Rockfall mitigation underway at popular tourist attraction

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Construction is underway to help make a popular tourist attraction safer.

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If you live on the backside of Diamond Head, you may have noticed bright lights coming from the tunnel entrance to the crater.

Several residents in the area declined to speak on camera but said they noticed it this week and were curious what was happening.

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According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, it’s all part of the Diamond Head State Monument rock fall mitigation.

The work started January 6th and is intended to shore-up the area above and around the tunnel entrance.

“Safety is a priority, and we’ve had problems with rock falls,” Kahala neighborhood board member Richard Turbin said. “God forbid, if a rock falls on one of the tourists, or one of you know, our local friends, that would be tragic.”

DLNR had closed the hike on May 16, 2024 after heavy rains caused runoff and minor rockslides along the trail and at the tunnel entrance.

The project is expected to be finished around July 25, 2025 but it could possibly take longer. Available hours for the popular Diamond Head Crater hike are being reduced during construction.

The Diamond Head State Monument website said the park will close at 2 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays, due to construction. The last reservation accepted for the hike on weekdays will be at noon.

Closing the park early allows the work to be done at night.

“They’re stopping it at 10,” Turbin said. “Certainly, it’s not gonna interfere with people’s sleep. So I would encourage the neighbors to try to be as patient as possible and help the city workers to get the job done as quickly as possible.”

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