Maili Pillboxes

I picked this hike because of the hot pink pillbox at the top but good god, doing it in the late morning was not the best idea (though, judging by the others we ran into along the way, others had the same idea). The heat was oppressive and there's zero shade except for maybe two spots - and yes, I counted. There's also a steep drop-off along some parts so FYI, if you have vertigo or a fear of heights. All in all, it took us over an hour to complete. PROS: - The views at the top are insane and, IMO, make the hike worth it. You can clamber on top of the pillbox and go inside to peer out. I think there are a total of four pillboxes at the top but we only made it to two. - There's a very nice lady running a smoothie truck at the bottom. We rewarded ourselves with a mango smoothie that came in a quart. CONS:- Zero cover. You are pretty much exposed to the sun the whole way up and down. Bring lots of SPF and water. - The trail, despite not being muddy, was overgrown in some areas, with lots of loose rocks. As with any hiking trail, I recommend wearing good shoes, i.e., not sandals or flip-flops. Parking: The trailhead is along Kaukama Road, in the opposite direction of Farrington Highway, and easy to spot. Look for the smoothie truck.

I loved this hike. The first 20 minutes is a basically a steady incline but not bad and you will make it to the top in around 30 minutes. Plan on giving yourself 1.5-2 hours total to explore the pillboxes, take photos and sit at the the top. It has amazing views

What a hike!! I would say this is easier than Koko head but more difficult than lanikai pillbox.It was about 1300 ft elevation (according to my whoop band). The first 1/3 of it was more steep with little to no wind. The rest of it is small steps up the mountain. When you get to the top, the view is truly incredible! I'd recommend coming here if you want to try a new hike!Ps - there's a smoothie truck at the bottom waiting for you when you're finished

A short drive from home in Ewa Beach, this hike is good for the west siders who don't want to go too far to get in a little hike. Once arrived, parking is easy. Lock your car and up you go. At a slow pace it's about 30 minutes to the top. The views of the west waters are excellent. Worth a try if you haven't.

Great hike. I can't believe I've been coming to Oahu for more than 30 years and have never done this hike. I guess now that I'm getting older and not going to beach everyday I'm here for 6-12 days straight, I'm mixing in hikes and things that seem less appealing than when I was in my teens and 20s.You need to keep your eyes on the ground the entire time to make sure your steps are carefully placed. Most hikers should be able to do this hike, it will just take a different amount of time depending on how fast you want to do it. I saw little kids and older folks on the trail. It gets hot, so hydrate before the hike (and stretch) and bring water to drink along the hike. Stop along the way for different vantage points and picture ops along the way. Free parking at the bottom of the hill.I'll do this again next time, probably before a stop at Kahe beach park to catch some waves!

One of the many hikes on Oahu with a rewarding view. Parking isalongside the road. There isn't an exact entrance to the trail, you'll just notice dirt on the sidewalk from hikers coming down, that's a sign you're at the entrance. This is my 2nd time hiking Pink Pillbox. I would say it's an easy trail with some steep inclines that can be considered moderate. Families come here with their little children but be cautious when bringing kids, one wrong step and you slip could be very dangerous. This hike is pet friendly as well, seen plenty of hikers with dogs. Took us 45 minutes to get to the top with some breaks in between and 30 minutes down. Going down is a lot easier and you could get down in 20 minutes at least. The view at the top is incredible. There are about 4 bunkers up top. Standing on top the bunkers gets you an amazing view of the ocean. Very nice and rewarding especially when it's windy, the air cools you down after all that incline walk and sweat.

Fun hike and easy to do, amazing views from 360 degrees when you get to the top! Parking is on the main road and I heard there are break ins, so I recommending hiding all your belongings. The trail head has two other but both lead the same place. So many pillboxes to visit along the way and beautiful art work inside each pillbox. Definitely recommend going early to avoid the crowds and heat.

There's a lot of things to like about the hike up to the Ma'ili Pillboxes and I'm glad this is one that we chose to do in our time on Oahu. We were able to find street parking near the trailhead pretty easily. It was a weekday morning and it was not crowded at all. We saw more people as we were hiking back down so I guess we got there early.I would consider the hike moderately difficult. I was able to complete it with a toddler carrier in tow which made it a lot harder and hotter. There are some steep and rocky parts of the trail. We drank most of our water and it was barely 10:30 AM, so be prepared to hydrate.We also got the fun surprise of coming across some goats when we were almost to the pillboxes. Another group that were on the way down warned us to watch out for them because apparently they were blocking the trail for awhile. We got to catch them while they were making their way back up the mountainside and then across the backside.Of course what makes most hikes magical is the view at the top, and this one did not disappoint. You get a little bit of everything, the ocean, the island coastline, the mountains inland. As usual, pictures don't do it justice. There was a smoothie/fruit juice truck when we got back down and the refreshing, fresh juices were perfect after our hike.Any cons to coming here? Others have mentioned that the street is a high theft area and to make sure to lock your car/hide your valuables. That is definitely one thing to consider and double check before starting your hike up. The only other thing is that I felt it was a decent drive from Waikiki and we didn't have any other stops planned along the way so it's not the most convenient trail as far as location. If you have plenty of time, that's not a big deal. Or if you are staying in Aulani, it would be a great option.

Of the many hikes we did on Oahu, this one was very fast yet rewarding. 1.5 miles round trip, 700+ feet gained quickly. It took us about 45 mins going up and 20 mins down. The steepest part seems to be at the beginning, so stay with it! It turns into a few sets of switchbacks. There are four pillboxes at the top, take the time to check them all out. The top one has a thin exposed area you have to cross to get to it. I will upload a video of that part.

Ma'ile Pillbox Hike or the "Pink Pillbox" Hike on the Pu'u O Hulu Kai Trail will reward you with the best views of the Ka'ena Point, Keawa'ula Beach (Yokohama Beach), Mount Kaala and even Kapolei, home to the Ko Olina Resort all at the same time! Don't forget to try and catch a sunset as well, it's stunning on the West Side. There is a decent amount of parking on the street at the base of the trail. Use your common sense, keep valuables out of site or take them with you...otherwise you will be rewarded with smashed windows when you return to your ride. Locals are far more territorial on the West Side. The scenic views are most definitely worth the trek to the top of the Pillboxes...just don't make the same mistake we did. We took the steep way up through the middle instead of the switchback trail. While going straight up does cut out some time...rumor is about 20 minutes it's not the easiest thing to do...It's steeper, more treacherous than the switchbacks; rocks and uneven steps. The entire hike is not all that long...I'd say about 1.5 miles. The Pillboxes were clean when we went. The "Pink Pillbox" even had a Christmas Tree in it! There is no shade on the trail, it's completely exposed to the elements, so prepare accordingly.