Diamond Head

Diamond head .

 Diamond Head or Leahi as it known in Hawaii, is easily seen from Waikiki.  It is actually the remnants of a tuff crater measuring 760 feet.

It is an iconic landmark, seen from much of the Honolulu side.  The Hawaiian name, Leahi, means tuna but the name Diamond Head came from 19th century British sailors who thought they found diamonds on it. The "diamonds" turned out to be a shiny calcite formations.  

Waikiki as seen from the top.

In 1904, the federal government purchased it to establish Fort Ruger complete with bunkers, pill boxes, artillery, etc.  None of the guns were fired during World War II and all were removed after the war. 

The state designated it a state monument in 1962 and six years later it became a National Landmark.  The trail is 4/5th of a mile, rising 560 feet to the summit.  There is a minimal charge to hike to the top.

Local legend says this crater was once the home of Pele and her sister Hiiaka as they searched for a permanent home.  Pele is the goddess of fire.  There are stories that she sometimes appears on roads at night.  People say they have offered her a ride and she disappears later.

Parking lot for Diamond Head

Apparently, people lit fires around the rim of Leahi in order to guide canoes safely in.  Eventually, they built a temple dedicated to the god of wind to protect the fires from the trades winds.

On a more practical note, once Hawaii became a regular stop on ocean going trips, the government established a lookout in 1878.  The first employee for this lookout came from Sweden and married a local girl who died when their daughter was born.  He raised his daughter at the light house and held the job till 1907.

Diamond Head Light House.

Unfortunately a ship hit the rocks in October of 1893 due to Diamond head being obscured.  Everyone got off safely but it took six days to salvage the ship.

This was the opening needed by the Minister of the Interior to push for the construction of a light house on the point.

It was constructed 250 yards west of the lookout.  The new light house stood tall and proud constructed with a 40 foot iron skeleton.  Although it took a while to finish, they managed to finish it by the turn of the century.

looking up at the top.

There is a story that the lookout worker tried to beat up the light house employee.  The lookout person was fired but rehired 5 months later because he was so good at identifying ships at a distance, the lookout needed his skill.

In 1916, a new 55 foot tall light house had to be constructed on a solid base because the previous one had developed significant cracks.  It wasn't until 1921, the government finally got around to building a residence for the lighthouse keeper on the property.  Prior to this, they had to live elsewhere.

Three years later, in 1924, the government automated the lighthouse so it no longer had to be manned by a live person because the light had been converted from gas to electricity.  Various people lived in the residence until World War II when the Coast Guard took it over and used it as a radio station.

Top of Diamond head.

When World War II ended, the residence was remodeled and housed Commanders of the Coast Guard.

Although the lighthouse has been automated for years, it is used once a year to determine the places of competitors in the Transpac Yacht race beginning in California.

The trail up can take a while if you are not in the best shape because it include stairs and rocky ground but the view from the top is absolutely beautiful.

At the bottom in the area by the visitors center, you'll find a concession stand where you can get pineapples, pineapple smoothies, pineapple juice, and sliced pineapples to quench your thirst after a long, hot, walk.

Dole pineapple with juice and other good things.

I hope you enjoyed this short visit to Diamond Head.  I included the light house because you can see it from the top and it played an important part in Hawaii's history.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.