Very cool hike. Unexpected difficult hike I would guess 2 miles round trip with some steep…read moreclimbing. I wouldn't bring kids unless they experienced hikers and no small dogs. But very rewarding hike with a beautiful 360 view at the top. Bring extra water and snacks and can have a nice picnic at the top.

This west side Pink Pillbox Trail isn't as famous as the east side's Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but…read moreit's only about a 15-minute drive from Aulani and way less crowded -- definitely a nice bonus. Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch. Still, I'd recommend parking closer to the entrance for safety because we noticed broken glass scattered on the ground further down the road, probably from past break-ins. We actually parked once, saw the glass right by our car, and quickly moved closer to the entrance instead. Right after we parked, it started raining. The forecast said it would last about 30 minutes, so we just waited it out in the car before starting our hike. The trailhead is right between a yellow "Falling Rocks" warning sign and a white "Speed Limit 25" sign on a utility pole. The hike starts with a steep incline, but overall it's not too hard and just a bit narrow at parts. There are three pillboxes total. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the first one at a relaxed pace, stopping for photos along the way. The first pillbox is painted in blue graffiti inside, and from there you can continue up to the famous pink one. When we got to the pink pillbox, there were surprisingly tons of flies swarming around the entrance for some reason, so we didn't stay too close. The wind was really strong up there -- strong enough that I had trouble keeping my balance! It looked like reaching the third pillbox would require climbing over quite a few rocks, so we decided to turn back instead. On the drive back, we passed Ulehawa Beach Park, where we saw a whole row of homeless encampments right by the ocean -- literally parked and camped along the beachfront. We even saw a few people running across the road and one guy riding his motorcycle the wrong way, yelling at drivers passing by. If that's a regular thing, really sad to see this.

Now this was a fun and short hike! The older I get and the older age of the guests I take on hikes,…read morethe more interested I am in completing hikes that get straight to the point - the view! This hike falls in that category. Make your way to Makaha and park on a neighborhood street. Please be respectful of where and how you park to show respect to the locals living in the area. Please ensure to not leave any trash and if you see any, please pick it up and dispose of it properly. It's just a short 3-minute walk to the base of the little hike. I believe it took us 15-20 minutes to make it to the top. I felt comfortable enough to allow my 5 year old daughter hike on her own with my supervision. There were a couple challenging spots, but as long as you push through, you should be good. The view from the stop is absolutely stunning. Since the hike is on the makai side, you can capture a full 360 view around. P.S. Waianae/Makaha is synonymous with choke homeless people and Hawaiians. Please plan appropriately.

SUPER short hike, but really breathtaking views! Came with a friend, and we hiked up about half the…read moremountain. She decided not to do the bit of "rock climbing" involved, and stayed behind with my dog. Still a very worthwhile view for just 10 minutes of work (or less). I went on, and while the rock climbing was very short, it is not for everyone. It is not extremely clear how to climb it (for someone without a lot of rock climbing experience aka me), but if you were to fall, the probably of it being fatal seems low. Gorgeous views to your left and right when you get to the top. Skip the "right fork". Just a little beach walk. We were done with both sides in less than an hour.

If you are looking for amazing views, a good workout, on the West side of Oahu, the Maili Pillboxes…read moremay be the hike for you! My girlfriend and I knew we needed to get at least one hike on our trip, and this one was close to our resort (15ish minutes for Ko Olina) and all I have to say is bring sunscreen and good walking shoes. The trail itself isn't long and pretty easy to navigate up the hill but it's pretty rocky at points. I slipped a few times going up and down but it was no biggie. The views once you get up there though is super worth it. The best part about this hike (aside from the views) is that it wasn't busy at all. We came around 8am and there was only a handful of people on the trail. Definitely recommend coming early to beat the heat or at sunset to catch the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. There's plenty of street parking available and the trail entrance is easy to find. If you are in the area and want a little bit of a challenging hike with great views, this is the spot.

