Diamond Head Crater, known in Hawaiian as Le'ahi, is the extinct volcano on the east end of Waikiki and is a symbol of the city. What you see from the beach is only a profile; the best place for viewing the crater is at Diamond Head State Monument, where the crater itself can be visited. A historic hiking trail leads up from the floor of the crater to the summit, following a rather steep path, which eventually turns into stairs and leads to a viewpoint overlooking Waikiki. The road to Diamond Head Crater drives up the eastern side of the rock and then passes through a tunnel cut to connect the inner and outer sides of the rim.

This jut of land or head was named Diamond Head when 19th-century sailors thought some of the crystals found here were diamonds.