Diamond head crater safe?
 

Hello

My family will be travelling to Oahu and are wondering how difficult a climb Diamond Head crater will be.

We are not hikers by any stretch of the imagination and are worried about the safety of our two young kids (13 and 10) as we journey up Diamond Head. Are there guard rails so that they can't hurt themselves? Can a person in reasonable health do DH without over-exerting themselves?

Thanks

When we were there there was a bevy of middle aged Japanese ladies in pumps and suits, carrying parasols, that made it up and down, slowly but in style. No kidding.

As people in reasonable health, we did not find it over-taxing.

I don't remember if there were guard rails.

Diamond Head is more of an uphill walk than a true hike. There are guard rails at the lookout when you reach the top -- while on the path up, there's nowhere to fall.

Well I did it, actually I didn't walk the very last lot of steps to the very top, but if I can do it anyone can. It was very hot, early morning to avoid the heat, and we had got in at 11pm the night before from a 13 hour flight from NZ!! Like sf says it is perfectly okay for a 13 year old and a 10 year old, they will probably run up!!

It can be quite hot -- but it isn't a hike as such. It is mostly a climb - like up a lot of stairs. Very safe- It is less than 2 miles total up and back. Even though you will see many people in flip flops - wear <i>real</i> shoes. We were dropped off in the parking lot at the bottom of the crater, walked up and then back down and around/back to Waikiki, and the whole thing was only about 4 miles.

I am one of the people who did it in flip flops and my kids ran up it bouncing a basketball. It really isn't a hike so much as a walk with a couple steep sections (the stairs). Most of it is paved and there are a couple sets of stairs but nothing terribly taxing. We did it early in the morning so it wasn't too hot but I could see how it could get really warm later in the day. The little platform at the top isn't huge so it is probably best to go early when it is easier to park and less crowded at the "summit."

Have fun.