Throughout World Struggle II, the U.S. navy constructed concrete bunkers everywhere in the island of Oahu as defensive lookout posts guarding Hawaii, and most of them have wonderful views of the shoreline.
These ‘pillboxes’ have been deserted ever because the battle, however they’ve changed into beloved mountaineering locations due to the nice surroundings and historical past behind them.
Right here’s my information for all the pillbox hikes in Oahu, together with some hidden gems!
1. Lanikai / Kailua Pillboxes
The preferred pillbox hike in Oahu is certainly the one in Lanikai, close to Kailua.
If I had to decide on one hike on this record as my favourite, it will be this one. This hike is brief, straightforward, and extremely stunning. I can’t think about a nicer view for a wartime bunker!
The one draw back is that it’s getting fairly well-known and generally the path is crowded.
Resting on the prime of the pillbox hike
The primary pillbox at Lanikai may be reached in about 15-20 minutes of mountaineering, and for my part it has one of the best views and photograph spots of the entire hike.
It’s a enjoyable place to sit back after mountaineering, and there’s a pleasant ocean breeze so it doesn’t really feel too scorching up there even in the course of the day.
From the primary pillbox at Lanikai, it’s solely a ten minute stroll to succeed in the second pillbox, which is greater.
Views from contained in the second pillbox
Entrance
Inside
The second pillbox really has two separate rooms, and you’ll go inside both of them by climbing down a set of steel rungs.
The interiors are full of graffiti, and searching the home windows provides one other neat perspective of the surface surroundings.
Simply watch out with small children close to the hatch, as a result of it wouldn’t be place to fall.
A safer, simpler method for teenagers to benefit from the within the Lanikai pillboxes is by climbing by way of the entrance window as a substitute, though they nonetheless might have a hand.
Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 450 ft (140 m)
Issue: Simple
Learn Extra: Lanikai Pillbox Hike
Lanikai pillbox hike
2. Maili / Pink Pillbox Hike
This can be a ridge hike on the west aspect of Oahu with a pink pillbox and panoramic views of the coast all the way in which to Waianae.
There are a bunch of concrete bunkers on the prime of the ridge, and you’ll stroll inside or climb on prime of them for even higher views of the shoreline.
Pink pillbox hike
It’s not a really laborious hike, however the ridge is a bit steep and there’s no shade on the path, so it could get fairly scorching should you go in the course of the day.
This hike isn’t as crowded because the one at Lanikai, and it’s place to look at the sundown should you don’t thoughts taking place when it’s nightfall.
Typically should you’re fortunate, you’ll be able to even see whales leaping within the distance.
Distance: 1.2 miles (2 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 500 ft (150 m)
Issue: Simple / Reasonable
Learn Extra: Pink Pillbox Hike
Contained in the pink pillbox
Drone pic of the pink pillbox. Superb views of the Waianae coast!
3. Ehukai Pillboxes
Also called the ‘peace pillbox’ hike, it is a good path on the North Shore with views of Ehukai and the coast from above.
There are two concrete World Struggle II pillboxes on this hike. The view on the first one is blocked by timber, but it surely’s nonetheless enjoyable to stroll contained in the bunker.
From right here, you proceed previous some boulders and down the hill till you attain the second pillbox, which has nice views of the North Shore.
View from the second pillbox at Ehukai
General, it’s a household pleasant hike with a good quantity of elevation achieve, just like the path at Lanikai, though this one has much more shade because you’re strolling by way of a forest for a lot of the hike.
The trailhead is clearly marked and it begins from the parking zone of Sundown Seaside Elementary College, which is correct subsequent to Ehukai Seaside Park.
Distance: 1.5 miles (2.4 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 650 ft (200 m)
Issue: Simple
Inside the primary bunker at Ehukai
Banyan timber within the jungle
4. Diamond Head Hike
The extinct volcanic crater of Diamond Head is one in all Oahu’s most well-known landmarks, and the hike to the highest of the crater can be fashionable.
This can be a nice hike for households, and it options some cool WWII bunkers and pillboxes with superior views of the cityscape at Waikiki and Honolulu. It’s a basic hike.
Throughout the battle, the U.S. Navy constructed tunnels and gun emplacements all alongside the sting of the crater for the protection of Honolulu, and you’ll nonetheless see these and go inside a few of them.
A lot of the path is paved with railings, so it must be fairly straightforward for anybody with first rate health, however you’ll need to carry a hat and sunscreen since there isn’t a lot shade.
Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 500 ft (150 m)
Issue: Simple / Reasonable
Learn Extra: Diamond Head Hike
Diamond Head Lookout — a straightforward, household pleasant hike.
5. Koko Head Hike
Koko Head is one other well-known hike in Oahu. It’s a grueling exercise that takes you on a steep railway path up the aspect of a dormant volcano crater.
That’s proper — as a substitute of mountaineering on rocks or dust, you’ll be strolling on railroad ties with picket steps. It’s a fairly distinctive mountaineering expertise.
I’ve climbed the Koko stairs many occasions over time, and it’s all the time nice enjoyable.
It’s not a harmful hike so long as you’re cautious, but it surely’s an actual health take a look at and might not be pleasant for everybody.
Koko Crater is an extinct volcano that was used as a radar station in WWII
Hiker on the summit. Superb views!
The railway at Koko Head was constructed by the U.S. Military in 1942 to hold males and provides to a radar station on the prime of the mountain, and you’ll nonetheless see among the previous bunkers and pillboxes there immediately.
After World Struggle II, it was then used as an air drive station by the USAF beginning in 1947, however with advances in know-how it will definitely turned out of date for monitoring plane. The set up was deactivated in 1966, and the U.S. Air Power handed it over to the town of Honolulu.
Within the years since then, the path has turn into a success, and as many as 500 to 1,000 folks climb it day-after-day for the thrills, the views, and the free exercise.
Distance: 1.6 miles (2.6 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 900 ft (275 m)
Issue: Reasonable / Laborious
Learn Extra: Koko Head Hike
Outdated navy pillbox on the prime of Koko Head
6. Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Pillbox
That is one other pillbox hike that’s brief, straightforward, and family-friendly. It’s positioned in Kaneohe.
After a quick hike within the jungle, you’ll discover two pillboxes with views of Kaneohe Bay and your entire windward aspect of the island. You’ll be able to even sit and watch the U.S. Marine Corps planes flying out and in of the bottom at MCBH.
It’s not a extremely popular hike in comparison with Lanikai, so that you may even have the place all to your self, like we did!
Distance: 2.3 miles (3.7 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 600 ft (180 m)
Issue: Simple
On prime of the pillbox
Funky graffiti inside
View from Pu’u Ma’eli’eli
7. Ka’ena Level Pillbox
The Ka’ena Point hike takes you to the distant western tip of Oahu island, the place there’s a wildlife sanctuary and nice sundown views.
Nevertheless, most individuals who hike to Ka’ena Level don’t know there’s additionally a bonus path to an previous navy pillbox on the ridge, with wonderful views of the entire space.
As soon as on the prime of the pillbox, you get to see Ka’ena Level from above, with a pleasant breeze and the sound of sea birds, plus wonderful views of the sundown and whales hopping within the distance.
Sundown on the key pillbox excessive above Ka’ena Point — it doesn’t get a lot better than this!
The aspect path to the Ka’ena Level pillbox is brief, however fairly strenuous. A part of the problem is discovering the trail to the highest of the ridge, as a result of it’s unmarked, rocky, and a bit overgrown.
Here is a map of the place the pillbox aspect path begins. You’ll undoubtedly need footwear for this one, not sandals. Carry headlight too should you go for sundown.
The hassle pays off. This is among the greatest sundown hikes on Oahu, and to prime it off, we had the place all to ourselves! Most individuals simply hike to Ka’ena Level after which name it a day.
Distance: 6 miles (9.8 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 425 ft (130 m)
Issue: Reasonable
Learn Extra: Ka’ena Point Trail
8. Makapu’u Pillboxes
Most individuals hike to Makapu’u Level to see the lighthouse and attempt to spot whales breaching within the distance, however should you go off the crushed path, there are additionally a bunch of pillboxes hiding in plain sight.
The primary pillbox is close to the 0.7-mile mark, hiding on a small hill that you simply cross because the path forks to the Makapu’u tide swimming pools.
As an alternative of taking place to the tide swimming pools, climb this little hill and also you’ll discover a pillbox hiding behind it, with good views of the southeastern coast.
First pillbox on the hike
However that’s not all. There are just a few extra pillboxes at Makapu’u should you maintain going to the top.
In a while within the path, when you attain Makapu’u Level, you’ll be able to go away the pavement and bushwhack as much as the highest of the hill, the place there are 4 pillboxes with panoramic views of Koko Crater within the distance.
