Seeing Diamond Head / Waikiki from a plane
A tuff cone about 300,000 years old, named by 19th-century British sailors who mistook its calcite crystals for diamonds. Look for the crater rim at the end of Waikiki's beach and hotel strip.
7 of our routes pass it. Hawaii · rated 6 of 10
The easy pick
Honolulu to Kailua-Kona: sit on the left, on the climb, 2 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu to Kailua-Kona | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Honolulu to Las Vegas | Left the other side is usually better on this route | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Honolulu to Los Angeles | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Honolulu to Kahului | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Honolulu to San Francisco | Left the other side is usually better on this route | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Honolulu to Seattle | Left | on the climb, 3 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Honolulu | Left the other side is usually better on this route | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Diamond Head / Waikiki from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (7 of 7). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Diamond Head / Waikiki from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Molokai sea cliffs Molokini Haleakala Mauna Kea Honolulu (HNL) Las Vegas (LAS) Los Angeles (LAX) San Francisco (SFO) All routes