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Diamond Head reservation: if you are not a Hawaiʻi resident, you must book online in advance on the official Hawaiʻi State Parks site, gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead, before you visit Diamond Head State Monument (Lēʻahi) on Oʻahu. Entry costs $5 per person and parking costs $10 per vehicle. Children aged 3 and under are free. You can book up to 30 days ahead, and you must arrive within the first 30 minutes of your time slot. The park is open 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. The last reservation is at 4:00 pm, and the last entry is at 4:30 pm. It is closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Hawaiʻi residents with a Hawaiʻi driver’s licence or state ID enter and park free and do not need a reservation. Payment is by credit card only.
Last checked: 3 November 2026. The fees, hours and rules here come from the official Diamond Head State Monument page of the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks, and from the official reservation website gostateparks.hawaii.gov (its About and FAQ pages). Prices are in US dollars. Nothing on this page comes from a personal visit.
Diamond Head reservation at a glance
| Item | Rule or price (non-residents) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation needed? | Yes, for entry and for parking. Anyone without a reservation is turned away. Hawaiʻi residents with a valid Hawaiʻi ID are exempt. | DLNR park page; gostateparks FAQ |
| Entry fee | $5 per person. Children 3 and under: free | DLNR park page |
| Parking fee | $10 per vehicle (non-commercial vehicle), on top of the entry fee for each person | DLNR park page |
| Payment | Credit card only, paid online when you book | DLNR park page; gostateparks About page |
| How far ahead | Up to 30 days in advance | gostateparks About page |
| Arrival | Within the first 30 minutes of your reservation period. Later arrivals may be refused, with no refund | gostateparks About page |
| Hours | 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Last reservation 4:00 pm, last entry 4:30 pm, gates close 6:00 pm | DLNR park page; gostateparks FAQ |
| Closed | Christmas and New Year’s Day (plus emergency closures, for example storms) | DLNR park page |
| Refunds | Up to 3 days before your entry date. A $5 cancellation fee and service fees may apply | gostateparks About page |
| Hawaiʻi residents | Free entry and parking with a Hawaiʻi driver’s licence or ID, no reservation. Their out-of-state guests must book and pay | DLNR park page; gostateparks FAQ |
How to book a Diamond Head reservation, step by step
- Go to the official site: gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead (the DLNR Diamond Head page links to it under “Reservations”). This is the only official booking site for visitors. Commercial tour companies use a separate PUC reservation system.
- Choose your date (up to 30 days ahead) and the type of reservation: parking plus entry if you will drive in and park inside the crater, or entry only if you walk in, cycle or are dropped off.
- Pick a time slot. The park says it gets busy at certain times of day and may sell out, so book as early as you can.
- Enter the number of people. Everyone who enters needs an entry ticket, even someone who will not hike. Children aged 3 and under do not need to pay.
- Pay by credit card and keep your confirmation. DLNR’s 2022 launch notice said the system uses QR codes to confirm reservations at the gate.
- Arrive on time: within the first 30 minutes of your slot. If you booked parking, leave by the end time of your parking reservation.
Entry only or parking plus entry: which reservation do you need?
| How you arrive | What to book | Cost (non-residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving and parking in the crater | Parking reservation plus an entry ticket for each person in the car | $10 per vehicle + $5 per person |
| Walking in, cycling, taxi or rideshare drop-off | Entry tickets only | $5 per person |
| Hawaiʻi resident with a Hawaiʻi driver’s licence or state ID | No reservation. Show your ID at the entry point | Free entry and parking |
| Out-of-state guests travelling with a Hawaiʻi resident | Guests must book and pay in advance, or they will be denied entry | $5 per guest; parking as booked |
| New residents who do not yet have a Hawaiʻi ID | Must book and pay like visitors until the Hawaiʻi ID arrives | $5 per person + $10 parking |
| Commercial vehicles (tours) | PUC reservation system, not the visitor system | $25 (1-7 passengers), $50 (8-25), $90 (26+) per vehicle |
Time slots, arrival window and exit time
- First and last slots: reservations begin at 6:00 am. The last reservation is at 4:00 pm, and you must enter by 4:30 pm.
- 30-minute arrival rule: arrive within the first 30 minutes of your reservation period. If you arrive later, you may be refused entry or parking. There are no refunds for late arrivals or no-shows.
- Parking end time: if you park in the crater, you must drive out by the end time of your parking reservation. Walk-in and drop-off visitors can leave whenever they finish, but everyone must be out through the tunnel by 6:00 pm. After 6:00 pm the park is secured by the Department of Defense, and anyone still inside may be treated as a trespasser.
- Slot length: the gostateparks pages we checked do not say how long each slot is. When the system started in 2022, DLNR’s news release said drivers book two-hour parking slots starting at 6:00 am (two slots in a row can be booked), and walk-in or drop-off visitors get one-hour entry slots. The current State Parks brochure says most time slots allow a 2-3 hour park visit. Check the slots shown for your date when you book.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
- Refunds: allowed up to 3 days before your entry date. A $5 cancellation fee and service fees may be charged.
- Changes: you can change a booking up to the day before your reservation (midnight Hawaiʻi time), if space is available. A change that lowers the cost is refunded only if you request it 3 or more days before the entry date. There is no service fee on a change that does not change the cost.
- How: use the “Change/Cancel/View Your Reservation” link on gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead.
- Adding people: before your start time you can buy extra entry tickets on the website, if space is available. You may also send different people in place of those named, as long as you do not go over the number of entries on the ticket.
- Weather: no refunds for rain or other conditions outside the park’s control, unless there is an official park closure.