It's actually the same location when you search Pink Pillbox or Puʻu O Hulu…read more This west side Pink Pillbox Trail isn't as famous as the east side's Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but it's only about a 15-minute drive from Aulani and way less crowded -- definitely a nice bonus. Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch. Still, I'd recommend parking closer to the entrance for safety because we noticed broken glass scattered on the ground further down the road, probably from past break-ins. We actually parked once, saw the glass right by our car, and quickly moved closer to the entrance instead. Right after we parked, it started raining. The forecast said it would last about 30 minutes, so we just waited it out in the car before starting our hike. The trailhead is right between a yellow "Falling Rocks" warning sign and a white "Speed Limit 25" sign on a utility pole. The hike starts with a steep incline, but overall it's not too hard and just a bit narrow at parts. There are three pillboxes total. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the first one at a relaxed pace, stopping for photos along the way. The first pillbox is painted in blue graffiti inside, and from there you can continue up to the famous pink one. When we got to the pink pillbox, there were surprisingly tons of flies swarming around the entrance for some reason, so we didn't stay too close. The wind was really strong up there -- strong enough that I had trouble keeping my balance! It looked like reaching the third pillbox would require climbing over quite a few rocks, so we decided to turn back instead. On the drive back, we passed Ulehawa Beach Park, where we saw a whole row of homeless encampments right by the ocean -- literally parked and camped along the beachfront. We even saw a few people running across the road and one guy riding his motorcycle the wrong way, yelling at drivers passing by. If that's a regular thing, really sad to see this.

This hike is not for the weak and definitely not for beginners. Mt. Ka'ala is known as the highest…read morepoint on the island of Oahu but the trip and the end result is well worth your efforts. The whole trip can take about 6-7hrs, up and back. Item I highly recommend you bring with you: -Electrolyte WATER (***I took a whole gallon with me***) -Small snacks ( Nuts, fruit bars, protein/granola bars, musubi, manapua, etc) -Sunscreen (7 hrs in the sun will get you. My face was sunburnt after.) -Hiking spikes (It was slippery even though it wasn't raining.) -Gloves ( You'll be climbing lots of rope!! Your hands will get raw.) -Hiking Bag/Backpack -Wear long sleeves and leggings (The water wicking type to stay cool and protected from the sun and bugs.) -Hat -Sunglasses -Selfie stick -Satellite radio ( I had one just in case but we all had cellular connection the whole trip. ) -Cellphone & rechargeable battery -Bug spray -Good Attitude ( This hike was hard but it wasn't impossible.) I came here with a group of hikers, now my new found friends, and we all pitched in on a giant UHAUL 16-seater van so that we wouldn't have to take our personal vehicles. We did this because the parking lot for this hike is well known for break-ins, so we made sure that nothing was left in the van when we began our hike. From the start, it's all incline and it kept getting more and more steep the further you went in. Majority of the trail is covered by trees and brush so there was plenty of shade. The closer you got to the top, the better the view got and it was pretty fulfilling to feel so high up. Once you reach the Mt. Ka'ala sign and the forest conservation, you get to experience the Hawaiian rain forest where you're required to stay on the wood/metal path laid out to minimize human damage to the environment. You'll know you've reached the top when you see a fenced in building owned by the government. There's a path along the fence line that'll bring you to the final view. Once there, you'll finally be able to take break, sit down, breathe in the cold air and enjoy the amazing view from the clouds as they pass you by. Goodluck, stay safe and happy hiking!

