We’ve all been there. You are standing on the edge of a cliff after a long hike, taking in the beauty. You pull out your camera or phone, line up the perfect shot, and someone steps in front of you. Overcrowding at national parks is becoming a huge problem all over the world. But Hawaii is taking steps with a new reservation system. Hoping to avoid that at their most popular site, Diamond Head State Park.
Hawaii’s Diamond Head Reservations
Diamond Head is part of the volcanic Ko’olau Range that began erupting below sea level over 2.6 million years ago. A single eruption around 300,000 years ago created the crater. The crater encompasses 350 acres. The crater is much larger than its rim as it formed explosively. This type of formation is a tuff cone. There aren’t many places in the world where you can hike to the edge of a volcano. The Diamond Head Trail allows this opportunity, which culminates in panoramic views of Oahu. You can see the famous Diamond Head Lighthouse, a United States Coast Guard facility featured on a U.S. postage stamp. And, of course, the beautiful Pacific Ocean. On a clear day, you can also see the nearby island of Molokai.
But the number of people swarming to the majestic views hit a record six thousand people in one day. Starting May 12, all visitors must have a reservation to get into the park, allowing the serine experience to live on without the overcrowding. On Monday, the news release said, “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 kamaʻāina and visitors enjoying the monument.”
The reservations go out for about fourteen days and are bound to fill up fast, so if you have plans to visit the beautiful site, make sure to leave plenty of time to get your reservations.