The Lanikai Pillbox Hike

1:32 PM

This hike has one of the most breathtaking views of Oahu’s Windward side. I recommend hiking up early to watch the sunrise from the two, old pillboxes. From the top of the Ka’iwa Hills you can see the Mokes (the Mokulua Islands) off of Kailua and Lanikai Beach.

This kid-friendly hike takes about 60-90 minutes to complete the full 2.5 miles.

Parking
The neighborhood the trail is located in has plenty of street parking, always check street signs to be sure that area is okay to park in. The trailhead is marked by a sign that is up what looks like a long driveway at the end of Ka’elepulu Drive, just across from the Mid-Pacific Country Club. The people living nearby have made noise complaints as hikers pass pretty close to some houses. Let’s all be respectful of the people living here and keep the noise down as well as cleaning up any litter. We do not need any more trails on the island closed.




The Trail

This trail is popular to trail run so I try to keep to the side for the faster people to pass. The steady incline up is relatively easy to navigate with only a few parts where it gets steep. If it has been raining you will definitely get a little muddy. There are areas with loose rocks so be sure to wear appropriate shoes. You should reach the first pillbox within 30 minutes or so. You can clearly see the second pillbox a little further up the hill and it only takes about 10 minutes to reach it from the first one.











The Pillboxes
These old military bunkers were used during WWII as observation posts for the island’s defense. After being stripped of all military equipment, the pillboxes have become the perfect spot to view the Windward coast. I rather like all the graffiti on the inside and outside because of the contrast and the cool images people paint. The ladders used to climb down and inside are rusty and do not quite reach the floor. You can easily climb inside the pillbox from the view-hole cut into the cement.
Please be safe and remember to pick up your trash so other can enjoy the beauty.

Mahalos,  Alecia <3

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