Let's get a few facts and opinions out of the way from the start:…read more- There are better hikes on this island, much better (Olomana Ridge comes to mind) - The start of this hike is arid, ugly, and brutally hot with little shade - There are lots of buildings (and a road, that you ain't allowed to drive on) on the summit Now that you know all these things, this is the highest point on Oahu and a worthy objective! If you're a peakbagger-type, this high point is an absolute must and is very easy compared to the high points of Kauai, Maui, and Moloka'i. If you can stay cool, this is a pretty easy hike, in my opinion. The route-finding is very straight-forward and there's only a little bit of scrambling. About staying cool: I would bring a few gallons of water. Drink as much as you can while you're still at your car, then soak your shirt and a headband in it. This'll help for the mostly treeless first part and it'll be long-dry by the time you reach the cooler, moist upper parts of the mountain. Another options is to start hiking up before sunrise but, if you're on vacation, you're probably not to interested in that. Yes, the summit is covered in military buildings but the views are still fantastic. I highly recommend doing a 360-degree walk around the perimeter fence. Another advantage of this hike is that it's not insanely popular. It's possible you might only see one or two other parties on the whole mountain.

Open to the public only a few days a year (when the military isn't having live ammo exercises), we…read morewere lucky to hike it on 4th of July. We came up Kunia Road and entered Schofield Barracks. You tell them you wanna hike Kole Kole trail. Then you pull over and get a permit. Your car must be fully legal and bring ID for everyone. They take your photo. Then we drove back into the base a while to the trail head. Nice parking and safe from thieves and vandals. The first 0.4 miles is extremely easy, like easier and shorter than Diamond Head. You get to a bench viewing area that is absolutely gorgeous. Unique views of West side. If you continue on to the left of the bench is a trail partially obscured by tall scratchy California grass. The trail is still easy for awhile, we took the left fork which is more gradual. Then you start ascending the side cliff which gets progressively more challenging, loose gravel, rock climbing but there are ropes to help you. Glad I brought spikes for the way down. Should have brought my gloves and worn long pants as I got lots of scratches on my legs from plants. We went to the top a little past where the junction is. You can see North Shore, West side, and all the way to Diamond Head. Approximately 2.5 miles total. Not too dangerous and mostly shaded until the ridge part. Sae many other side trails would love to explore.

This has been on my list of hikes to do for a long time. Ever since seeing David Chat's post on…read moreUnreal Hawaii about it http://www.unrealhawaii.com/2011/05/puu-hapapa/ I've been determined to hike this undeniably unreal hike on Schofield Barracks. Don't worry, you won't need a pass to get onto base. Just enter through Lyman Gate with your id, insurance, and car registration. Ask for directions to Kolekole Pass Road, which is about a 10 minute drive from the entrance. Park your car in the parking lot with the 'Warning Dangerous Trails Ahead' signs. The trail will start immediately. Follow the wooden steps up and you'll soon pass a huge Kolekole Rock. Keep walking till you pass a cell phone tower. Walk to the right of the tower and take a LEFT in the next fork in the road and then another LEFT in the next fork. You'll soon come out to a clearing where there is a meadow, walk to the end of this to see some spectacular views. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww Go back to the beginning of the field and find the trail that will lead you into the woods. Follow the pink trail markers. David Chat and his crew went up a steep short slope so we followed suit, and came out to a forest of paper bark trees. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww Next up: the fun part, the 2 notches. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=hRYyTfQk5-uJ4wHwa8UnCw&userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww Yes you will be climbing those so get ready to work them glutes. The first notch is a little daunting from afar but don't worry there is a safe path with ropes on the far left side. Remember this is your way to go UP & DOWN. The only reason I say this is because you don't want to be like my dear friend Dan M. and end up going down like this. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=CJkek-GPzPCtoCE6uYeokw&userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww Daring? Yes. Dangerous? Yes. But good news, he made it even with his Vans on. But in all seriousness please be careful. The second ledge is a little hairy since there is no rope or anything to help support you up the notch. Just make sure your footing is solid before making any moves because if you don't, well lets just say it won't be a good day. After you pass the two notches its pretty much all uphill climbing so don't expect to take a break till you reach the top which took about 30 minutes after climbing over the 2nd ridge. Once you see this sign, you know you are close. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww Follow the gate and soon you'll be so glad you woke up early and drove all the way to the North Shore to go on this hike. I've been on my share of hikes but Pu'u Hapapa has one of the best 360 degrees views http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww It was so serene up at the top I could have stayed there all day and just hung out. Even through the clouds you could see all the way to Diamond Head and downtown. I'd rate this an advanced intermediate hike which should be on every hikers list. Nothing beats a 4 hour round trip hike that gives you some EPIC views and gets you out of town. Plus you are close to the North Shore so you can cool down with some shave ice after.

