I hike frequently but my hikes are on flat Florida terrain. This was a steep hike which was certainly doable for me but the slippery mud during early November made it incredibly challenging. There were some walking sticks available at the hike entrance so I highly recommend those if the trail is slippery. There are some ropes in intermittent sections to help with balance, and of course trees to grab onto. The earth offers stone and tree roots for foot traction instead of just muddy soil but we still were slipping and sliding. And remember, going up is the easy part, it's the coming down part that will do you in haha. We came across a few hikers who looked like they had been mud wrestling and others who didn't have a spot on them. I think this is how you separate the tourists from the locals. No pictures because I was too busy trying not to fall lol. We saw hikers with their dogs. We used the public bus during vacation and there was a bus stop right outside the parking lot. If you have a car, the small public parking lot is directly next to an elementary school and right across from Ehukai beach (the pipeline), so be prepared to enjoy two amazing experiences at one stop. read more

The entrance is in the Sunset Elementary School parking lot. There is a public bathroom and parking in this area. This kid friendly hike that has natural beauty and some history. Some of Hawaii's best hikes were originally the bunkers that the military used to store weapons. Mother Nature has curated a path around the steps with rocks and exposed roots from the towering trees. The hike is 90 % shaded with an occasional breeze that makes it a great hike anytime of day. What I like about this hike is that you will have an elevated part followed by a leveled part for recovery. There around 4 elevated areas and a wonderful human has added ropes to keep you stable. The view at the end is a worth the hike. Takes around 22 minutes to the top. There is an extended 5 minutes after the pill box to make the hike longer. read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - The End! On the pillbox. - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Super muddy steep climb at first, wear good shoes with a grip. Use the ropes going up and down!!! I would suggest downloading the trail to help staying on trail. We hike not only the Ehuki pillbox trail but combined it with Secret and Jungle trail to make a loop. There are many trails and one could get lost easily. Bring plenty of water, you will sweat and it is hot, even though you are shaded. Don't mess with the heat. Lots of roots, steal stakes from past steps, so please watch your step. The trail is somewhat over grown but there has been a bunch of rain and things grown fast. I would go clockwise as that is the way all the trail signs are faced to help you stay on the trails. The pillbox is great, the view was amazing as always. read more

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Hiked this one for the second time and enjoyed it all over again. Most people seem to only do the pillbox part of hike. We have added on the Secret Garden and Jungle loop on both times. Driving to trailhead it was obvious it was going to be a muddy one because of all the puddles on side of road. After crossing the street we walked up to trailhead which is across the parking area of school. The steep hill with ropes at the beginning was muddy and slick from the over night rain. We were prepared with our crampons and poles. We had no problem with slipping, however we did see many areas on trail where there were obvious slip marks. Once you make the top it's much drier and fairly flat to the pillbox. The weather was beautiful and we hung out at the pillbox admiring the view before heading out on the next leg of the trail. If you are hiking the other trails you should use AllTrails to prevent taking the wrong trail. There are a number of trails that cross over one another. We did the Ehukai, Secret and Jungle Trail from AllTrails. These trails wind the way through the hill sides down into creek area that is damp and shaded. There is a section that has some downed trees that you go around, use your Alltrails to lead you back to trail. It's alittle bit of work but you can get through this area and back on trail. Make sure you're on the right trail because some will lead you away from your destination. The loop section is not used a lot during the week. We only saw other hikers on the trail in the section to pillbox. The loop reconnects near top of muddy hill. If muddy this is when the crampons really come in handy going back down it. Have proper shoes with good grip, poles, water, snack and bug spray. We enjoyed the extra challenge of the muddy hill, however I would not do it during a rain storm. Looks like water will flow down the path. read more

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A spur of the moment hike after we attempted Koko Crater Arch earlier in the day and maybe hiked about a third of that one. After checking out the Bonzai Pipeline across the street (the waves were puny that day and we didn't see a single surfer), we went across the street to do the Ehukai Pillbox hike. There's a parking lot next to Sunset Elementary School and the trailhead is marked with a giant yellow sign that says "Mahalo" on it. Difficulty: maybe 5/10, 10 being the most difficult. It took us about an hour up and back. The worst part of the trail was how muddy parts were; I wouldn't recommend trying this after it rains. Great idea to put up ropes along certain parts so you have something to hold onto but the steepest portions were over and done with before you know it (and also, if you get lost trying to figure out where the trail picks up, look for the ropes). Then the terrain levels out. I should have read the reviews before coming because we only saw one pillbox and called it a day after taking a celebratory picture at the top. Maybe this is common sense or maybe it isn't but wear good shoes for the hike, especially when it's so muddy. We saw a few groups wearing flip-flops; spare a prayer for their ankles. PROS: - Pretty short but crams in a nice burst of cardio. - Nice cover from the sun, lots of shade. - At the top connects you to a bunch of other trails. - Nice view of the beach at the top. CONS: - Super muddy path. - Watch out for all the tangled tree roots and random nail-like things sticking out of the ground in the middle of the path. read more

