IST 605: Honolulu and Oahu Travel Guide

Perhaps while you were at the top of Diamond Head overlooking the ocean, you noticed a lighthouse far below. That would be the Diamond Head Lighthouse, located on Diamond Head Road, and the park below them? That’s right, Diamond Head Beach Park!

Less than a ten-minute drive from Waikiki, you won’t find any high-rise hotels here and not a fraction of the tourists! Still, there is plenty of roadside parking, and it is well known, and loved, by locals. That being said, it is much more peaceful than Waikiki; the water somehow seems even bluer, the vibe even slower, and one can really see the far-out high waves dissipate into tiny ripples. It is perhaps the only place in the greater Honolulu area that one can get that “old Hawaii” beach feel! One reason that it might not be as touristy, is that while allowed (and people do), swimming conditions at this beach are not the best. The water is perfect; however, a shallow reef extends right to the beach, meaning one can easily cut their feet on sharp rocks and corral. Just make sure to bring swimming shoes however, and you can’t go wrong making this a tope beach destination!