Lēʻahi: Story of Diamond Head

Before it was “Diamond Head,” the volcanic tuff cone above Waikīkī was called Lēʻahi by Native Hawaiians, likely for its resemblance to a tuna's dorsal fin (ahi) when viewed from the sea.

In the 1800s, Western sailors mistook sparkling calcite or olivine crystals on its slopes for diamonds, giving rise to the name that appears on maps today.

For generations of Hawaiians, Lēʻahi has been more than a landmark-it is a guide for navigation, a guardian over Waikīkī, and a reminder that names hold stories of both perception and place.

Reservations not required for Hawaii State Residents. Division of State Parks | Diamond Head State Monument

What is an Ahupuaʻa?

Long before roads and towers, Hawaiʻi's land was divided into wedge-shaped ahupuaʻa stretching from mountain to sea, ensuring access to forests, streams, and reefs. This system fostered balance and interdependence: taro thrived in terraced loʻi, fish filled stone ponds, and life was guided by aloha ʻāina-love for the land. Waikīkī lies within the Mānoa ahupuaʻa, once a fertile wetland of fishponds and farms. Though the land has changed, the lesson remains: abundance comes through sharing and stewardship.

Hawaiian phrase: “Mālama i ka ʻāina, mālama ke kanaka.” - Care for the land and it will care for the people.

The Origins of Kapi‘olani Park

Once a swamp along Oʻahu's southern shore, Kapiʻolani Park was created in 1877 by King Kalākaua and named for Queen Kapiʻolani. First a horse-racing venue for royalty and settlers, it soon became a hub for leisure, even captured on film by Thomas Edison in 1898. Over time, the park transformed from royal racetrack to Honolulu's communal backyard. Today, its banyan-lined paths, oceanfront views, and Sunday hula welcome all, carrying forward the spirit of aloha that has united the community for generations.