Diamond Head homes

Diamond Head is located along the southern shoreline of Oahu.  The area features Kapiolani Park, Kaimana beach, pleasant weather and nice beachfront condos.   Area residents call Diamond Head the Gold Coast because of its normally sunny weather and gorgeous sunsets.

These homes overlook "Mansions," a surf spot at Diamond Head

Condos directly on the oceanfront start around $800,000.  Condos near the ocean with ocean views sell for about $650,000 and up.  A favorite location for more affordable condos is Pualei Circle, next to Kapiolani Park.  It's a clean and quiet neighborhood with one-bedroom units priced in the $300's and up.

Diamond Head beachfront homes sell for $5 million and higher.  Moving just off the water makes a dramatic difference in pricing.  Luxurious Diamond Head homes a block or two away from the beach sell for as little as $3 million.  Many homes away from the water still have gorgeous views and yet they are close enough so that one can walk to the beach in minutes.  Diamond Head has public access paths that allow us to use the relatively uncrowded beaches for sunbathing, swimming and surfing.

Diamond Head Communities

There are several community associations at Diamond Head along the beach.  Sands at Kaalawai is located at Kuine Place and consists of four homes.  The Isles at Diamond Head is a community of six homes located at Kaalawai Place.  Closer to the Diamond Head lookout, Aina Malu is an 11-home community. 

Each of these communities is gated and has sandy beach frontage.  Common areas are maintained by the community associations, making life a little simpler for individual home owners.

Diamond Head history and attractions

Diamond Head is a volcanic crater estimated to be about 500,000 years old and was formed in a single eruption.  Ash and particles blew into the air and fell, forming the crater rim.  The southwest side of the crater has the highest walls because trade winds blew the ashes in that direction.

The summit trail was created in 1908 as part of Hawaii's coastal defenses.  Bunkers built into the hillside held artillery and these facilities were used during World War II to protect Hawaii's shores from enemies.

If you're up for a pleasant walk, going around the base of Diamond Head is about four miles.  For more adventure, head up to the lookout, accessible from the backside of Diamond Head near 18th Avenue.  The trail is short and steep (about 8/10's of a mile).  It will take you to the top, 560 feet above the trail head.  Views on a clear day are nice - you can see most of east and west Oahu, along with Molokai and Lanai.  Diamond Head crater gets more than a million visitors each year - it's one of Hawaii's most popular attractions!

Mark Twain wrote about Diamond Head in the Hawaiian Gazette back in 1895.  Here's an excerpt:  "On the seventh day out (to sea) we saw a dim vast bulk and knew that special promontory was Diamond Head.  Not any other thing in the world could have stirred me as the sight of that great rock did."

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 Visit our Diamond Head homes page

This photo of Diamond Head was taken from Ala Moana Beach Park.  Beachfront condos at Diamond Head (on the right side of the picture) are much sought after.  Some of our favorites include Kainalu, Tahitienne and Diamond Head Ambassador.

This water fountain has been made famous by tv shows such as Hawaii Five-O and countless movies.  The fountain was constructed in the 1960's to honor Louise Dillingham, a member of the former City Parks Board.   Mrs. Dillingham was the wife of Walter Dillingham, a well known Hawaii construction contractor.

By the early 1990's the fountain had fallen into disrepair.  The City and County of Honolulu funded a restoration which brought the Dillingham Fountain to its former glory.

Diamond Head's nicest beachfront condos are right across the street.  Single family homes surround this precious landmark.  The more expensive homes are along the ocean and near Kahala.  Homes closer to Kapahulu and Kaimuki on the backside of Diamond Head are more affordable.