Last Updated on July 7, 2024 by Tori’s VA
You just arrived in Hawaii and the first morning you wake up at 4am. The time on the mainland is when you’d normally be getting up, so you can’t help but pop out of bed ready for the day. It’s the best time to throw on your sneakers and accomplish the Diamond Head sunrise hike!
That’s what we do every trip to Hawaii, plan a sunrise hike on the first morning. Not only is it perfect because you’ll naturally be waking up early, but it is also the best way to start off the trip, exploring the island and seeing a gorgeous sunrise.
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Diamond Head Sunrise Hike Map
Diamond Head Sunrise Hike Difficulty
Length: 1.9 Miles
Elevation Gain: 515 Feet
AllTrails Link: Diamond Head Crater
It’s an out and back trail, so getting to the summit is only a mile, and 500 feet of elevation gain. It’s not the easiest hike on the island but it’s very doable for every fitness level.
Most recently when we completed the Diamond Head sunrise hike I was 7 months pregnant and did just fine! It was one of the many fun things we did on our babymoon in Hawaii!
The entire way down after sunrise is super easy. The trail is not very steep at any point so slipping isn’t too big of a concern. However, you definitely still can slip, especially if the ground is wet, so be careful!
The most important thing to consider in regards to difficulty, will be the fact that it will be dark the entire way up. That’s why it’s crucial you wear a headlamp during the first half of your hike. We bought these headlamps years ago and now we bring them with us everywhere. They are so small and easy to travel with and work great!
Diamond Head Sunrise Timing
First and foremost, it’s important for you to know that you cannot hike Diamond Head at sunrise year-round. The park opens at 6am and you need about 30 minutes to get to the top. This means sunrise has to be at 6:30am or later in order for you to accomplish this task. And 6:30 would be pushing it, but still doable.
This means April through September is not really an option for a Diamond Head sunrise. But don’t worry, I have other amazing sunrise hikes on Oahu for you to choose from if you’re going during that time!
However, If you will be on Oahu in October through March, then it’s your chance to experience a Diamond Head sunrise! It’s one of my favorite recommendations for things to do on Oahu in February, and the rest of the winter for that matter!.
Be sure to get tickets for 6am and arrive on time so that you don’t miss the sunrise. More on tickets below!
Get Tickets to Hike Diamond Head at Sunrise
Once you have decided the day you will hike Diamond Head for Sunrise, be sure to make reservations online as they do fill up!
Reservations to Diamond Head cost $5 per person, plus $10 per car to park. Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance, and I highly recommend you do it as soon as they open because they can and will sell out!
When you get a reservation for the Diamond Head sunrise hike, you will have a 2 hour window, but you must arrive within the first 30 minutes, so make sure you are on time!
How to get to Diamond Head Sunrise Hike
Rental Car
If you have a rental car while on Oahu, then it will be easy to get to Diamond Head for sunrise. If you are staying in Waikiki, then your drive will be about 10 minutes. Its one of the best things to do in the Waikiki area! Ko’olina is much further away and will be about a 45 minute drive to get to Diamond Head for sunrise.
I cannot encourage you enough to get a rental car while you are staying on Oahu, or any Hawaiian Island for that matter. Sure, the touristy areas are easy to get around without a car, but there is SO much more to see on the island than just Waikiki! We love exploring the island on our own and enjoying more of the culture and way of life. Even if that is just for part of your stay!
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Uber/Lyft
It is definitely possible to get an Uber or Lyft to the Diamond Head sunrise hike. Many locals are out and about this early in the morning and Ubers and Lyfts are very common here.
Our most recent trip, we decided to only rent a car for half of the trip as we wanted to do some exploring and some relaxing by the pool. This worked out great and saved a little money. But this did mean we had to Lyft a few times on the island and it worked out great. We never had any issues getting a ride, even in the early morning hours.
Walk
Walking from Waikiki to Diamond Head for sunrise is an option, but probably not ideal for most. While it looks super close, you have to walk around to the other side of the crater to get in. It’s a 2.5 mile walk each way and will add 5 miles total to your hike.
Packing List for the Diamond Head Sunrise Hike
There’s a few super important things that you need to pack in your suitcase if you plan on doing the Diamond Head sunrise hike. Be sure to bring these items with you for an enjoyable time.
