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    Maili Pillboxes

    4.7 (64 reviews)
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    Kate F.

    I loved this hike. The first 20 minutes is a basically a steady incline but not bad and you will make it to the top in around 30 minutes. Plan on giving yourself 1.5-2 hours total to explore the pillboxes, take photos and sit at the the top. It has amazing views

    Do this hike! You won't regret it! Did I feel like I was going to die a couple times? Yes. But I am an out of shape 40-some year old. The views are amazing!

    Ty C.

    Great hike. I can't believe I've been coming to Oahu for more than 30 years and have never done this hike. I guess now that I'm getting older and not going to beach everyday I'm here for 6-12 days straight, I'm mixing in hikes and things that seem less appealing than when I was in my teens and 20s. You need to keep your eyes on the ground the entire time to make sure your steps are carefully placed. Most hikers should be able to do this hike, it will just take a different amount of time depending on how fast you want to do it. I saw little kids and older folks on the trail. It gets hot, so hydrate before the hike (and stretch) and bring water to drink along the hike. Stop along the way for different vantage points and picture ops along the way. Free parking at the bottom of the hill. I'll do this again next time, probably before a stop at Kahe beach park to catch some waves!

    Kimberly B.

    One of the many hikes on Oahu with a rewarding view. Parking isalongside the road. There isn't an exact entrance to the trail, you'll just notice dirt on the sidewalk from hikers coming down, that's a sign you're at the entrance. This is my 2nd time hiking Pink Pillbox. I would say it's an easy trail with some steep inclines that can be considered moderate. Families come here with their little children but be cautious when bringing kids, one wrong step and you slip could be very dangerous. This hike is pet friendly as well, seen plenty of hikers with dogs. Took us 45 minutes to get to the top with some breaks in between and 30 minutes down. Going down is a lot easier and you could get down in 20 minutes at least. The view at the top is incredible. There are about 4 bunkers up top. Standing on top the bunkers gets you an amazing view of the ocean. Very nice and rewarding especially when it's windy, the air cools you down after all that incline walk and sweat.

    Alex D.

    A short drive from home in Ewa Beach, this hike is good for the west siders who don't want to go too far to get in a little hike. Once arrived, parking is easy. Lock your car and up you go. At a slow pace it's about 30 minutes to the top. The views of the west waters are excellent. Worth a try if you haven't.

    The Pillbox
    Michael C.

    Ma'ile Pillbox Hike or the "Pink Pillbox" Hike on the Pu'u O Hulu Kai Trail will reward you with the best views of the Ka'ena Point, Keawa'ula Beach (Yokohama Beach), Mount Kaala and even Kapolei, home to the Ko Olina Resort all at the same time! Don't forget to try and catch a sunset as well, it's stunning on the West Side. There is a decent amount of parking on the street at the base of the trail. Use your common sense, keep valuables out of site or take them with you...otherwise you will be rewarded with smashed windows when you return to your ride. Locals are far more territorial on the West Side. The scenic views are most definitely worth the trek to the top of the Pillboxes...just don't make the same mistake we did. We took the steep way up through the middle instead of the switchback trail. While going straight up does cut out some time...rumor is about 20 minutes it's not the easiest thing to do...It's steeper, more treacherous than the switchbacks; rocks and uneven steps. The entire hike is not all that long...I'd say about 1.5 miles. The Pillboxes were clean when we went. The "Pink Pillbox" even had a Christmas Tree in it! There is no shade on the trail, it's completely exposed to the elements, so prepare accordingly.

    Sherene H.

    Fun hike and easy to do, amazing views from 360 degrees when you get to the top! Parking is on the main road and I heard there are break ins, so I recommending hiding all your belongings. The trail head has two other but both lead the same place. So many pillboxes to visit along the way and beautiful art work inside each pillbox. Definitely recommend going early to avoid the crowds and heat.

    Super Smoothies, Slushies, Lemonade, Teqs, Acai Bolws

    Post-hike drinks and snacks at the trailhead! Grab a refreshing smoothie, slushie, or acai bowl before or after your hike. Add protein for that extra boost! The best way to recharge and refuel.

    Along the trail
    Sandhya M.

    Maili Pillbox (or Pu'u O Hulu trail aka Pink pillbox) is a fairly easy hike. I think it's children and pet friendly. Access the trail off Kaukama Road. There is ample free parking on both sides of the road and you get to see amazing views from the start. I don't remember the trailhead being marked but my GPS took me directly there. The terrain is rugged/rocky all the way up and the loose gravel can become slippery. The trail is very narrow along some parts so if there were other hikers going the opposite direction, one party has to stop and give way. There are also some areas where there are drop-offs at the side of the hill so be careful not to slip. It was dry when I went (7am on 11 Nov 2021) so we did not experience any mud as previously stated. The entire trip is less than 2 miles round trip. It was a cool morning so me and my 12 year old nephew opted to leave our water bottles in the car so we wouldn't have to carry them. He got thristy about half way up but nothing too serious that he would be parched or dehydrated. Water would have been good but because it was such a short hike and on a cool morning, we didn't absolutely need it. Once at the top we discovered there were 4 Pillboxes. I just assumed it was a single Pillbox. Each had different artwork painted inside and the views from each of the mountains, the ocean & highway, and the even the residential area were amazing. One hiker tried to lift a big dog to the top of the pillbox but the dog wasn't having it. It was amusing watching him try multiple times though, Lmbo. If you are looking for a short, easy hike with amazing views, this is it.

