Diamond Head Hike from 3 hikes in 3 days Honolulu

"Diamond Head, like some mighty sphinx or lion couchant, guarding the approach to an earthly paradise, was next approached. It is an extinct volcano and, properly fortified, would be the Gibraltar
of the Pacific."
John R Musik making landfall in Honolulu 1898
'Hawaii Our New Possessions'

Fast forward 100 plus years and the 'mighty sphinx' loomed over our Hotel at Kaimana Beach where they used to award "I climbed Diamond Head Tshirts" no such luck today. Visiting Honolulu sans car meant one of three options hike to the trail head 4-5 miles, taxi cab and or the bus. After wandering around bus stops in Waikiki we settled on a Route 22 which stops in front of the Honolulu Zoo
and is nicely air conditioned, costs $5 for two fares. Our morning hike had become high noon as the Temps reached high 80s and we fell into single file through a tunnel leading to the trail head. We stopped at the entrance to pay $2 and pickup a trail map as tour buses and large crowds formed for the assault on Diamond Head. Soon we were climbing a crowded and hot trail and at the switchbacks where people were stopping on the trail some in ill health. Tropo

As you approach the summit you have a choice left on more gradual switchbacks or right up a steep flight of seemingly never ending stairs that are shaded and lead to a tunnel and the pillbox on top of Diamond Head. Inside the pillbox I imagined a scene from Torah Torah and being strafed by warplanes and taking cover behind the thick cement walls.

The view from on top of the 761' crater is spectacular and today crowded as people were doing too may stupid human tricks with selfie sticks. Mitch from Hawaii dot com was doing a pitch for up island tours only no one was listening. Mitch did have a valid point Honolulu is the most populated cement jungle in Hawaii and just beyond lies some breathtaking hikes and scenery off the beaten path.