Reader Question: Can you still buy “I Climbed Diamond Head” t-shirts?

Monolithic Leahi (Diamond Head), a 300,000-year-old extinct volcanic crater, is a prominent feature along Waikiki’s eastern coastline. The march to the top along the Diamond Head Summit Trail promises stunning panoramic views looking out across the ocean and inland over downtown Honolulu and beyond to the Waianae Range.

To get to that view, however, you’ll have to work for it.

The Summit Trail winds 0.75 miles over unpaved switchbacks, up a spiral staircase and, at the end, through a tunnel, gaining 560 feet of elevation along the way. The whole trip will take you an hour and a half to two hours.

One of our HAWAII Magazine Facebook reader ohana recently wrote us about Diamond Head memorabilia:

“20 years ago, I climbed Diamond Head with a group who gathered at the park led by Park or Naturalist Volunteers. At the end, I bought a t-shirt as a donation to the parks department. We are returning in May. My husband wants to know if they still sell “I climbed Diamond Head t-shirts?” —Jane Hardy from Michigan

We’re happy to report the answer is yes! According to Yara Lamadrid, Diamond Head State Monument coordinator, the Interpretive Kiosk and Gift Shop located inside the park sells official Diamond Head State Monument branded items including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, books, pins, patches, postcards and more. You’ll find several versions of the “I climbed Diamond Head” shirts at the kiosk.

If you’ve recently made the climb and wish you had nabbed a shirt while you were there, all is not lost. The Pacific Historic Park bookstore sells a variety of “I hiked Diamond Head” shirts and memorabilia online.

When HAWAII Magazine staff made the climb just a few weeks ago, we also noticed there was a man selling “I climbed Diamond Head” stamped certificates at the top—the donations of which, he said, went to cleaning the summit. Though that may well be true, we later learned from signs near the trailhead that this was not a park representative. The only official Diamond Head State Monument memorabilia with proceeds benefiting the park are sold at the kiosk and online.

The Diamond Head Summit Trail is the state’s most popular trail with more than 1.3 million visitors annually. Diamond Head State Monument is open daily 6 a.m. til 6 p.m. The last hikers to the summit must begin by 4:30 p.m. The cost to enter is $5 per car or $1 per person for pedestrians. Entrance fees must be paid in cash.

For more information about Diamond Head State Monument, click here.