Access restricted...but that didn't stop my friend and I . The hike is fairly hard and you'll…read moredefinitely break a sweat as it is very steep. Since access has been restricted, the trail is no longer maintained so plants are growing in the way and there are a lot of loose pebbles. Midway through the trail, you have to go across but there is no real place for footing so you're leaning on the wall scrambling across. That was probably the hardest and most scary part! Adrenaline rushing like crazy, woo. But the view is SO WORTH IT! It was a rewarding view for such a difficult hike. It'll take you twice as or even longer to get down. My friend and I had to sit and inch our way down because it was that steep! We had a laugh at the start of the trail which starts on the side of a highway because before there is a sign that says no trespassing. A cop car drove past and the cop inside the car waved as we were about to enter an access restricted trail to a car in Hawaii. Completely different from the NYC vibe!

Common for cars to get broken into here. Be careful!! View…read morewas nice, but we were already cautious with all the broken glasses in the floor.... Wouldn't recommend this trail because our car got broken into...

The first mile is flat & paved, then it turns into about a 45 degree paved windy hill, then it…read moreturns into a rocky dirt path. Beautiful ocean view, we love this one!

All pavement hike! Easy some parts and gets challenging with inclines. Great for biking! And a good…read morecardio workout mostly sunny, shaded at the beginning. Not too crowded!

This is a beautiful and easy walk. I would not call this a hike, but I do recommend tennis shoes…read more There are 2 trails to choose from. We chose the one along the water. Something that children 3 and up could do. It's not stroller or wheelchair accessible, so everyone has to walk. The views are gorgeous! It's humid, so bring water and lather up in sunscreen before you go. There is NO shade, so just be aware. I took a sun hat, but due to the winds I did not end up being able to wear it. A baseball cap works just fine. It's about an hour from Waikiki, but well worth the drive.

We lucked out that we went on a relatively cool overcast morning in January. This trail is exposed,…read moreso can be terribly hot during the summer months or on any hot day. This time we started on the north side where there is a good sized parking lot. The trail is just under 6 miles out and back. Relatively flat with gorgeous ocean views all the way. Nice little beaches you could stop at or search for seashells along the way. Near the western most point is a bird preserve which you let yourself into through a gate. Very relaxing to sit out and watch the big waves at the point before making the return walk.

I love that this beach is accessible right as you're driving through the highway! How beautiful! My…read morefriends and I took a scenic drive to see the sunset and we ended pit stop here. We drove all the way from Wahiawa all the way to Makaha. It was about a 1 hour and 30 minute sunset drive to see all the beaches. I enjoyed every minute!

A Hawai'i beach.. it's great! ;)…read more Exploring the west side of the Island, I pulled off the side of the road to this beach. Plenty of beach with views. Some tree shaded parking, to boot. And about 30-40 off the road parking spots. This spot is seemingly popular with tourists and locals alike. Not crowded, but I did visit on a windy Sunday in November. One note: it was windy and I had to leave after an hour or so because the sand was whipping around and made it sadly not the best experience. Overall, a beach well worth the visit on the West side if you're looking for an approachable, easy beach.

So many people congregate on Waikiki Beach to watch the sunset each day... they simply do not know…read morethe stunning beauty that they are missing! The craggy beach here is a somewhat hidden gem on Oahu - certainly one of the Island's best spots to visit and far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu that you feel a bit off the grid and can truly revel in the natural beauty. With stunning mountains and valleys on one side and the endless blue of the ocean on the other, this isn't just a great way to finish the day - it's a breathtaking location that can't be missed!

one of my fav beaches with the best sunset but not somewhere to swim waves tends to be rough,…read moreparking full up fast