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Ehukai Pillbox Hike
Located within the North Shore Region on Oahu
North Shore Oahu Hike
Best Hiking Trails on Oahu
Ehukai Pillbox Hike
For a breathtaking view of Oahu’s North Shore and the Seven Mile Miracle, you’ll want to take the Ehukai Pillbox Hike. This trail is just a mile and a half there and back and takes about an hour to 90 minutes.
However, this is not for the weak of heart, knees or those with any other physical challenge. Severe inclines are endured for at least 20 minutes, although the first stretch is balanced by shade. Much of the trail, however, is sunny so you’ll want to plan your trip for earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. Avoid heading out beyond 5 pm or you might find yourself hiking back in the dark.
Trail day tools
Before you drive to the trailhead, check the trail and weather layer.
Hawaii hikes can change quickly with closures, rain, mud, heat, and daylight.
Following 20 minutes of challenging terrain at the start, it does even out and provide a picnic table to catch your breath. You can enjoy views of the North Shore from here. True to its name the trail features a number of “pillboxes.” The pillboxes are artifacts from World War II, used as military bunkers to help watch for enemy activity. They were positioned in ideal spots throughout the island for clear views that are unmatched. You can stand on top of the pillbox to get the best view of coastline including Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach.
The trailhead is about an hour from Waikiki since it is on the other side of the island. It is best reached along Kamehameha Highway, where you can fight for a roadside parking spot, or head to the Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park’s public parking lot. The trail is marked with a bright orange sign that reads “Mahalo!” near Sunset Beach Elementary.
Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
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Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
0:000:54
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Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
0:000:57
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Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