My absolute favorite go to hike in Oahu. Pretty easy trail to follow and has gorgeous views. Highly recommend this trail

Short but steep hike with great views! Definitely recommend this hike. Plenty of free parking options right by and bathrooms at trailhead. read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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One of my favorite hikes on the north shore! It can be a challenging hike if it has rained the night before, as the hike will be very muddy and slippery. Luckily for us, it didn't rain the night before our hike. I'd say this is a moderate hike as it does have steep inclines until you reach the top. Nonetheless, the view of the north shore at the top of the hike is well worth it! **This hike is dog friendly - please bring a leash and poop bags read more

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A steeper hike than expected but the good news is you can park at the school just to find the trailhead right there. The breathtaking views towards the top are stunning just to see a panoramic view of the water. Once you get to the top make sure to walk into the pillbox too. Definitely a strategic point for our military back in the day. Bring water and snacks along the way and take those pictures so it lasts longer. haha. read more

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Tough hike after the rain. It was very slippery but getting to the top was worth it. The views were breathtaking. Be sure to see both Pillbox 1 & 2. read more

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So beautiful, this is a wonderful hike that provides lots of shade and a few challenging spots to climb. Whoever tied ropes to the trees in some of the more challenging spots, thank you so much...I couldn't have made it up or down without them! Definitely worth the trek to the top! read more

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I found another hike that has breathtaking views once you reach the top. Ehukai Pillbox is located in North Shore. It is also known as the Sunset Pillbox hike. Ehukai is a popular hike on the north side of the island that it can be crowded at times. The hike will take you about 30 minutes to reach the top. Although the distance to the top is short it can be a ruff hike for some. Once you get to the top, it's worth the views of Pipleline Beach and the coastline. read more

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I didn't know what to expect, I hadn't seen this much mud since my senior year while playing high school football. It had rained that morning so we went with the flow of our itinerary. The parking lot can fill up quickly but wait patiently and someone will pull out. Here's one tip - find a walking stick, it's not for the climb up but for the walk down, it's really slippery. However, Folks were bringing their little kids and dogs so it's not too bad of a hike. I wore my hiking shoes but you may want to consider bringing a change of clothes. We ran into a guy who had wiped out and his side was covered in mud. That was funny - I was laughing on the inside. I like watching clumsy mistakes on YouTube. Anyway, you'll experience some beautiful views and rainbows galore. All while getting to a Pillbox - which is a WW2 lookout post. We never found the second Pillbox though but getting to the first one was good enough. You can wash off across the street, under the shower at the beach. While there, you can also grab a pizza from someone who uses hemp in their crust. Will that show up on a post offer drug test? Anyways, you gotta love Hawaii! E ku Mau Mau E Ku a. read more

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If you're up on the North Shore and want to do a quick but spectacular hike, then this is the place for you. The trail is located just off Kam highway at Sunset Elementary school. There's a small parking area but extra spots can be found across the street by the beach. The hime itself isn't too long. It starts off at a slight slope through some worn trails. This trail can get muddy in the rain so make sure you have the proper foot wear. Soon the trail gets steeper but not too bad. There's stairs and ropes to help you elevate the mountain. About halfway through there's a small rest area to start taking in the views. The first pill box has a great view but if you venture a little further to the second pill box (peace symbol) the. You are awarded with a spectacular view. Be warned that the trail isn't clearly marked and can be overgrown. But if you get there it's worth it. Total hike time was about 45 min up. There a lot of roots growing out of the ground so be careful. Great hike on the North Shore. read more

This hike is a MUST for any hiker staying in the North Shore area. However, as a disclaimer, I must add that this hike is not ideal for someone with joint problems, kids, or is not familiar with hiking at all. We are experienced hikers and had some difficulty with the trail, as part of it had been washed away and the remaining trail was muddy and very technical as you traverse upwards. It takes even longer going down because the mud will slide around under your feet. Do NOT wear shoes you care about lol. The start of the hike is fairly easy -- you start in a parking lot near a church and park where there is a foot-washing station, bathrooms, and drinking fountain. You will need to utilize the foot-washing station after your hike, more than likely lol. It rained quite a bit when we were there and even our pants had mud flung on them from the trail. The trail will start in a steep, upward climb. There are trees you can grab onto for balance as well as ropes that have been placed along the sides of the trail that you can use for stability. If you have hiking poles, this would be the place to use them! I strongly recommend that you use hiking boots and not tennis shoes on this hike, because the mud would penetrate through. Once you get to the top, all of your handwork pays off! The pillbox sports some of the best views on the North Shore, and is moderately trafficked (unlike hikes near Honolulu which are crowded). There is a lot of neat history about the pillbox you can find online as well! This hike was really fun and really got our cardio going for the day. Afterwards, you can even stop at Ted's Bakery for a posy-hike pick-me-up. I would love to come back and do this hike again if we ever come back to Oahu. read more

