Hiking the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
The ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu is a local and visitor favorite, as the short 0.7-mile (1.1 km) trail climbs the cliffs above Pūpūkea to two WWII-era bunkers that overlook some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline on Oʻahu!
On top of this, the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail is also one of my personal favorite sunset hikes across the entire island, as the west-facing views from the top sit right above the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline, allowing hikers the opportunity to watch surfers catch some of the best and most beautiful waves in the world!
To this point, late evening is the only time of day that I like to hike to the ʻEhukai Pillboxes because I see the trail as one of the best effort-to-reward sunset hikes—being that it’s such a short yet beautiful adventure!
ʻEhukai Pillbox Trailhead Parking
Parking for the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail is located at the Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park or across the street at ʻEhukai Beach Park if closer lot is full.
That said, do not park in the Sunset Elementary School parking lot that’s located just past the public parking area shown below. This lot on the far end is not open to hikers.
Google Maps Directions: Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park / ʻEhukai Beach Park
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail
The ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail begins among the tall grass on the opposite side of the parking lot shown above, which should be marked by a big sign.
Initially, the hike starts out on a relatively flat trail through the trees, but if it has rained recently, the lower sections of the trail can be very muddy!
After only 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail will begin ascending the one and only hill on the entire hike, gaining about 300 ft. (91 m) of elevation from this point to the top!
Yes, this short hill is quite steep, and, being the case, some hikers may prefer to carry trekking poles, which can be especially useful for the hike back down.
These sections of the hill tend to be the muddiest after it has rained recently.
It’s quite amazing that the hiking community on Oʻahu is so helpful with these ropes, as social trails, like the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail, are not maintained by any managing agency.
As the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail nears the top of the hill, the hike should no longer be as muddy as the beginning sections.
This is the top of the roughly 300-ft. (91 m) hill, where the rest of the hike to the Upper Pillbox remains flat.
Upper ʻEhukai Pillbox
After 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail reaches the first of two WWII-era bunkers, with neither being more or less popular than the other.
However, I personally like the second (Lower) Pillbox better, but either can truly be one of the best places to watch the sunset on Oʻahu!
Hiking to the Lower ʻEhukai Pillbox
To get to the second pillbox, continue hiking past the first along the same trail to finish the remaining 0.1 miles (0.2 km), which is almost entirely downhill, losing about 220 ft. (67 m) in total.
Lower ʻEhukai Pillbox (Peace Sign Pillbox)
At the bottom of the hill, the trail reaches the Lower ʻEhukai Pillbox, which, in my opinion, is the better of the two because of the stunning views across Pūpūkea and much of Oʻahu’s North Shore in either direction!
That being said, you can see as far as Kaʻena Point to the west (left), much of Pūpūkea and the northernmost stretches of the North Shore to the right, and, when waves are rolling in, some of the best surfers in the world catching waves at the renowned Banzai Pipeline straight out in front of the viewpoint!
This is all to say that there are so many reasons why the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail is easily one of the best sunset hikes on Oʻahu—especially on a beautiful, clear evening like this!
Don’t forget to carry a good headlamp for the hike back down after sunset!
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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