The Magnificent Hike In Hawaii That Will Lead You To A Piece Of WWII History

With countless amazing hiking trails across the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, it can be difficult to choose the best paths. Do you want a trail that will get your heart pumping, or perhaps one with phenomenal views or even a little history? Well, this trail has all that and more. If you're interested in short yet rewarding hikes, you’ll want to lace up your hiking boots and head to Pu’u O Hulu Kai.

Similar to the wildly popular Lanikai Pillbox trail above Kailua, Pu’u O Hulu Kai is located on the opposite side of the island above Nanakuli — but still just as gorgeous, and far less crowded.

This 1.6-mile moderately trafficked trail gains approximately 700 feet and leads hikers on a journey up the side of a mountain via a set of steep switchbacks.

The climb is hot and dry, so be sure to lather on the reef-safe sunscreen, wear a hat, and pack plenty of water. Luckily, the climb isn’t too long, and rewards hikers with some of the best views of leeward Oahu you’ll find.

With sweeping, 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, the leeward coast, and the Waianae Mountains, you'll want to spend plenty of time admiring the scenery once you reach the summit.

Don't forget to look down, though! Seeing the highway along the coast below is surreal, to say the least.

Now, for the history: at the summit of the trail, you will find a series of brightly-colored and graffiti-covered pillboxes that were once used for surveillance.

Established in 1923 as a military fortification, several pillboxes were connected by a series of underground tunnels. A mess hall and kitchen were built on the other side of the mountain, and the pink pillbox was armed with 7-inch MK2M4-6 Naval Guns but was later outfitted with 6-inch guns.

Take a step back in time as you hang out on top of the bunkers and soak in the views...

...or head inside for an entirely different perspective.

While I personally prefer to tackle this trail in the morning hours before it gets too hot, many people love heading up to the summit to catch a signature Hawaiian sunset, and we can certainly understand why.

No matter when you visit, you're sure to find phenomenal views as well as a fascinating slice of Hawaiian military history.

To find Pu'u O Hulu Kai, head up Oahu's leeward coast, and turn inland on Kaukama Road. You'll find the trailhead on the right side of the road near the 9th or 10th light post. Click here for more information.

If you want to visit the more popular Lanikai Pillboxes, you can check out our previous article.