The Ehukai Pillbox Hike is a fun hike for beginners. The start of the trail is in the parking lot of the Sunset Beach Elementary School, just look for the orange sign marking the entrance. After entering the wooded area, you'll encounter a steep hill with roots and wood stairs to assist you. This is the most difficult part of the trail, but once you've made it up, you'll walk about .6 miles to hit the first pillbox. To reach the second one, continue on the furthest left trail, going down a hill to the pillbox with the peace sign on the top. We went early in the morning before it got hot and had no trouble being the first ones out so there was no pressure when taking pictures and enjoying the breathtaking views. read more

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Such an easy hike with rewarding views! I usually do the Lanikai Pillbox Hike when in Honolulu (I did it again this time too) but wanted to explore different hiking trails. Found out this trail wasn't too far from Shark's Cove and decided to do it. Super simple trail. Parked next to an elementary school and started our hike up. All in all, we finished really fast all the while taking lots of photos! If you're in the area, do this hike because you won't regret it :) read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - Awesome view! - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Steep and Beautiful! Great for a early morning hike! I'd like to note that this trail is hidden behind the trees and there's not many signs revealing it is one. It felt very private but we liked that because it was really peaceful. We parked in the parking lot at Sunset Beach Elementary school. Once we entered the forest, we just followed the beaten path and hiked up to the pillbox (we only got to one but i read there's two?). As noted, there are no signs but you will see rope on the very steep areas going up and the path is quite worn so you won't get lost. Depending on your pace, it's about a 45 minute hike up and the steep makes it challenging. But wow, the view is well worth it!! Highly recommend adding this hike to your itinerary when visiting the island! :) read more

Oh my freakin' god, this hike! Last time we visited North Shore and tried this crazy pillbox hike it had lightly rained the previous day. The trail was so slippery we barely made it ten minutes up the hill before we had to turn around. But that ten minutes was hilarious! See, a normal person would probably put away their stupid phone and pay attention to where they were walking. I say that based on what I've gathered from watching normal people. But I'm not about putting my phone away. Especially on a hike! Because, without photos, how in the world would anyone believe my fat ass made it up the hill? So you see, I needed photos. I'd imagine if you were an observer, it was hilarious. Because it was wet, I was slipping and sliding on that stupid trail in every conceivable direction except up. As I flailed around, I noticed the serious hikers (the ones smart enough to put their phone away) shaking their damn heads and laughing as they passed by. That first hike ended ingloriously, with my socks and shoes caked with mud (you will never ever get those mud stains out). I felt defeated. This time was different. I visited the trail the night before my hike to assess the trail conditions. I walked a few minutes up the trail and determined it was dry enough for another attempt to summit. We returned the following morning at 7:15, ready to hit it. We laughed and laughed remembering how slippery the trail was on our first visit. We laughed right up until the trail started to climb. Then it was all business. For normal people, this trail is rated "moderate." For fat bastards like me, it's way past moderate. I'd like to say I charged right up that hill, no problem. But I give you more credit than that to think you'd believe such an outrageous lie. Lots of people do charge right up the hill, though. It's a super popular trail and if you don't get on it early in the morning, it gets busy. Strangely, some people carry on loud conversations on the trail. It's so much more peaceful without the crowd noise, so go early. Even though I had read about it on Yelp, I was surprised to see people hiking the trail in flip flops. Also saw a Dad with a baby strapped to him in a carrier. You go, Dad! The craziest thing I saw on the trail was appeared to be a huge family or extended family hiking up the trail. Super cool idea, right? But they had some very young kids in their entourage and the kids weren't really into it. I was really into it, though. In my mind, the trail was ahead, 1-0. There was no way I was going to quit. I was determined to conquer that damn hill. I had a score to settle. Most of the trail is just a steep climb, one step after another along a well-traveled path. But there are a few areas where you have to really have to kind of climb a few unstable steps. Those areas have ropes strung along through the trees that you can use to pull yourself up. (And I'm probably not the only person that think the ropes are even more useful coming down.) After you crest the hill there's a nice flat area you traverse before arriving at the first Pillbox. And because we hit the trail early, there was no one there when we got there. Nice! The Pillbox overlooks Ehukai Beach, home of the World Famous Banzai Pipeline. The beach looked calm and peaceful from above. It was such a pleasure to sit for a while and relax after the grueling climb. So worth the effort! So, if you read other reviews, you know they say don't stop at the first Pillbox, continue on because the view is even better from the second Pillbox. They mention that you have to go to the right of the first Pillbox and kind of counter-intuitively, go down the hill. But I don't like to do counter-intuitive stuff. My intuition is barely functioning in the best of times. But I know I'm better off when I listen to it. And my intuition was telling me that it wasn't worth it to hike down this trail to the second Pillbox, because I was going to have to turn around and walk back up to the top again before I could walk back down the trail to the starting point. My intuition is saying, hell no. Climbing to the top of a damn mountain once is enough. One view is enough. Let's just declare victory right here and go get some pastries at Ted's. Yeah, well I didn't listen to my second mind. We pressed on to the second Pillbox. Yes, the view is even prettier, but is it really worth it? In my opinion, not really. If you are already done in by the hike to the first, you aren't missing all that much from the second. And the second is on posted private property, so, there's that issue too. Ok. So, that's how the Ehukai Pillbox hike went down. It was a glorious victory, and it was celebrated with many malasadas. Mikey C says: total victory! read more

