Diamond Head, is Honolulu’s most recognizable attraction. Kapiolani Park sits below Diamond Head and next to Waikiki. It was Hawaii’s first public park as of 1877. King Kalaukaua named the park after his beautiful wife, Queen Kapiolani. The 200 acres of lush trees, lawns, is parked next to Honolulu Zoo, below the slopes of Diamond Head, and across from Queen’s Surf Beach.

Here’s your text visit to Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head, nestled at the southeast end of Waikiki.

In decades past, Kapiolani Park was host to polo games, auto races, and horse races. Well to do women showed off their satin dresses and feathered hats in Kapiolani Park on Sunday afternoons following church.

Today, Kapiolani Park hosts sports of all kinds—soccer, baseball, tag football, basketball, tennis, picnics, and rock concerts.  The Park also hosts the Finish Line for the Honolulu Marathon (now third largest marathon in the free world; although it costs as much as $100 to enter).

Honolulu Zoo faces the northwest corner of Kapiolani Park and is host to lions, and tigers, and bears—oh my. It’s not the San Diego Zoo. Honolulu Zoo is pleasant, comfortable, and has a good variety of animals.

Too many monkeys, though.

Along the Honolulu Zoo fence facing Kapiolani Park is the Zoo Fence Art Mart. No, it has nothing to do with con men fencing their wares. Well, maybe. Local artists hang their paintings along the fence and sell to locals and tourists alike. More than a few acclaimed local artists got their start fencing, uh, hanging paintings along the fence.

Across the street is the Waikiki Shell. Rock groups and the Honolulu Symphony call the Shell’s amphitheatre home. Although there are seats, most people attend concerts with folded straw mats or beach chairs.

Facing the ocean is the Waikiki Aquarium. It’s not the largest aquarium you’ll see but it is the third oldest in the US. It was built in 1910, recently renovated (meaning, “we got air conditioning inside now!!”), you’ll find more than 300 species of Hawaiian and Pacific marine life.

Can you say, “Hundred Pound Clam?”

They got one there, along with the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (without the little robes and canes).

Next to the aquarium is an albatross—The Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. This oversized salt water swimming pool was built in 1927. The Natatorium is aptly named “War Memorial” as battles have raged for decades to:

1) Destroy the monstrosity as an eyesore and dangerous bacteria breeding zone

2) Save the monument (spend money), restore the monument (spend money), open it to the public (spend money).

DIAMOND HEAD PARK
760 feet above the green emerald lawns and trees of Kapiolani Park is arid Diamond Head; perhaps Hawaii’s most photographed monument. Besides Loyal Garner.

Diamond Head is just minutes by bus or car from Waikiki. You can’t miss it.  The road winds through Kapiolani Park, past the Diamond Head Lighthouse (to the right; it’s easier to see at night; wear sunglasses and don’t stare directly into the light).

Getting inside the Diamond Head crater is equally simple. Although there’s a modest charge to enter the park, the 30-minute walk to the summit is quick and nearly painless. It’s less than 1.5 miles (ignore the signs that say it’ll take an hour—it’ll only take 30-minutes—unless you’re from Michigan or Ohio).

The view from the summit overlooks Kapiolani Park, Waikiki Shell, The Natatorium, all of Waikiki, the Ala Wai Canal, and the Pacific Ocean all the way to Honolulu Airport.

And beyond.

On the backside of Diamond Head crater is Leahi Hospital. Diamond Head was first called “Leahi” by Hawaiians. Leahi means “place of fire. Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes (now residing on the Big Island) supposedly lived there for a time. Presumably, a long time ago.

The name Diamond Head came about in 1825 when drunken British sailors saw the glittering calcite in the rocks and were certain they’d found a fortune.

They didn’t. However, the real jewels around Diamond Head now consist of real estate. Property at the base of the mountain usually runs into the millions. Dollars.

Summary: A great opportunity to visit an extinct volcano, stroll through a park from the 1920s (complete with American bandstand, minus Dick Clark), and climb to a panoramic view of Waikiki.

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to get to; less than one day covers everything.

Cons: Crowded.

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