The Stunning Ehukai Pillbox Hike on Oahu
Oahu, Hawaii has got tons of gorgeous hikes – some with waterfalls, some with a little bit of history, some that are a straight up work out, and some with stunning views. Oahu’s Ehukai pillbox hike definitely falls under the “stunning views” category, and it should not missed.
What Exactly Is a Pillbox?
So I suppose the Ehukai pillbox hike could also fall under the “little bit of history” hike category as well. Oahu’s pillboxes were built for the U.S. military during World War II (you know, we had to step up our defenses after the Pearl Harbor bombing on December 7, 1941).
The military used these little concrete rooms keep an eye out for approaching enemies – which means they also all have stunning views. (In other locations, pillboxes are used as a line of defense, but the ones on Oahu were never used for that purpose.)
What Should I Bring to the Ehukai Pillbox Hike?
Water
In my opinion, you should bring water on a hike, regardless of how easy it may seem. However, I would especially recommend bringing water on this hike, because this trail is very muggy. That means that you’ll do a lot of sweating, and your body will need that water to be replaced in order to function well.
You can bring your water in a nice reusable bottle and help the environment while you’re at it too!
Backpack
I like to keep my hands free so I can grab onto trees and help steady myself. I stuff my reusable water bottle, phone, and whatever else into my High Sierra backpack. I’ve been using my mini High Sierra backpack for my adventures for over a decade – and it is still in great condition!
Athletic Shoes
With muddy hikes in general, having shoes with a good grip can seem like a blessing from the universe. The Fila Women’s Hiking Shoes have served me well on the many muddy hikes in Hawaii. If you’re interested, there is also a men’s version.
A Plastic Bag
When you get back to your car, you won’t want to get the floors and the peddles all muddy. My solution is to bring a plastic bag (or a reusable plastic bag that is easy to clean) and shove my muddy shoes in there until I have a chance to wash them!
Flip-Flops (A.K.A. Slippers)
If you shove your muddy shoes into that plastic bag, you’ll be walking around barefoot unless you bring something else to wear on your feet. That’s when a good ‘ole pair of slippers will come in handy.
If you want to support an amazing local Hawaii business, you can buy a pair of Olukai slippers for your adventure.
Now, onto the hike.
Where is the Ehukai Pillbox Hike?
Ehukai Pillbox is quite the hidden hike, tucked away behind Sunset Beach Elementary School on the North Shore of Oahu. (You can add this hike as a stop to the Ultimate North Shore Day Trip!) As for parking, there are a few stalls near the entrance of the trailhead for a park right next to Sunset Beach Elementary School. The entrance of the hike is right behind those parked cars.
What’s the Experience Like?
Considering how few hikers we came across on our journey, the path was pretty clearly marked. When in doubt though, choose the path closer to the ocean. It was a bit muddy, but there are some hiker-made steps to help you along the relatively steep incline.
About halfway up, you’ll reach a single picnic bench with small painted handprints all over it (probably from some of the children from the nearby elementary school). Overall, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as other hikes on the island, particularly the Koko Head Hike.
And the Result…
You can make it to the first graffiti-covered pillbox in 45 minutes (roundtrip, the journey is a little over an hour). From there, you can see a stunning view of Sunset Beach on the North Shore (as pictured at the top of the post).
Plus, There’s a Secret Bonus!
There is a second pillbox further down the trail, which, rumor has it, has a better view. However, you do have to trespass on private property for that and the trail is much more unclear.
Looking for another Oahu pillbox hike? Check out this post on Lanikai Pillbox!
Or are you looking for a more extensive list of Oahu hikes to check out? Here ya go!
Have you ever done the Ehukai Pillbox Hike before? Tell me about your experience in the comments!
Thinking about adding this hike to your list of things to do during your trip to Oahu? Pin it for later!
This is super helpful for anyone doing this hike! And so interesting to hear where the name originated from!
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed the post!
What a cool hike! Always up for a hike that involves a rewarding view at the end, this certainly ticks that box! A fascinating snippet of history too, thanks for sharing!
Of course! And I’m all about hikes with a rewarding view! I’m thinking about posting a few more of those soon, so keep an eye out!
Ohhhhhh this hike sounds amazing! And not a long one either, which is ideal for me, because I love to pack a lot into my days when I travel, exploring areas as much as I can. I’d be hesitant to trespass onto private property for the second pillbox but that’s just me, I’m sure others out there would be game!
