The Awesome Hike In Hawaii That Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Military Bunker
By Megan Shute|Published February 26, 2018
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
With fascinating history and some of the best hiking in the world, Hawaii is home to a variety of hiking trails that can also double as a history lesson, many of which lead you to places that have long been abandoned. While many of these hikes will lead you to ancient Hawaiian temples, others still will lead you to places with a little more recent history: military bunkers.
Nowhere will you find a higher concentration of abandoned pillboxes — or concrete dug-in guard posts — than on the island of Oahu. There are the Lanikai PIllboxes on the windward coast, Pu’u O Hulu Kai on the leeward coast, and Diamond Head State Monument on the southern shore. But perhaps the most underrated pillbox hike is Ehukai, a hidden gem found on the north shore above the Banzai Pipeline. Let’s start our adventure, shall we?
With a historic World War II bunker, phenomenal views of the coastline, a short uphill climb, this north shore trail is a local secret sure to satisfy your need for fresh air, exercise, and a little adventure.
The trailhead is found on the left side of Sunset Beach Elementary School’s parking lot and leads hikers on an uphill journey through a shady forest over tree roots and rocks to two old military pillboxes.
A lone picnic table sits near the trail, and it is the perfect locale for a low-key lunch. Near the picnic table, you will come across a fork in the trail: stay to the left.
Soon, you will come to your destination: a graffiti-decorated military bunker that was once used for surveillance during World War II. Explore inside the bunker, catch your breath, and then continue on, for the real treat is the view from the second pillbox.
Unfortunately, on the way to the second pillbox, you will come across private property signs warning of guard dogs on duty, and while I cannot advise to you ignore these signs, the views from atop the second pillbox are truly second to none. And the peace sign found on top of the bunker is undoubtedly Instagram-worthy.
The bunkers are covered in unique graffiti and are the perfect spot to stop and take a breather and admire the striking views of the Banzai Pipeline down below. Don’t forget to bring your camera: you won’t want to forget these incredible views!
The entire hike is less than two miles long with an elevation gain of less than 700 feet, and will likely take only 30 minutes to reach the summit. If that’s not quite worth the drive for you, you can always head to the beach afterward, or explore the extensive trail system found at the hike’s summit frequented by mountain bikers. Who knows, you might even find other relics of a bygone era forgotten in the forest.
Be sure to pack plenty of water and a camera, as well as wearing shoes with solid traction. The hike can be muddy after it rains, and the steep slope features tree roots, man-made stairs, and even a few sections where you might need to use the guide ropes tied to the trees on the side of the trail.
Have you ever hiked to the Ehukai Pillboxes? Share your photos and experiences with us in the comments below! And if you’re looking to explore more of Oahu’s north shore, click here.
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