"Diamond Head" redirects here. This article describes the Hawaiian volcano.

For other uses, see Diamond Head (disambiguation).

Diamond Head is the name of a tuff cone on the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu and known to Hawaiians as Lēʻahi (photograph at right). Its English name was given by British sailors in the 19th century, who mistook calcite crystals embedded in the rock for diamonds. Many tourists visiting Hawaii believe that Diamond Head is a volcano although it really isn't. It is located on the coast east of Waikīkī (in Honolulu). A topographical summit is a point on a surface which is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Himalaya as seen from the International Space Station A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers. ... Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 2,400 km in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawai‘i. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Example of a topographic map with contour lines Part of the same map in a perspective shaded relief view illustrates how the contour lines of the original follow the terrain Topographic maps are a variety of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief, usually using contour... The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ... Mountains can be characterized in several ways. ... PuÊ»u ʻŌʻō, a cinder-and-spatter cone on KÄ«lauea, HawaiÊ»i Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcano formations in the world. ... // For other uses, see time scale. ... Southern and northern Mount Everest climbing routes as seen from the International Space Station. ... Diamond Head may refer to: Diamond Head, Hawaii, a volcanic cone on the Hawaiian island of Oahu known to Hawaiians as Leahi Diamond Head (band), a British heavy metal band formed in 1976 Diamond Head (film), a 1963 movie starring Charlton Heston and Yvette Mimieux Diamond Head (japanese band... PuÊ»u ʻŌʻō, a cinder-and-spatter cone on KÄ«lauea, HawaiÊ»i Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcano formations in the world. ... Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 2,400 km in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawai‘i. ... OÊ»ahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of HawaiÊ»i. ... Native Hawaiians (in Hawaiian, kānaka ʻōiwi or kānaka maoli) are the Polynesian peoples of the Hawaiian Islands who trace their ancestry back to Marquesan and possibly Tahitian settlers (starting circa AD 400), before the arrival of British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Doubly refracting Calcite from Iceberg claim, Dixon, New Mexico. ... This article is about the gemstone. ... WaikÄ«kÄ« seen from the top of Diamond Head or LÄ“ahi. ... Honolulu as seen from the International Space Station Honolulu is the largest city and the capital of the U.S. state of Hawai‘i. ...

Geology

View of Diamond Head from above.

Diamond Head is part of the complex of cones, vents, and their associated eruption flows that are collectively known to geologists as the Honolulu Volcanic Series, eruptions from the Koʻolau Volcano that took place long after the volcano formed and had gone dormant. The Honolulu Volcanic Series is a series of volcanic eruption events that created many of Oʻahu's well-known landmarks, including Punchbowl Crater, Hanauma Bay, Koko Head, and Manana Island in addition to Diamond Head. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1308x855, 489 KB) Summary Diamond Head, Hawaii, family vacation photo November 2001. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1308x855, 489 KB) Summary Diamond Head, Hawaii, family vacation photo November 2001. ... View of Koolau Range from offshore Lanikai (windward coast) Koolau Range is a name given to the fragmented remnant of the eastern or windward shield volcano of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. ... Punchbowl Crater is an extinct volcano located in Honolulu, Hawaii. ... Hanauma Bay on O‘ahu Hanauma Bay (pronounced ha-now-mah) is a marine bay formed within a volcanic cone or crater and located along the southeast coast of the Island of O‘ahu (east of Honolulu) in the Hawaiian Islands. ... Sandy Beach from the Halona Blowhole lookout. ...

Diamond Head, like the rest of the Honolulu Volcanics, is much younger than the main mass of the Koʻolau Mountain Range. While the Koʻolau Range is about 2.6 million years old, Diamond Head is estimated to be about 200,000 years old.

The eruption that built up Diamond Head was probably very brief, lasting no more than a few days. It was probably explosive, since when the cone was originally formed, the sea level is thought to have been higher and the vent burst erupted over a coral reef. Another factor probably contributing to the eruption's explosive nature was that rising magma would have come into contact with the water table. The eruption's relatively brief length is thought to explain why the cone today is so symmetrical. Magma is molten rock located beneath the surface of the Earth (or any other rocky planet), and which often collects in a magma chamber. ...

A nearby eruption that took place at about the same time (probably after) as the Diamond Head eruption was the eruption that built the Black Point lava shield. Since the type of eruptions that built Diamond Head tend to be monogenetic, geologists don't believe Diamond Head will erupt again. Monogenetic volcanic fields are areas of scattered volcanic vents; so that roughly speaking a monogenetic field is a type of volcano. ...

Tourism and fame

A panoramic view from the rim, showing the inside of the cone, the Honolulu district of Hawaiʻi Kai, and the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Diamond Head is a defining feature of the view known to residents and tourists of Waikīkī alike. The volcanic cone also serves as a United States State Monument. Its proximity to the resort hotels and beaches of the city make it a popular destination for people traveling to the city. A short hike leads to the edge of the crater's rim, from which point both the city of Waikīkī and the Pacific Ocean can be seen in breathtaking detail. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 162 pixel Image in higher resolution (6224 × 1264 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 162 pixel Image in higher resolution (6224 × 1264 pixel, file size: 3. ... Honolulu as seen from the International Space Station Honolulu is the largest city and the capital of the U.S. state of Hawai‘i. ... Hawaii Kai is a largely residential area located in the City & County of Honolulu, in the District of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. ... WaikÄ«kÄ« seen from the top of Diamond Head or LÄ“ahi. ... WaikÄ«kÄ« seen from the top of Diamond Head or LÄ“ahi. ...

As symbol of worldwide recognition for the Hawaiian Islands, it is not surprising that the name Diamond Head is widely used for commercial purposes (see Diamond Head (film) and Diamond Head (band)). Many souvenirs from Hawaii and surf shop logos across the globe bear the volcano's distinctive silhouette. Categories: Stub | 1963 films ... Diamond Head Diamond Head are a British heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. ...

Diamond Head cone seen from the coast off Waikīkī

Diamond Head movie video box cover art File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Diamond Head movie video box cover art File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

External links

• Satellite image of Diamond Head (Google Maps)
• Traveler reviews and photos