: Barry M

Barry M — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:24:49 +0000

Many years ago I was in Hawaii on my honeymoon. We attempted to hike Diamondhead but then the heat became too unbearable for my wife so we only made it through a quarter of the hike….It probably didn’t help that we started out midday at the hottest point of the day!

It just gives us an excuse to come back to Hawaii very soon and try it again! Aloha!

By: sheila

sheila — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:20:45 +0000

Thanks for your report, Fireman. Glad you got your shirts.

By: JustADumbFireman

JustADumbFireman — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:50:03 +0000

I did get my shirt and so did my son, although we were dubious. They were delivered to our hotel that evening just as promised; right sizes and everything.

By: Miyagi

Miyagi — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:21:01 +0000

when we were young there was no stupid fee or parking cost!!! what a bummer! The state has to do this kind of thing to make money!

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:29:04 +0000

Hi Terra – glad you enjoyed the hike. Yeah, those stairs can be knee-killers. Thanks for your report.

By: Terra

Terra — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:54:12 +0000

Hey Sheila! My husband,child, and I hiked Diamond Head and it took us like 3 hours though we took our time and stopped when possible to rest my knees. The stairs are what killed me but once to the top it was really worth it. I will be going again in September as my family is coming and I would like to share this with them. Thanks for your advise and the lists of things to do.

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:59:50 +0000

Hi Satya,

I would say that if you get an early morning start (before it’s too hot), bring plenty of water, and resolve that you’ll stop to take breaks, you’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure I saw other parents carrying children in baby backpacks. Just take it slow, steady and sure footed. Hope that helps.

By: satya

satya — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:21:24 +0000

Hi Sheila,
Thanks for the wonderful insight. I have a question. I will be visiting oahu next week and I am planning to take a trip to diamond head. My daughter (she is just 10 months old)is also accompanying us. Do you think its possible to take her and climb up the stairs at diamond head. I was planning to carry her in the baby backpack. Please let me know if you think that’s possible.
Thanks,
satya.

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:03:28 +0000

Oh my goodness, Dave. That must have been very frightening for everyone! I’m so glad Shane is okay!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:43:13 +0000

“Do mind your step. Take a look at the photo on the right. One slip and….let’s not think about it.”

My 6 year old boy did just that today. This is where Shane fell under the fence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2NwCpnly2k

He was walking along the fence and and using the top rail as a handrail. He wasn’t watching his feet and slipped down a hole under the fence that was caused by erosion. He simply disappeared. It looked like a trap-door had opened under his feet. I had no idea how far he had fallen. Luckily – He grabbed a small tree with one hand and saved himself from falling farther down the steep hillside. (Cliff hanger – Hanging from a small branch – Like the movies) It took me and one other guy to pull him up. I pushed open the bottom of the fence and the other guy was able to reach down and pull him up to safety. SCARY stuff. My wife and I are still kind of shaken up about it.

Its a great hike but keep the kids close and be careful.

By: Vince

Vince — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:17:15 +0000

Thanks for the scammer advise. I will try to take a picture of them when i be there next week.

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:30:54 +0000

FYI – Diamond Head will be closed February 18 and 19, 2009 for additional repairs. http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/13789/76/

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:54:47 +0000

@ Annette – wow, I didn’t know those were scammers. I didn’t see any warning signs at the visitors center. I wish I had so I could have taken a photo of it to include in this post. I had no interest in what they were selling, but the guy at the top selling those certificates got on my nerves because he was yelling at everyone at the top “recommending” that everyone buy a certificate. He’s the dude that distracted me when I bumped my head at the bunker opening. grrr!

I’m actually surprised that vendors are allowed to set up scam shops like that on land managed by the Hawaii State Park system.

By: Annette

Annette — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:16:26 +0000

I had read a lot about this trail and was going to take my 81 year old Dad who is very fit on the trail. By the end, I was happy he decided to sleep in. It does have some great views but may be a bit much for seniors especially tall ones as the bunker ladder is tight. Go early before the school groups set in. No one really mentions the 2 scam artists on the trail. The first one is not too far up. Asks for $20 to send you shirt like he is wearing. Signs at visitor booth will warn you but just so you know, you wont’t get the shirt. We went very early and the booth wasn’t open. Didn’t stop until we came back. Second one is at the top in the bunker and for $5.00 gives you a “I made it” certificate. Both may pose as helping to keep area clean, do trail maintenance, etc. but that is not true. Keep your money.

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:21:21 +0000

@ Joanne – I’ve just updated this post to advise that people should be aware of the small opening that you have to semi-crawl through at the top.

@ Andrew – Great. It’s a good hike with an outstanding view. Let me know hoe you like it.

By: Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:05:23 +0000

This is on my list of things to do when I go in May. Thanks for the sneak preview.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:05:53 +0000

I don’t think I saw any sign there , althgough I might have, but my friends from PA told me to watch out, so I had that in the back of my head when I got to the bunker. I guess you got your “souvenier” from Le’ahi, like I did, only mine was a bit further south. LOL

By: sheila

sheila — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:48:47 +0000

Hi Joanne – You’re right, you do have a good sense of accomplishment knowing you completed the hike.

On that last set of stairs that you mentioned, I didn’t see the sign warning you to watch your head…and guess what I did? I bumped the heck out of my head on that concrete bunker. I didn’t see the warning because I got distracted by the guy yelling out that he was selling certificates.

By: Carnival Welcomes in the Holiday Season!

Carnival Welcomes in the Holiday Season! — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:56:26 +0000

[...] helps us get a little exercise by Hiking Diamond Head (Le’ahi) over at Hawaii Vacation Blog – GoVisitHawaii.com, saying, “Since we’ve probably eaten [...]

By: Joanne

Joanne — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:15:04 +0000

I had a good hike up Diamond Head. All the articles mention the 2 tortuous sets of stairs you must get up. I myself pulled my one knee going up and it took about a month for it to feel OK again. But nothing was said about the (almost) last set of stairs you encounter. Only a couple friends of mine told me about them—–a small set of metal ladder-like steps getting outside the bunker on top. It has a very tight opening you must almost crawl through to get out. And going back down!!!—you practically have to get on all fours and back down!! Now when my family was almost at the bottom of the trail, we saw a couple groups going up the hill, both with SENIORS, possibly WWII veterans. All I could think of was those steps and especially the last ones at the bunker. And they were starting up with just enough time to go up and back before the park would close. I sure hope they made it with no problems. All in all, though, I would highly recommend thid sight—the views are awesome from up there, and to say you did it gives you a wonderful feeling inside.