Matthew was a wonderful guide! He is proud of the local culture, and he wants to share that with his guests.
He picked me up early enough that I was able to see a spectacular sunrise at Diamond Head. I recommend going early as the trail gets very crowded, and itās very narrow. 2 hours is plenty of time to hike and enjoy the view from the top. This hike is not paved and has some uneven ground since it is cut through the mountain. It is a switchback hike to help with the elevation gain, but there are several stairs to get to the summit.
Matthew picked me back up at the time promised. Just to note, with this back to back tour, you drop off the people that are only doing the Diamond Head hike before picking up individuals that are only doing the Makapuāu Lighthouse hike. Having the trips back to back, the downtime was good. I didnāt find the hikes to be too much to do together, but Iām an avid hiker.
Again, 2 hours is plenty for the Makapuāu hike. As stated, this hike is on a paved road, but it is a steeper incline throughout the hike. Go early as there isnāt shade along the way. There are plenty of lookout spots to stop and take a break. In the winter months, itās a great spot for whale watching.
Highly recommend these hikes either together or separately. Matthew is funny and makes the trip an adventure.