The spot is marked as #7 on this AllTrails map if you wish to use it for navigation. Listed below are a few of our images from the hike beneath.
Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 600 ft (180 m)
Issue: Simple / Reasonable
There are 4 hidden pillboxes on the prime of Makapu’u Head
Views of Koko Crater from the final pillbox
9. Crouching Lion Pillboxes
Crouching Lion is one other hike in Oahu that’s recognized for its superior surroundings, however only a few folks know there are additionally a few pillboxes there hiding within the jungle.
Regardless that they’re run down and surrounded by foliage, it’s nonetheless an attention-grabbing characteristic of the path. You’ll be able to stroll inside or climb on prime of them for a pleasant view of Kahana Bay.
This brief little hike is already probably the most scenic locations on the island, so that you may as effectively see the pillbox when you’re right here!
Distance: 0.5 miles (0.8 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 300 ft (90 m)
Issue: Simple / Reasonable
Learn Extra: Crouching Lion Hike
Good views from one of many Crouching Lion pillboxes
10. Turtle Bay Pillbox
This can be a pillbox on the seashore you can attain by mountaineering from both Kawela Bay or Ō’owopāla Seaside.
The best strategy to get there may be to park and stroll from Kawela Bay Seaside Park. In any other case, should you keep at Turtle Bay Resort and hike from there, it takes about half-hour.
This pillbox isn’t as spectacular as among the different hikes on this record, however you’ll be able to attain it in simply 10 minutes of mountaineering, and there’s a pleasant banyan tree to see alongside the way in which.
The seashore is surprisingly secluded, and there are good views of the sundown.
Extra World Struggle II Hikes In Oahu
• Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven)
For those who’re on the lookout for extra WWII-related hikes in Oahu, there are just a few you need to learn about. One among these is Hawaii’s most notorious hike: the Haiku Stairs.
Also called the ‘Stairway To Heaven,’ these steep steel stairs have been constructed on the aspect of a mountain by the U.S. Navy in 1942, together with a radio station and large antenna on the prime of the height that have been used to speak with ships within the Pacific.
The Haiku Stairs have been formally closed within the Nineteen Eighties, they usually’ve been broken just a little (and repaired) on and off within the years since then.
The path is hiked by 1000’s of individuals yearly due to its wonderful surroundings, but it surely stays unlawful and its standing continues to be in limbo. The state of Hawaii is afraid of legal responsibility and may’t determine what to do with the steps.
As of 2025, there’s a political battle over the way forward for the steps enjoying out in court docket. Will it turn into a authorized hike sometime?
Distance: 2.3 miles (3.7 km) roundtrip
Elevation Acquire: 2,625 ft (800 m)
Issue: Laborious
Learn Extra: Stairway To Heaven Hike
The WWII-era ‘Stairway To Heaven‘ is one in all Hawaii’s most notorious hikes
• Battery Cooper Bunker
This one isn’t a hike, but it surely’s nonetheless price seeing! There’s a whole World Struggle II bunker at Kualoa Ranch, they usually allow you to go inside it should you do a tour of the ranch.
The Battery Cooper bunker was in-built 1944 and utilized by the U.S. Military for five years. Its tunnel is 150 ft deep and has a number of rooms, which at the moment are embellished with props from the numerous Hollywood motion pictures which were filmed at Kualoa Ranch.
We went right here with a GetYourGuide tour that included a go to to the Jurassic Park and King Kong film websites, and different well-known filming places within the Kualoa valley.
You’ll be able to ebook the identical tour within the hyperlink beneath!
E book Now: Kualoa Ranch Tour
The bunker entrance at Kualoa Ranch
Contained in the Battery Cooper bunker
Map Of Pillbox Hikes In Oahu
Right here’s a map of all of the World Struggle II pillbox hikes in Oahu.
You’ll be able to click on the icons to get extra information and instructions for every focal point, however bear in mind among the places on this map could also be approximate.
For extra detailed info on the right way to discover the precise trailheads, you’ll be able to try my particular person guides for every hike.
As all the time, please keep in mind to maintain the path clear, be thoughtful of different hikers, and leave no trace. Thanks and joyful travels!
Extra Climbing Guides For Hawaii
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved a few of these enjoyable pillbox hikes in Oahu.
For those who’re planning a visit to Hawaii, don’t neglect to take a look at my different journey guides earlier than you go!
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