Diamond Head Crater rises 760 feet above the sea on the eastern end of Waikiki, which is on the eastern side of Honolulu. This volcanic formation is a prominent sight for visitors to Waikiki Beach a mile or two away, but tourists probably do not know that there is a beach area at the base of Diamond Head that has a long history of nude use.

The main part of Diamond Head Beach is just east of the Diamond Head Lighthouse, and the main beach is sandy and textile. The nude area is west of the main beach, below the lighthouse. It is much narrower than the main beach, with patches of sand and rocks, and it mostly disappears at high tide. The main beach and the nude beach are separated by an easily traversed outcropping of lava, and the nude area of the beach can be accessed from either end. Because it is hidden, few tourists find their way to the nude part of the beach, which is not great for swimming due to all the rocks just offshore. The nude area of the beach is visited mostly by gay men, and it is as much a gay beach as a nude beach.

Nudity at Diamond Head occurred more freely several decades ago, but regular police patrols of the beach have been ongoing in the more recent past. Although Diamond Head is well known as a nudist haunt to locals, authorities do not recognize nude sunbathing as a legitimate pursuit, and while nudist attendance has diminished, you are still likely to encounter a handful of visitors who risk the consequences and bare all, while some other visitors just opt for skimpy swimwear instead. As for the consequences, if you are caught nude you will at least be verbally reprimanded and stand a good chance of getting a ticket, especially if the officer is acting on a complaint. As best we can tell, cops are unlikely to make arrests for mere nudity unless lewd behavior is involved. Because of the high number of reports of police visits to this beach, we have decided to err on the side of caution and classify it as "potentially risky." Be discreet, keep a pair of shorts handy, and don't get naked if you are not prepared to deal with any negative consequences.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 21.2553N, 157.8095W

city, island, state, country  Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

classification  4 (potentially risky)

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