Headlamp
As I mentioned above, you will be hiking up the crater in the dark since the sun hasn’t come out yet. It is crucial that you wear headlamps to be able to see where you are going.
Hiking Shoes
Proper shoes are important for this hike so that you don’t get hurt. Hiking shoes would be great, however you can definitely get by in sneakers or hiking sandals.
I personally love wearing hiking sandals on trails in Hawaii because they are comfortable, sturdy and safe and are also great for the beach! It means you can pack less and still have everything that you need.
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Water Bottle
This is obvious, but having water for your hike is a necessity! You can bring a regular water bottle, a collapsible water bottle to save space, or a water bladder, which is the best option for hiking!
Hiking Clothes
High quality hiking clothes are always nice to have to keep you comfortable on the trail. I absolutely love the items from KUHL, because the quality is top notch. They’ve got hiking pants and tanks for the Diamond Head sunrise hike, plus plenty of other great clothing items for the rest of your travels.
Other Things to do Near Diamond Head
This area of the island is loaded with things to do, so I highly recommend you spend the rest of the day out here exploring after you complete the DIamond Head sunrise hike!
Breakfast at Koko Head Cafe
If you only listen to one of my tips on this article, then let it be this. After the Diamond Head sunrise hike, head straight to Koko Head Cafe to fuel up for the day.
This incredible breakfast spot is less than ten minutes from Diamond Head, so you can fill up right away! It’s owned by former Top Chef competitor, Chef Lee Anne Wong, and they serve some of the best breakfast on the island!
The food is seriously incredible and the menu has a wide variety of unique and authentic items to choose from. You could probably close your eyes and point, but after a few visits there we have found some favorites! Try the Volcano Eggs, Egg Handwich and a side of the miso Smoked Pork. They are all out-of-this-world good.
Drive Along the Coast
One of our absolute favorite things to do on Oahu is to just drive along the Kalaniana’ole Highway along the eastern side of the island. It is one of my most favorite roads in the world to drive along because of the sweeping ocean views all along the way.
So leave the Diamond Head sunrise hike and drive east, away from Waikiki.
It also helps that there’s some fabulous lookout points and stops to make along the way, which makes the drive that much more fun! We will often take the long way to get places in order to drive this road.
Snorkel at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Arguably the best spot for snorkeling on Oahu would be Hanauma Bay! It’s a cove not too far from Diamond Head that is full of coral, beautiful multi-colored fish, and if you’re lucky, turtles too!
Snorkeling here requires lots of planning, so be sure to make reservations in advance. More details about that can be found on the Parks and Rec website.
Hike Koko Head Crater
Another incredible hike on Oahu is Koko Head Crater, and is not far from Diamond Head. This hike is much harder and has double the elevation gain, but is super unique since you are climbing up railroad ties!
We hiked this trail a few years back, and my husband hiked it again recently on our babymoon, but I thought it might be a little too strenuous for me at 7 months pregnant, so I chose to grab an acai bowl and drive along the beautiful coastline instead.
Adam and Kathryn of Adventures of A+K have an awesome guide to hiking Koko Head Crater if you want more details!
Places to Stay Near Diamond Head
The best place to stay near Diamond Head is in Waikiki. It will allow you to be super close by so you don’t have to get up too crazy early to hike Diamond Head for sunrise! Here’s a few of my favorite hotels in Waikiki.
Sheraton Waikiki: Easily the best hotel to choose from in Waikiki. The Sheraton is super big with lots of rooms, two stunning pools, gorgeous ocean and Diamond Head views and the rooms are modern and clean!
Waikiki Marriott Resort: Another place we enjoy staying is the Marriott Waikiki. It is on the very end of the Waikiki strip closest to Diamond Head which makes it super easy to get there early in the morning for a Diamond Head sunrise hike!
Hilton Hawaiian Village: The Hilton Hawaiian Village is a super popular place to stay on Oahu and is especially family friendly. It is located just a bit outside of the main Waikiki strip, but is still within walking distance to everything. The property is huge with tons of amenities and things to do!
So what are you waiting for? Go make your reservations, order the headlamps, and get packing for your trip to Oahu! Check out all of my other Hawaii content to help you get ready for the trip of a lifetime.