- Storm closures: DLNR says anyone with a paid reservation for a day when the park was closed because of a storm gets an automatic refund, minus non-refundable service charges. It may take 4-6 weeks to show on the card statement (DLNR update of 27 August 2026).
Hours, closed days and the hike
Diamond Head State Monument is open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, except Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Diamond Head Summit Trail is 0.8 mile from the trailhead to the summit and climbs 560 feet from the crater floor. DLNR calls it steep and strenuous. It has switchbacks, steep stairs and a lighted 225-foot tunnel. The last tenth of a mile is all stairs. The official sources give different hiking times: the gostateparks FAQ says the hike usually takes 60-90 minutes, while the DLNR park page says to allow 1.5 to 2 hours. If you park in the crater, plan around the longer figure.
- Pets are not allowed, except service animals.
- The crater-floor facilities are accessible, but the summit trail is not ADA accessible.
- DLNR advises good walking shoes, water, a hat and sunscreen.
What a Diamond Head visit costs: examples
| Group (non-residents) | Fees in USD | About in INR* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult, walk-in or drop-off | $5 | ₹474 |
| 2 adults, walk-in or drop-off | $10 | ₹948 |
| 2 adults with a car | $10 parking + $10 entry = $20 | ₹1,895 |
| 2 adults + 2 children aged 6 and 10, with a car | $10 parking + $20 entry = $30 | ₹2,843 |
| 2 adults + 1 child aged 3, with a car | $10 parking + $10 entry = $20 (the child is free) | ₹1,895 |
Closures and changes in the last 12 months
- Tropical Storm Lala (August 2026): Diamond Head was closed from 16 August 2026, according to Pacific Historic Parks, and reservations were suspended. It reopened on Saturday 22 August 2026 (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 25 August 2026). DLNR’s 27 August 2026 update confirms automatic refunds for reservations on closure days, minus non-refundable service charges.
- October 2026 storms: DLNR’s Important Park Notices of 3 November 2026 cover recovery from Hurricanes Nolo and Lowell. They list closures at other Oʻahu parks (Kaʻena Point, part of Mālaekahana, and the Keaīwa Heiau restrooms), but none at Diamond Head. The Diamond Head page shows normal hours.
- Fees: no change found. The DLNR page still lists $5 entry and $10 parking for non-residents. The paid parking that started in January 2026 was at four other state parks (Wailuku River, Kekaha Kai, Wailua River and Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa), not Diamond Head (Aloha State Daily, 9 January 2026). The same report said the state approved a new gift and concession building at Diamond Head, with no completion date given.
- Before you go: check the DLNR Diamond Head page and the Important Park Notices on the day, because storms can close the park at short notice.
Diamond Head reservation FAQ
Do you need a reservation for Diamond Head?
Yes, if you are not a Hawaiʻi resident. Entry and parking must be booked and paid online in advance on gostateparks.hawaii.gov. Anyone without a reservation is turned away. Hawaiʻi residents with a valid Hawaiʻi ID do not need one.
How much is the Diamond Head entry fee?
$5 per person for non-residents, plus $10 per vehicle if you park inside. Children aged 3 and under are free. Hawaiʻi residents pay nothing.
How far in advance can I book Diamond Head?
Up to 30 days in advance. Popular times can sell out, so the official reservation site advises booking as soon as you can.
What if I arrive late for my Diamond Head time slot?
You must arrive within the first 30 minutes of your reservation period. After that you may be refused entry or parking, and there is no refund for late arrivals or no-shows.
Can I walk in to Diamond Head without a reservation?
Not as a visitor. Walk-in and drop-off visitors still need an entry reservation ($5 per person), but they do not pay for parking. Only Hawaiʻi residents with a Hawaiʻi ID can walk in without booking.
Can I cancel or change my Diamond Head reservation?
Refunds are allowed up to 3 days before the entry date, and a $5 cancellation fee and service fees may apply. Changes can be made until midnight Hawaiʻi time the day before, if space is available. No refunds for weather unless the park officially closes.
What time does Diamond Head open and close?
6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. The last reservation is 4:00 pm, the last entry is 4:30 pm, and everyone must be out by 6:00 pm. It is closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
More Hawaii travel guides
- Pillbox hikes in Oahu (includes the Diamond Head Summit Trail)
- Waimea Canyon State Park entrance fee and parking (Kauaʻi)
- Kauai trip planning tips
- Hideaway Beach, Kauai
Sources (checked 3 November 2026)
- DLNR Division of State Parks, Diamond Head State Monument (hours, last entry, closed days, entry and parking fees, commercial fees, trail, rules, 27 August 2026 refund update).
- Official reservation site, About the Diamond Head reservations (30 days ahead, 30-minute arrival rule, refunds and changes, residents) and Diamond Head reservation FAQ (first and last reservation, children, walk-ins, residents and guests).
- DLNR Division of State Parks, Important Park Notices and the notices on the State Parks home page (notice dated 3 November 2026, read 3 November 2026).
- DLNR news release, Diamond Head State Monument becomes third state park to require reservations (25 April 2022; slot lengths, QR codes).
- DLNR, Hawaiʻi State Parks brochure (parks that need reservations; time slots allow a 2-3 hour visit).
- Pacific Historic Parks, Diamond Head closed due to Tropical Storm Lala (16 August 2026).
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Kokua Line: Can I get refund because storm closed Diamond Head? (25 August 2026).
- Aloha State Daily, Parking fees coming to four state parks this month (9 January 2026).
- Exchange rate (ECB reference rate): frankfurter.app
Rules and fees can change. Always confirm on gostateparks.hawaii.gov and the DLNR Diamond Head page before you go.
