Located at the eastern end of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head Crater is a familiar landmark to the throngs of tourists who today pack the high-rise hotels in the area. For mariners of yesteryear, Diamond Head also served as a landmark, guiding their approach to the harbor at Honolulu from the west coast of the United States.
In the 1820s, sailors discovered what they believed were diamonds in the rocks on the volcano’s slopes. Although the sailors’ diamonds turned out to be clear calcite crystals, the name Diamond Head has been associated with the crater ever since.
Standing as an enduring sentinel, the lighthouse has safely guided innumerable mariners transiting the Pacific region for over one hundred and ten years.
Located on the southern cliffs of the island, its red light can be seen 17 nautical miles (over 31 kilometers) from the shoreline.
The lighthouse is 147 ft (44.80 meters) above sea level & its actual height is 55 ft (over 16 meters).
