A Complete Trail Guide to the Pu’u O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Hike on Oahu [2024]
LOOKING TO HIKE TO THE PINK PILLBOX (AKA PU’U O HULU) ON OAHU?
We are glad you found us! We have been hiking on Oahu for the last nine years, enjoying the island’s beautiful views and lush rainforests. The Maili Pink Pillbox hike is a great trail for families with kids who have a little bit more hiking experience and has absolutely beautiful 360-degree views of the island’s west side.
Quick Trail Facts About the Pink Pillbox Hike
Length: 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Route Type: Out and Back
Hiking Time: 100-120 minutes
Pet-Friendly: Yes, leashed
Reservations: No
Quick Summary: This is a great hike for those looking for great ocean views, especially at sunset. It is suitable for those looking for a moderately difficult hike. It is a pretty steep hike. The highlight of the hike is the beautiful ocean views. Remember you will need lots of water and sunscreen as the ridge has no shade. There are some narrow parts in the trail.
Our Experience Hiking the Pu’u O Hulu Trail to the Pink Pillboxes
This is always a great hike for our family. It pushes our younger kids a bit but is still manageable and they love the pink pillbox at the top. We also see mountain goats along the way which always gets them excited.
The last time we hiked this trail, we did it with our three kids who were eight, eight, and four. I was also about seven months pregnant with our last child. The eight-year-olds had no problem with this hike. They had to wait for the rest of us to catch up along the trail.
It was a little bit slower going for me and the four-year-old but we made it to the top after taking a few breaks along the way. There is some scrambling over rocks on the trail so we had to help our youngest over some of the bigger rocks.
This trail is in full sun. The last time we hiked this trail was in mid-March in the morning and it was still hot. Be sure to bring sun protection and lots of water.
Insider Tip: This is a great hike for sunset if you need to avoid the heat. If you’re looking for a great sunrise hike, check out the Lanikai Pillbox hike on the east side of the island.
Pink Pillbox Hike Parking
Getting There: Google Maps Link to the Pu’u O Hulu Trailhead
The trailhead is about 40 minutes west of downtown Honolulu. It is about 28 miles away.
To get to the parking for the pink pillbox trail, you will take the H1 west towards Nanakuli. You will want to turn right on Kaukama Road.
Shortly after turning right, you will see the trailhead on the right. The trailhead is just past the sixth light post. There were a few other cars on the side of the road when we got there, making it easy to find the trailhead. It is about 0.25 miles from the traffic light.
It was also really easy to park here which was a huge bonus for us! There is plenty of parking on both sides of Kaukama Road. Parking is not limited to any areas or sides of the road.
This area is well-known for break-ins. We did not have any problems while we were there nor did we see anything out of place. As a precaution, we kept all of our personal belongings hidden and made sure to lock our car.
Pu’u O Hulu Hiking Trail (AKA Maile Pink Pillbox Hike)
The Pu’u O Hulu Trail will take you along a small ridge on the west side of the island between Nanakuili and Ma’ili. This ridge has no shade cover but boasts great views of Nanakuli and Waianae. As you drive up to the trailhead, you can see the pink pillbox overlooking the ocean.
The trail to the top of the ridge consists of some switchbacks and then there is a small ridge that will take you up to the different pillboxes. These switchbacks have a steady incline and parts of the trails are quite rocky. There were some people using hiking poles to get to the Pink Pillbox but we did not feel like we needed them.
There is also a much steeper trail which has a more direct route to the top. We usually hike up the switchbacks with our kids so we can’t speak to this trail. There are some cables to help with the steep incline.
During your hike, keep an eye out for the mountain goats. We got to see them (and hear them) as we hiked up to the pink pillbox during our last hike here.
Along with enjoying the views along the way, there are plenty of fun places to take pictures. My kids had such a great time taking pictures with the leafless trees along the side of the trail. There are some really cool trees you can see with roots growing above ground.
Pu’u O Hulu Pillboxes
Once you reach the ridge leading up to the pillboxes, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Waianae Mountain Range, the western coastline, as well as the ocean water.
The four pillbox bunkers here are all very close to each other, making them easy to explore. Some of the other pillbox hikes, like Lanikai, require some hiking to get to the other pillboxes. The last pillbox (about 100 feet after the pink pillbox) sits right at the summit of the ridge.
Enjoy the views of the coast and check out all of the fun graffiti artwork at the pillboxes. The highlight for our family of girls was the pink pillbox. It was painted pink in 2015 to raise awareness for breast cancer.
The Pu’u O Hulu hike is a somewhat popular hike in Hawaii. While it won’t be nearly as crowded as some of the more popular hikes like Diamond Head, you can expect to share the trail with other hikers. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, you can continue hiking along the ridge past the pillboxes.
Things to Bring On the Hike
You will want to make sure to bring sun protection like sunscreen and a hat as well as lots of water and good shoes. The Pu’u O Hulu hike is rocky so it is a good idea to have good hiking shoes. Hiking boots are not necessary. We hiked this trail in tennis shoes and keen hiking sandals.
We also brought our kids Camelbak hiking backpacks. These backpacks are so great to use when we are hiking with our kids. They can carry their own water and snacks. They love having control over the snacks they get to bring and being independent.