Me too!! I like my hikes to be less than two hours lol (any longer, and I’m so tired). Lucky for me, most Hawaii hikes are nice and short.
I love secret off-the-beaten-path hikes like this! Nice views, too. would you need real hiking boots for this or could you do it in tennis shoes?
You could definitely do this in tennis shoes! As a matter of fact, you can pretty much do any Hawaii hike in tennis shoes (I’ve never owned a pair of real hiking boots, if that helps put it in perspective.)
Stunning is right! I absolutely love O’ahu and wish I did this hike while I was there!
Just another reason to come back!
What a great hike and your tips are so helpful. I would so love to visit Oahu one day!!
Yes you definitely should!!
Oooh I didn’t know there were pillboxes all over the world!!
Last year we did a long distance hike through Kent in the UK, there are thousands of these historical pill boxes lining the hills in England too We explored quite a few of them (they are mostly full of graffiti and smell like wee)
LOL all of ours are full of graffiti too, but if you know where to look, you can find ones that don’t smell bad.
Absolutely beautiful looking spot! And cool to hear about the history. Would love to see some more pics of it! 😀
I actually got so distracted by the view that I forgot to take any more pictures lol! I do plan on hiking this again sometime in the future, so perhaps I’ll remember to take more pictures then :).
I have been to Oahu many times but I’ve never done this hike. It sounds like it would be an incredible hike. I’ll have to try it the next time I’m in Hawaii.
I lived here for 21 years before I had even heard of it!! But then I did it like two weeks later lol. I’m all about finding new hikes :).
Since I LOVE Hawaii ? I loved reading about it- I did hear about the pillboxes before. Most of my time in Hawaii was spent with dolphins in the water though 🙂
Wow I’m so surprised that you’ve heard about this pillboxes! Most people have heard of Lanikai Pillbox, but not Ehukai Pillbox. But yeah, I definitely see the appeal of the ocean too :).
I love short hikes like this! I don’t like to do long hikes while traveling because there is so much to explore. But a hike like this is the best, it’s short and has a beautiful view. I will definitely be adding this to my bucket list.
Yay! So glad I could add something to your bucket list! And that’s exactly the kind of hike I like too!
We have never been to Hawaii, but would love to check it out, thank you for the information!
If you ever do make it over, take a snoop around my blog. I’ve added a lot of local tips over the past couple of years.
Oh wow this looks amazing! I love hiking as a way to discover hidden gems when travelling! I’ll definitely check this out when I finally get to visit Hawaii 🙂
There are so many hidden gem hikes on Oahu. As a matter of fact, I’m still discovering them too!
Everytime I stumbled upon some post on Oahu, they always look so fascinating… That kinda makes me really want to visit it someday. The best thing is that they look so serene and it doesn’t seem so crowded. I think it’s suitable for someone like me who tends to enjoy more quiet place. Thank you for sharing! 😀
Oahu does have a ton of things to see! As for the people, you do have to know how to avoid them, because certain areas like Waikiki Beach, Hanauma Bay, and basically every well-known tourist attraction has a lot of people. But this hike is definitely not crowded at all :).
This hike looks amazing! There is a hike I have been looking to try on Honolulu (I can’t recall the name right now for the life of me) but this one might be worth also checking out while I am there! Thanks for the read!
Ooh perhaps Kokohead, Lanikai Pillbox, or Stairway to Heaven? Those tend to be quite popular for visitors. And yes, this one is also definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re already on the North Shore.
Sounds like a good hike. I would love to visit Oahu one day. The view looks amazing. I wish there were more pictures of the hiking trail itself.
I actually got so excited about the view that I forgot to take pictures!! But I plan on doing this hike again one day, so I’ll definitely add more pictures once I do.
I love hiking and knowing all the secret places to do so in gorgeous places, so this post was perfect for me! Whenever I do make it to Oahu, I will definitely go here!
Yay! So glad you felt inspired! If you’re all about the secrets of Oahu, snoop around the Hawaii section of blog a bit more to find a couple ;).
We loved doing the pillbox hike when my husband and I went about a year ago. The views are so stunning. I love Hawaii, can’t wait to get back
Ooh did you do Lanikai Pillbox (closer to Waikiki) or Ehukai Pillbox (on the North Shore)? If you did do Ehukai Pillbox, I would be super curious to know how you found out about it.