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I will forever remember this hiking location filled with a plethora of roots. We arrived on a clear and sunny Saturday morning. We remember seeing Sunset Beach Elementary School parking lot along with a mini, happening Farmers Market. There's restrooms within walking distance. Found open parallel parking, near the entrance of the hike. Highly recommend coming here to hike when the grounds are dry. I can only imagine how dangerous this hike can be when rain runs down the roots during inclement weather. Able to take intermittent breaks on level surfaces. Moderate hike with various areas that ascend or incline, flat level, and descend or decline. I'm not referring to declining an invitation to hike. I'm referring to going down, down, down. Visit two pillboxes that are a few minutes apart from walking. Beautiful scenery of greenery, homes and breathtaking ocean view of North Shore. When you reach the top and stand on pillbox, you will notice sea spray. Ehukai literally means sea spray in Hawaiian language. read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - First pillbox - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

It has been sometime since I last went hiking. I wanted to go on a trail where dogs were allowed. So when my husband, Joseph suggested to come here. I said, "why not?" We decided to come here for a weekend hike. It will be good to do an outing with our beloved pet. When we got on the trail, it turned out better than I thought it did. First off, the trail was not as steep as the other trails. We went up the trail slowly with Lola leading the way. Second, most of the tree branches and tall plants covered the trails. This made the hike feel cooler. Third, the hike led to a beautiful look out. We went into the bunker, took photos, and Lola our dog, enjoyed the outdoors. We felt we accomplished something big for a Sunday morning. We went early. After 10am, people started to go on the trail. Some even brought their dogs on the hike. This trail appears to fit perfectly for families and friends who want to do a get together. This trail appears to be perfect for beginner and advanced hikers alike. We even saw a girl hike barefoot. Come, relax and enjoy a hike. Spend time in nature. read more

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A steep hike with great views. The trail was pretty muddy, even considering there hasn't been rain in a while. Definitely recommend wearing proper footwear. The uphill is very steep and you have to watch your step. Downhill was easier, thanks to gravity, but you have to be careful where you place your foot because of the mud. The views at the top of the pillbox were impeccable. Underneath there was a great little graffiti box that has tremendously wonderful art pieces. We couldn't find the second pillbox, but we also weren't looking for it. The off part is that the parking situation is a little rough. There's off street parking, but it says no parking and there's also Ehukai Beach Park with parking there. The entrance is on the side of Sunset Elementary which was interesting. But it is a great hike to do to catch some great views! read more

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I'll start this by saying that I would NEVER go on this hike after rainfall. It's quick, but steep, shaded and muddy. The hike begins at the entrance to Sunset Beach Elementary School. There is public parking and bathrooms available. We arrived at 7am on a Saturday morning and the lot was empty. However, by the time we left around 8:30am, the entire parking lot was full and people were waiting. There was also an open market happening. Good to know when other things might be happening in the area including school drop off and pick up hours so that you don't get stuck. When you start the hike, it's fairly flat and very well shaded. For the first five minutes, you'll think: "Wow. This is a piece of cake. So easy". And then all of a sudden BAM! You're going straight up. While the hike is fairly short, you'll quickly climb up a steep incline. No switchbacks to gently guide you. Instead there are lots of make shift stairs out of wood and posts. People have also installed ropes to help you from falling. It'll get the blood flowing quick! About 3/4 of the way up, you'll see a cute picnic table designed by the students at Sunset Beach Elementary School. It's a nice place to relax or enjoy the view before making the final ascent up. A little ways after that, you'll hit the first pillbox. I love that this pillbox can be entered in from the bottom. You can walk right in and marvel at all the tagging inside. The view here is nice, but partially obstructed by trees. There is a second pillbox, as you've probably seen, but it's past signs that say Keep Out and No Trespassing. What you do with that information is up to you. I will say the view from the second pillbox is unbeatable. It's unobstructed and opens up to all of Sunset Beach. It's incredible. To get to the second pillbox, if you're facing the first pillbox, go to your right. Follow the path straight down. You will think you're going in the wrong direction. It'll seem really counterintuitive to be walking down hill, but keep going down towards the ocean and you'll run into it within about 5 minutes. Definitely enjoyed this hike on the North Shore. It was less crowded than a lot of the town hikes and opened up to an incredible view. Short, but kicked butt and was beautiful! read more