    Carly M.

    Probably one of my favorite hikes on the island as far as the view at the top. 360 degree views and interesting pill boxes. The trail is very rocky and slippery. We went the steep way with the ropes. It was pretty steep going up but like other reviewers it was fast. Enjoyed seeing the pill boxes as well. Parking was easy. We parked on the street and didn't leave anything in the car. We did hear there are many break ins there. There was a white food truck at the start of the hike. We did bring a bottle of water with us on the hike. There was some younger kids that had a very large German shepherd unleashed with them. Their dog made a huge poop in the middle of the trail. Please don't be that way. Other than that everyone was so friendly and courteous. Absolutely beautiful Morning !

    Guy D.

    Of the many hikes we did on Oahu, this one was very fast yet rewarding. 1.5 miles round trip, 700+ feet gained quickly. It took us about 45 mins going up and 20 mins down. The steepest part seems to be at the beginning, so stay with it! It turns into a few sets of switchbacks. There are four pillboxes at the top, take the time to check them all out. The top one has a thin exposed area you have to cross to get to it. I will upload a video of that part.

    View from the top
    Rod B.

    I do this hike almost daily when we are on Oahu. There is easy access and parking on the street right at the trailhead. It is quite steep in places with a 230 metre vertical climb over its one kilometre length. it's about 25-30 minutes to the top if you don't stop and about 20 minutes down. The trail can get slippery in the rain but, as this is the dry side of the island, rain is not that common. During the winter an early morning or late afternoon start will keep you out of the sun. But if you climb up for the sunset, don't wait too long to come down or you will be in darkness which could be quite dangerous.

    Inside the pillbox
    Jodie F.

    Pet & children friendly trail. Didn't take long to reach the top. Great view of the ocean and neat spot for photos :) Despite it being pretty rainy all week, we ended up having clear skies yay! The one con of Pink Pillboxes is that it was about a one hour drive from town, which was longer than the hike itself. Not that fulfilling. Overall a good first-time experience but won't be a trail I'll return to anytime soon.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Maili Pillboxes

    Is this a kid safe hike (5/6 years old)?

    Depends on the child. It does have some narrow areas with serious drop offs. Plus loose rock that someone can slip on if not careful. I would probably not take a five year old… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Maili Pillboxes

    Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Pu'u'ohulu Kai - City night view

    Pu'u'ohulu Kai

    4.7(153 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Pu'u'ohulu Kai
    Pu'u'ohulu Kai
    Pu'u'ohulu Kai

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    Mauna Lahilahi

    Mauna Lahilahi

    4.6(23 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Mauna Lahilahi
    Mauna Lahilahi
    Mauna Lahilahi

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    Mt Ka'ala Trail

    Mt Ka'ala Trail

    4.4(45 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    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.

    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!

    Photos
    Mt Ka'ala Trail - Our crew at the top

    Our crew at the top

    Mt Ka'ala Trail
    Mt Ka'ala Trail

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    Pu'u Hapapa Trail

    Pu'u Hapapa Trail

    4.8(12 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    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.

    We tried this trail this past Sunday as it was open to the public. Keep checking thier FB page for…read moredates and times the trail will be open. https://www.facebook.com/usaghawaii/ First thing, it had been raining that morning, so we knew there was a possibility we wouldn't be going up and down the notches. The thing about Kolekole trail is that if it had been raining, it dries up pretty quick. It's like the trail just absorbs all the rain. The hike up was fairly easy and clear however very gusty. We made our way up the summit only to feel the gusts even more. And that then was the end of the trail for us. Always practice safety first. There is always another day. The views were spectacular so it wasn't a total loss.

    Photos
    Pu'u Hapapa Trail
    Pu'u Hapapa Trail
    Pu'u Hapapa Trail

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    Kuaokala Trail

    Kuaokala Trail

    4.5(11 reviews)
    9.7 mi

    This trail was absolutely beautiful in one of my favorite areas of Oahu. It had numerous shady…read moreareas which is a bonus. My favorite part was driving into Space Force Station and having amazing views while driving. You will have to obtain a pass through DLNR and show a valid ID at the gate as well as wait for an escort along the top of the mountain road. I had no issues with wait times. Keep hiking!

    Hiked this trail for the first time, it is located past Makaha. You turn in at the Space force sign…read morestopping at the guard shack. Must have identification for all hikers, car registration, safety doc. for car and print out of day pass permit acquired from trails.ehawaii.gov. Carry copy with you and one on dash of car. Once cleared you will drive up hill to gate where you will be escorted by Military Security to another gate to trailhead. The trail starts through very tall thick grass opening up to pine needle covered trail. In this section the trail can be a little narrow with a cliff drop off on one side. There are many gorgeous ocean and Mountain View's throughout most of the hike. The trail comes out on a dirt roads that can be steep as you climb higher. The trail becomes a single track again with area of loose dirt, steep areas and narrow with drop offs. You come up on rock formations that are shaped by erosion. This is a great area for pictures. Do not take your dog, there are signs by a gate warning you there may be hunting dogs and do not leave trail because there are snares to catch feral goats and pigs. We enjoyed this beautiful interesting hike. I'd start early as this hike can be warm in some areas.

    Photos
    Kuaokala Trail - A butterfly found on a flower

    A butterfly found on a flower

    Kuaokala Trail
    Kuaokala Trail

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    Maili Pillboxes - hiking - Updated May 2026

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