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Diamond Head—What to do there if not hiking?


Candy Apple 12
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One person in our party does not want to hike up Diamond Head. Is there a welcome center or store where she could spend some time while the rest of us hike? More importantly, will there be a place (preferably indoors or in the shade) where she can sit for a while? Thank you.

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One person in our party does not want to hike up Diamond Head. Is there a welcome center or store where she could spend some time while the rest of us hike? More importantly, will there be a place (preferably indoors or in the shade) where she can sit for a while? Thank you.

An online search located information from their website & it only shows a kiosk where gifts can be ordered, some picnic tables, toilets & water fountains.

 

http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/

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...will there be a place (preferably indoors or in the shade) where she can sit for a while? Thank you.

 

That "while" will be at least 1-1/2 to 2 hours according to the link Astro Flyer provided, and even if there is some place to sit, waiting around doesn't sound like a fun way for the woman to spend vacation time. Is there some place she might enjoy better that you could drop her off at on your way instead of having her just sit and wait at Diamond Head?

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That "while" will be at least 1-1/2 to 2 hours according to the link Astro Flyer provided, and even if there is some place to sit, waiting around doesn't sound like a fun way for the woman to spend vacation time. Is there some place she might enjoy better that you could drop her off at on your way instead of having her just sit and wait at Diamond Head?

 

And being inside a natural “bowl” the tradewinds probably won’t help to have a more comfortable temperature for sitting there for hours. We’ve hiked to the top observation post several times & it has been a very hot & humid experience.

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Having hiked to the top of Diamond Head from Waikiki, it doesn't take 90-120 minutes from the bowl to the top. I suppose you could spend a lot of time at the top (with dozens of others), but the walk is about 25-30 minutes each way from the parking lot.

 

We hiked from the Embassy Suites to the top and back, in about 3.5-4 hours. We estimated the distance as 7 miles. The walk from the parking lot to the top is at most 20% of that.

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Here's all the detail you need on Hiking Diamond Head:

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/hikediamondhead.html

 

It won't take you more than an hour to complete the hike. It's a great hike. I highly recommend doing it first thing in the morning. Why: it's less crowded, it's cooler, and you might get up there in time to see the sunrise!

 

Yes, there is a souvenir stand, a restroom, and lots of shade trees.

 

If you decide to hike later in the day, you can drop off the non-hiking party at the Honolulu Zoo, then meet them there yourselves after your hike. It's a fun zoo and it's on the far Eastern side of Waikiki, near Diamond Head.

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  • 9 months later...

Out of shape senior woman asking

 

Can you admit defeat (if you can’t solider on to the summit) and descend back down the same trail?

 

pictures I’ve seen posted look as though it can get very crowded and rather narrow trail in points

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40 minutes ago, keishashadow said:

Out of shape senior woman asking

 

Can you admit defeat (if you can’t solider on to the summit) and descend back down the same trail?

 

pictures I’ve seen posted look as though it can get very crowded and rather narrow trail in points

You do go back down the same way you went up, so you can admit defeat. On our way up, I did meet one person who found a place to sit and wait while the rest of her group made the ascent, but there are really not a lot of areas like this on the way up. If you’re out of shape, I don’t recommend trying it. One test would be, how many flights of stairs can you climb before you get out of breath? If it is less than five, go to the zoo, as a previous poster suggested.

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