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If you are looking for a nice little trek this one is probably the best for you. An hour drive (depends in the traffic) from Waikiki you'll have the dose you wanted to take. Ehukai Pillbox Hike for me is the easiest one that I have trekked so far here in the island of Oahu. Just because this one is easy it will not give you excitement that anyone would love to have. The hike begins across the street from the Sunset Elementary Parking lot. You'll see a sign marking the start of this trail. The hike may be easy at first (off flat through some narrow trees) but after 5-10mins. of easy walk, you'll encounter a steep hill and find yourself climbing over small boulders, walking across soil eroded tree roots and lucky enough to find some man made stairs dug in the hill to make your climb a little easier. If you are like me that is fat-so a little bit, better hang on to those rope that is also available in there if you don't want to roll yourself down on the muddy soil. If you see a picnic bench after ascending, help yourself to take a rest, suck that bottled water and make yourself refresh and don't forget to take a photo from there. The view is pretty epic but you need to head more to see more wonder of the view. Once you are on the top flat ridge the 1st Pillbox is only minutes away. But let us be honest, if you took too many photos along the way, it won't be guaranteed that you'll make it to the pillbox for a minute. Just enjoy and let your sense savor the moment on the flat ridge. Behold! There is a 2nd Pillbox which is private property and it's up to you if you wanted to proceed. But in our case, we are bandits and we break rules a few times. And yeap! You are right! My husband and I made the way on the 2nd pillbox. And it's worth the break! The view is spectacular and we are able to snap more at the 2nd pillbox. Reaching the 2nd pillbox is simply gratifying! I'm not saying to ignore the signs going to 2nd pillbox guys, but better consider this too if you don't want to encounter problem on this hike. It is proceed on your own risk system. By the way, 5mins. trek from the 1st pillbox and you'll reach the 2nd pillbox. Ehukai Pillbox Hike is best when you do it to watch sunset. This hike is also known as Sunset Pillbox Hike simply because the sunset is best viewed in here. With some beautiful views from Ehukai Beach (better kniwn as Banzai Pipeline) & North Shore Coastline. Will take you 30mins. to climb up to the top (again, if you are not a photo junkie likes us,then you can climb this one for 30mins. only). Enjoy and try this hike! For sure you'll love the sweat and tranquil that it will give to you. Remember the LEAVE-NO-TRACE-POLICY! Do it before Mother Nature hits you back! read more

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Nice short hike. The first half is a steep hike and then it levels off for the rest until you get to the pillbox. Once you reach the top it splits off into a bunch of different trails. If you go on the trails just stay on the path or look at google maps if you get lost. This hike was pretty muddy when I went so I suggest bringing an extra pair of shoes. I saw three chicks wearing white shoes about to start the hike and I just laughed. Be prepared to get a little dirty if it rained the day before. read more

Gorgeous hike! Pretty easy and short. The views are worth it, definitely go past the first pillbox to the second, the view is way better. read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Fun hike on the North Shore! I'm not super athletic, but I could do this hike. Some parts were pretty steep and rocky and muddy; other parts were flat and scenic. We went on a super windy day, so nice breeze and cool to see all the trees up top swaying. Beautiful views from the bunkers. We went to both, was able to just follow the trail past the first one and easily found the second one. Couldn't go inside the second one (with the peace sign on top), but could see the artwork inside. With all the fallen pods or whatever from the trees, there were some slippery areas going to the second pillbox, like walking on marbles, so went carefully. We parked at Ehukai beach and walked across to Sunset Elementary, trailhead on the left side of parking lot. read more

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Park in the parking lot at Sunset Beach Elementary school... there is designated parking for the trail. The trail is adjacent to the parking lot - marked with a large sign. If you can't find it... just go home. Great moderate hike. On the day we went the trail was MUDDY. The mud was very slick. I would not recommend for someone who has trouble with balance or walking. We did see many kids on the trail.. they seemed to handle the mud just fine. Once you reach the first pillbox (a WW2 military bunker) the view is a good payout for the hike. I was most impressed by the history of a military bunker. The bunkers have been spray painted with various works of art... they were interesting to look at. Next.. keep walking another 8 minutes or so and you will come across the second pill box. The view from this one is better than the first. read more

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Hard to review this one as we only got 10 min in before we realized that the mud isn't getting any better. A couple behind us literally slipped and fell right at the entrance. I'm sure it's great when not so wet but it was unbearable for us. The other issue is that we were getting absolutely destroyed by the mosquitoes. So absolutely go with some bug spray. Note: It hadn't rained very much either so yeah I would recommend not bothering if you have seen any water fall from the sky in the last 2-3 days. Maybe could have been a better hike on a better day. So many trails we went to didn't have this issue so hence the 2 stars. Reading other reviews it looks like maybe the difference is that we went early in the morning vs. others going during the day or at sunset so it's possible that it becomes drier later in the day. It was just unbearable with all the mud for us. read more

