Diamond Head - Round-Trip of Volcanic Cone Hawaii

Diamond Head is the name of a volcanic stuff cone on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and known to Hawaiians as Leoahi. Diamond Head is a defining feature of the view known to residents and tourists of Waik alike. The volcanic cinder cone is a United States State Monument. While part of it serves as a platform for antennas used by the U.S. government and is closed to the public, the crater's proximity to Honolulu's resort hotels and beaches makes the rest of it a popular destination.

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A 0.75 mile (1.1 km) hike leads to the edge of the crater's rim. Signs at the trailhead say that the hike takes 1.5-2 hours round-trip, and recommends that hikers bring water and flashlights. Although not difficult, the signs also say that the hike is not a casual one: the mostly unpaved trail winds over uneven rock, ascends 74 steps, then through a tunnel and up another steep 99 steps. Next is a small tunnel (hence the flashlight) to a narrow spiral staircase (about 30 steps) inside a coastal artillery observation platform built in 1908.

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From the summit above the observation platform both Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean can be seen in detail. As a symbol of worldwide recognition for the Hawaiian Islands, it is not surprising that the name Diamond Head is widely used for commercial purposes. Many souvenirs from Hawaii and surf shop logos across the globe bear the volcano's distinctive silhouette.

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