The view is so stunning! The Pacific Ocean is such an incredible shade of blue. Besides, who doesn’t like secret hikes 🙂
So true!!
This is such an interesting read and something I have never heard of! thanks for the share 😀
Of course! Thanks for the read!
Wow, I love it when history and nature can be found in the same place! This hike looks great Thank you for sharing!
A lot of Oahu hikes actually have that fun combo :).
Oh Hawaii. I hope to see your blue seas and golden sands soon. Wait for me, won’t you?
It will!!
So in order to go for hikes, Hawaii seems to be one of the bests ha?! Thank you for sharing!
Especially short ones with a great payoff!
I love adventures that bring the history of the place to life – as travelers we can learn so much from this!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Perhaps I’ll add more nature-history places to the blog.
Oh man I remember my hike to Pillbox! I am definetly not in shape and after 5 min I was like what the hell am I doing here 😀 but then after first viewpoint I knew i have to make it till end! It was one of the best views I’ve ever seen in my life! So worth the exercise 🙂 lovely post !
Hehe that sounds more like Lanikai Pillbox, but I relate!! My first time doing that hike I was like aw man, I want to see the top, but I need a break, but the rest of my group is still going so I gotta go too lol.
Had never heard of Ehukai Pillbox Hike, until now that is. Thanks for this wonderful guide to hike and discover the hidden gem! Would love to explore this trail sometime.
Of course! Glad you enjoyed it!
Perfect timing for me to read this post! We are headed to Oahu in a week and I’ve been trying to figure out which hike(s) to do! This one has been recommended to me already and looks so cool! Thanks for sharing your tips 🙂 I’ve read a few of your other posts too! 🙂
So glad my tips are helping!! It’s good to know that they are helping people make the most of their Hawaii adventures :).
Had no idea what a pillbox was! Thanks for the history lesson along with the travel inspo!
Of course! Glad I added a little tidbit of new knowledge to your life :).
Nature and History are two major draws for us to add any destination to our bucket list. We have heard a lot about Oahu and its stunning landscapes. Ehukai pillbox will definitely be on our list whenever we plan a visit.
Yay! So glad I added something to your Oahu bucket list!
It opens a lovely view! would like to get to this hike with my camera. Interesting to know that it has some military history.
Glad you enjoyed the post!
This is great. I loved the North Shore when we visited Oahu but didn’t know about this hike unfortunately.
I didn’t know about it for the longest time either! I guess you’ll just have to make another trip back one day to do it :).
Looks like a lovely hike! Would love to visit Hawaii and try some surfing there too 🙂
That sounds like a fun trip!
It sounds like a cool (and educational) hike! Do you think it’s too steep for kids?
Definitely not! They might need a tad bit of help, but it’s totally doable (they have so much energy to use anyways).
I did one of these pillbox hikes too and lovvveeddd it! This is a great guide, 🙂
Thank you so much!
It looks like such an interesting hike! I hope to get to Hawaii soon. The scenery looks gorgeous.
I hope you get to visit soon too!
HIking ot new places is one of my favorite things to do!! I will have to makethis hike someday when I get there!
Yay! So glad I inspired you with this hike :).
This is so inspiring! I am not a hike person, but would love to visit this beautiful place for hiking.I really loved the view.
Yay! I’ve gotten another non-hiker to try hiking! 🙂
With those awesome views, it’s definitely a yes to hiking ?
Right?! Views and waterfalls are what get me to go on hikes too lol
This looks like an absolute gem of a hike! Really interesting stuff about the pillboxes, I’ve seen some around the UK as well.
Until reading these comments, I didn’t know that there were visitable pillboxes anywhere else besides Hawaii!
Wow! It sounds like an awesome hike! Will definitely keep it in mind!
Yay!
I am not a hiker but a hike with history associated, I am intrigued. Plus the views from top, cherry on top! Thanks for sharing.
Of course! So glad you enjoyed reading about the hike.
we will definitely hike this place to see the beautiful beach view, hope we can visit this someday.
I hope so too!
I love trekking and hiking especially to peaks that give spectacular view of the landscape below. Ehukai seems to be like one of them. Thanks for sharing. Great pics.
It definitely does have a fantastic view!