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First off, the hike roundtrip to the first pillbox is about 1.7 miles, kid friendly, and of moderate difficulty when it's muddy. When we got there on a Sunday, a super nice parking attendant that was there for church services directed us to the trailhead and warned us that that the trail was pretty muddy. He pointed to some walking sticks left out by the trailhead and told my son to grab one. For the first half mile, the trail is pretty steep and the mud just makes it worse because it's so slippery. It was probably not the best idea since we all slipped once during the hike, but we made it to the top with the help of installed steps and ropes. We were rewarded with gorgeous views of the North Shore. Coming back down in the mud was a little harder so I don't recommend this hike with little ones after the rain. Things you may want to bring: water, sunscreen, bug spray, change of clothes and shoes, and small trash bag. Even though the mud made it dangerous, we still had a lot of fun and would definitely do this hike again when it's not muddy. read more

#137 of 2017 /It rained for a few days before and I was worried it would be muddy. However, the canopy is thick keeping a majority of the trail dry. If there are no events going on, like the WSL Pipeline Masters Surfing Chapionship competition, you can easily park at the lots for the beaches. Read the signs real well if you plan to street park regardless if there are many cars parked on the side. If there is an event, you'll be better off taking the paid parking offered by the residenence. The trail head starts in the parking lot of Sunset Elementary School. Look for the orange sign posted by the Pupukea and North Shore organizations. Find that and you'll be at the trail head. It starts flat. Lots of bugs in this area. Be sure to have your bug repellent on before entering. When you clear this area it will start to ascend. It doesn't stop either. Where it can get very muddy there are ropes in several areas to be used for assistance. You'll notice the fauna starts to change. It is now different from the flat area. At the top of the ascent it looks like the trail splits off. Stay to the left close to the beach. The pill box (bunker) is there. You'll first notice the roof with 2 benches. Both offer unique perspectives for photo shots. The view of the beaches below, and the Waianae range to the left, are just beautiful. We were lucky to hike this day, a good sunny one at that. From here the trail gets confusing. Even using an app with gps location was difficult. There were a few times we had to readjust our course to loop back. Fortunately, our sense of direction was intact and helped us find our course. Nothing we worried about either. At this level it is all pine trees. The ground was thick with pine leaves. Scary. You know pine leaves are good for? Starting a fire. They burn so easy and quickly because of the oil content in them. I was a little concern if a fire were to start this place would go up like tinder. A safe place would be the pillbox that we were walking away from. I didn't let it get to me. As we hiked there are many other noticeable trails leading off. Some for visiting schools, another bikers, and some that ascend even higher. It may be worth checking out those hikes another day. I enjoyed this hike and would love to do it again and again. read more

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Must so hike on the north shore! The trail is natural and ungroomed. You'll love the view! read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - The view - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

Nice, easy hike with great views of the beautiful pacific. The hike is pretty easy and the trail is set, hard to get lost. It's a nice workout, most likely you'll sweat. This is located by sunset beach and right in the sunset elementary school parking lot. There are bathrooms in the entrance of the school. The hike is mostly shaded with trees and is kid and dog friendly! Great hike for families and friends. There are two pill boxes on this hike! One is a little further than the other and has a peace sign on it. The picture I posted is from the second pillbox. Will post more pictures from my previous visit here. Love the location of north shore. Close to many food trucks and food places! read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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So I got lost on this hike *insert palm to face emoji* and figured my experience will help someone down the line sooo, you get a review coupled with story time. **If your currently lost, when you come to a fork in the trail, always choose right (lesson) and if you're standing at the 1st overlook right now, when you're faced away from it, the trail you came up and need to return down is the far right one. More context to come on that but figured I'd start w/it for the Magellans in a pickle. The entry of this hike is adjacent to Sunset Beach Elementary (can't miss it). This is a moderate hike that was rainy when I went which I enjoyed to be honest. From what I understand this hike gets VERY busy w/good weather but views are better ofcourse. It rained on and off when I went so it was pretty wet and I only passed a couple people on my way up who were on their decent. Anywhoo...got to the 1st overlook, which was a WWII bunker(s), pretty quickly. I think it's approx a 3 mile hike up and back...well, it's supposed to be. There are a handful of steep-ish areas but if you've got good shoes (trail) and are planting your feet in secure places (like, not on the sides of slippery tree roots), you'll be fine. There are ropes in some areas to assist. The 2nd overlook is not clearly marked but if you look to the right of the bunker (as your facing it), you'll see a 'private property' sign that's been spray painted. That's the way you wanna go and in approx 8 min, you'll be at the 2nd overlook which has a beautiful view of Pipeline. You hike downhill a bit to get there but you're going the right way *insert thumbs up*. My pictures of that view aren't the greatest because of the weather but it was awesome nonetheless. So here's the fun part. I made my way back to the 1st overlook and realized when I got there that there were 5-6 hiking trails to get up to that spot all stemming from different directions. FYI, there are 5-6 trails to get up to the 1st overlook all stemming from different directions. Ahem... A bunch of the reviews I read talked about the trail being super direct (and it was) so as a result = I was careless. I was moving so fast on the way up and was so focused on finding the 2nd overlook after I'd arrived at the 1st (I was on a time crunch for dinner plans) that (1) I didn't even remotely pay attention to the color markings and (2) I didn't look back to see where I'd come from to get to the 1st overlook. Truth be told, I didn't even realize at that point that there was more than one trail leading up to that spot. I know...TOTAL rookie move x2. Don't judge me, I survived to tell this epic tale. Moving on. I picked the trail that looked most like it 'should' be the main trail I used to get up to this glorious spot. I don't need to tell you, I was wrong. I started to make my way down the mountain and ofcourse nothing was looking familiar but I'm headed down so I'm going in the right direction at least, no biggie. Then I'd come to a fork in the trail and then another fork and after choosing my destiny a few times, the trail would kinda fizzle away into the woods and I thought to myself "self, that's not good". I subsequently turned around and made my way up to the most recent fork and choose the other one, which would again fizzle out into nothingness. This game of choice continued on for quite a bit, like a 3ish mile hike turned more into a 6-7 mile hike by the time I was done. Stop shaking your head at me, I can feel it lol. I finally ended up finding my way back to the 1st overlook after canceling my dinner plans, sending a landmark to my travel companion and giving my Airbnb host the 'heads up'. Safety first = sun goes down earlier reference no daylight savings so there wasn't much daylight left. Speaking of Airbnb hosts, shout out to him. He actually told me about the 'choose right' rule, came out to the mountain and met me when I was 1/2 way down the decent w/his family to ensure my safety and drive me back (I'd walked there). I learned the hard way not to take Mother Nature for granted. I also learned that since the beginning of summer (I went in late Aug), approx 6 people had been airlifted off the mountain at various times of day after losing their way, locals get lost on this mountain often and I heard a story of a guy that got turned around and decided to take a break nap under a tree until some folks found him. All of that made me feel a little less like an idiot. After describing my route(s), we figured out I'd gone about 1.5ish miles off course, on some bike trails, in an up-down-up-down manner of sorts towards Fooland (if you're familiar w/the area that will make sense). Despite my subpar attention to detail on this little trek, it's a great hike. It's just difficult enough to be a little challenging with a great reward of a view. I would not however recommend for folks w/mobility or cardiovascular problems. Happy hiking. read more

