Diamond Head vs Tantalus Drive
 

With a short amount of time to enjoy Oahu: 3.5 days and a first time visit, after time in BI, Maui & Kauai, I am thinking of skipping Diamond Head and just doing the drive up Tantalus for views of Honolulu & Waikiki. I will have seen volcanic craters on BI & Maui. Is this a good decision?

Whatever you do, be SURE to drive to the North Shore. You won't be disappointed.

There is no reason you can't do both. The view is great from both.

If your time is really that short, here's another suggestion:

You can drive through the tunnel into Diamond Head Crater. Then turn around before you get to the ticket booth. You won't get the view from the top, but at least you'll see the inside of the crater. At Kapiolani Community College across the road from the entrance to Diamond Head, there is a nice cactus display.

When you go to Tantalus/Roundtop Drive, go to the National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). It is right at the bottom of Tantalus/Roundtop Drive. It also has an excellent lookout that overlooks the city. Puchbowl is also a volcanic crater.

Hanauma Bay is also a volcanic crater. One of it's sides collapsed to form the bay.

I think dusty's suggestion is a great one. Although the views from atop Diamond Head are awesome, you do need to allow about 1 1/2 hrs for the hike. The drive up Tantalus is very pretty, with stands of bamboo and other flora. We combined our trip to Punchbowl with the drive up Tantalus and it was a good combo.

Although I enjoyed Diamond Head, if I could choose just one, I think Tantalus would be my pick!

Belle

the view from Tantalus is very pretty at dusk--you might want to do that drive at sunset or later.