The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources announced that advance reservations will be required for out-of-state visitors at Diamond Head State Monument, effective May 12.
The implementation of this system delivers on one of the top priorities of the community as articulated in the Oahu Destination Management Action Plan.
Diamond Head State Monument is one of Oahu’s most sought-after and visited attractions. The new reservation system will mitigate environmental impacts sustained by foot traffic, reduce vehicle congestion in the park and surrounding neighborhoods, improve the experience of local residents and visitors enjoying the monument, and help preserve this landmark for future generations.
When the system is activated on April 28, it will allow for reservations beginning 14 days in the future. Beginning May 12, individuals without a Hawaii State Driver’s License or ID must have advance reservations to enter the park.
Hawaii residents will continue to enjoy free access to the park without reservations, but entry may depend on parking availability.
Commercial tour and trolley patrons will also be required to have reservations. Registered PUC commercial carriers will have access to a separate reservation portal developed concurrently with the public reservation system.
Visitors parking vehicles in the crater will be required to book in two-hour time slots beginning at 6 a.m. (two consecutive slots can be booked). Walk-in and drop-off visitors will be subject to one-hour entry time slots. Arrival and exit times will be enforced to assure adequate turnover to allow for later arrivals.
Park hours and visitor entrance fees are available here.
“This new reservation system will be instrumental in managing visitor capacity within Leahi and protecting its natural environment and cultural sites, improving the experience for everyone and allowing us to be better stewards of this special place,” said John De Fries, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) president and CEO, who grew up in Waikiki at the foot of Leahi. “We thank the Department of Land and Natural Resources for their partnership, and we support our sister agency in its continued efforts at Leahi and other sites across Hawaii. Together with our industry partners, we are urging visitors to plan ahead when booking their trips and become familiarized with the new process.”
“We commend DLNR for bringing this reservation system to fruition, to support the efforts to manage the flow of visitors and residents into Diamond Head State Monument, and make the experience more enjoyable for all,” said Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, executive director of the Oahu Visitors Bureau. “As reservation systems have proven to be an effective tool for monitoring and managing capacity, this is an exciting and vital development for our community and industry. It directly contributes to our collective DMAP goal of ushering forth sustainable tourism management for our people and place.”
This is the third state park to require reservations. On Kauai at Ha’ena State Park and on Maui at Waiʻanapanapa State Park, reservation systems have improved the quality of experience and reduced impacts on surrounding communities and resources. Reservations are also required at the City’s Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on Oahu.
For travelers unable to obtain reservations for their desired day, visit GoHawaii.com/Oahu to learn about other experiences and activities.
For more information on the Diamond Head State Monument reservation system, visit this link.