My first time here and I'm glad I did this short hike. The beginning of the hike is at Sunset Elementary School. The beginning of the hike is a little steep so be prepared. I was lucky that I visited and the ground was dry. If it rained the night before then be careful with the mud. It's a beautiful view from the top. The 1st pillbox is nice and inside has nice artwork. Keeping hiking up and you'll get to the 2nd pillbox that has the peace sign. It's not a hard hike so i personally think kids can do it. Also, I would recommend hiking this trail later in the afternoon to watch the sunset. read more

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This hike I've done twice and let me tell you it's hard for about of shape couch potatoe ! While it's not extremely hard it's just the incline that really makes you take your time to reach the top if you're out of shape like me..! But great views I've only seen 2 pillboxes I heard there was a third but no clue where it's at haven't gone exploring into the mountain! But a must not long hike and plenty of places to stop and take a breather ! if you want to see the views up high of North Shore which are breathtaking then don't doubt yourself and go check it out ! Finding this trail is not hard it's right across from a school and if there are a lot of cars it may be hard to park but usually not really! read more

Good quick climb where you've felt like you put in some burn time, whilst getting some nice views in reward, all within a couple of hours of your time. I did this hike in the morning and was done by 10:30am, moseyed across the street to the beach and was in the ocean by 10:45am. Quite the epic cool down. The trailhead begins across the parking lot from an elementary school. The name of the hike/trail isn't posted. Actually nothing on this hike is posted, no signs/arrows to direct you. But the trail is fairly trampled on, so it is easy to follow, despite most of it being under the thick jungle canopy. There's like a 5 minute trek through shaded canopy trail before hitting any incline. Once it starts going up, it goes up pretty quick. No gradual switchbacks, mostly steep straight up the hill. Some parts you follow worn steps/roots of trees, whilst other parts some wood planks were placed to form "stairs", even though because of worn dirt/mud the steps aren't really there or clear. It hadn't rained significantly on my trip in the spring, so the dirt was moist but not muddy/slippery. If it were it would of been a lot harder and messier. If it were slipperier/muddier, there are ropes to help you get up/balance. I didn't really have to use these, thank goodness. The ascent goes on for about 30-40 minutes depending on your skill/stamina. So it's not that long. It is humid under all that canopy so I did sweat a ton. Towards the end of the ascent the trail does start to switchback so it becomes more gradual. Once on top the views open up and you're looking straight down on the North Shore Highway (2 lane road) and Sunset Beach area. There is also a loop trail up there through tropical pine trees that's well shaded. I only did half that trail as it was my first time and there are no signs to tell you where you are. Didn't want to risk going too far out. But there are 2 Pillboxes to find and admire the view from. Pillboxes are these concrete bunkers that our military had used to watch post and/or possibly house monster guns to protect our coastline. It definitely speaks of a history on why the US swooped in on this land, to secure territory in the Pacific. These structures are now abandoned and are just part of the landscape now. But you can't help just feel the history behind this as you're literally standing on top of one. The first pillbox you run into by default on the direct trail. It is the bigger one of the two and there is always people either on it or around it. The morning I went, there were already 2 ladies on top with their small child, chilling like it was their Starbucks. The second pillbox needs some finding. It isn't directly on the trail but it is within maybe 500 yards of the first one. Other reviews somewhat direct you so I won't do it here. But I did miss it the first time, ventured on that half loop and came back. It was easier the 2nd time because more people were there looking for it as well. We all (4 of us) collaborated on trying to figure out the right trail to get there. All I got to say is the 2nd pillbox (the one with peace sign graffitied on) is at a lower elevation and when you are getting close, the trail does open up and seem like a well trampled on trail. I will post pics that will illustrate it more clearly. So great quick hike with some good burn factor and a fun scavenger hunt feature that makes this fun for many and of all ages. On my way up I only ran into 4 people, by 10 am on my way down I ran into over 20 coming up. Enjoy the journey. read more

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This hike was great! We did it with my kid, the hike wasn't the easiest and definitely not for people who can't hike up a steep incline and through uneven terrain. We also went 3/2016 since this review is older and maybe it's different now. But we hiked it and my 10 year old at the time and it was fine. Not a lot of parking, so that can be a challenge. The view from the top is amazing and the old military bunkers are cool. Highly recommend if you are physically able to do it and it overlooks Kailua which is an amazing town with beautiful beaches. read more

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This is one of my favorite hikes on Oahu, I hike here at least 3 times a month. If you're looking for a quick hike with a rewarding view on the north shore here's the perfect spot. The trail entrance is located in the same parking lot as Sunset Beach Elementary school. Note that there is specific parking for the elementary school and for the public to use, they will close the gates to the elementary school at the time it states on the sign and if you're parked in there you will be locked in. The trail starts off on a dirt path and after a few minutes in you're faced with what I believe is the hardest part. There's an incline going up the dirt with rocks and trees surrounding for about a quarter mile. This is where you get your workout in as you make your way up the hill. It's rocky, there is dirt, and the ground is uneven so I do recommend wearing shoes, although I've seen people hike there in slippers. There is a rope that some kind people tied to the trees to help pull yourself up and wood in the dirt that makes little steps to have leverage. Once you pass the incline you approach a picnic table (again kind people put up there) and you are greeted with a gorgeous view of sunset beach. Don't stop here, keep going! You walk up a few more steps to get to flat terrain and the rest is a nice leisurely walk to the bunker look out. There are two lookout points, so if you keep walking on the path after the first bunker it'll look like you're walking in the wrong direction but keep going. The second bunker is a little hidden and you'll need to walk down hill to reach it. Whether you choose to stay at the first bunker or make way to the second they both have amazing views! If you're able to bring up some snacks or lunch it's nice to sit up top and take in the view. Don't get too comfy though, you still need to hike back down. read more

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Under threat of more rain I set off on a hike to the Ehukai Pillboxes. The skies were momentarily dry but the trail still a mostly muddy slog. That evening, flash flood warnings would be broadcast amidst thunder claps and lightening bolts. If the skies are momentarily dry this is an excellent hike to set out on primarily for the fact that it's short in duration. As you can see from reading the reviews of others, most Ehukai Pillbox hikers head only to the first pillbox, a handful more make their way to the second, and hardly anyone does more than that though yelper Celina Y has made a good case for doing just that by attaching a trail map to her 3/8/17 review. Until I read Celina's review just now I had no idea that there was anything more to see or hike here, beyond the second pillbox. People set out on this hike in flip flops, even barefoot, but I don't understand how. Hiking through mud in either is bound to be disastrous. Regardless of the short duration of the hike, it's got several steep and slippery climbs (and descents) for which I'd recommend close-toed shoes and a hiking stick (usually found near the entrance to the trail). Armed as such, you can make your way to the second pillbox and back in under 90 minutes total. I found a window of time when rain was not predicted and went for it. The trailhead is well-marked and easy to find. It's across from the public restrooms in the parking lot at Sunset Elementary School which is across the street from Ehukai Beach. I parked in that lot, directly across from the trailhead which appeared to be public parking (though I'm not entirely certain). If the skies haven't erupted by the time you complete your hike, walk across the street and enjoy the surf show and the sunset. You'll be sitting at Ehukai Beah Park, also known as Banzai Pipeline, one of Earth's most renown surf spots. Other stuff: * Both pillboxes are graffiti covered and similar to one another. To reach the second one, keep going on the path past the first, down a steep hill until you spot it on your left (look at yelp photos in advance so you'll know what you're looking for). * Nice ocean views from both pillboxes; nothing spectacular. * This is a good hike for those not sure if they like hiking and/or uncertain of their abilities. It's short but has all the elements one might encounter in a longer hike making it a good litmus test. read more

Ehukai Pillbox Hike - Trail entrance: on left side of parking lot @ Sunset Elementary. - Hiking Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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