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Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Trail (Kane'ohe Bay Pillbox)
Located within the East Region on Oahu
East Oahu Hiking Trails
Best Hiking Trails on Oahu
Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Trail
This trail is also known as the Kaneohe Bay Pillbox trail and is considered easy enough for beginners. However, it might be better suited to those with a little more stamina as there are some steep inclines to contend with. It takes between one to two hours to complete the 2.2-mile journey and is pleasant to travel as it is not overly crowded. It is about 40 minutes from Waikiki to the trailhead at 279 Kahekili Hwy. It is near enough Koolau Shopping Center across from the Valley of the Temples that you can park there and walk to the end of the guardrail along the highway to find the trailhead.
This is an excellent option as it is a shorter hike that gives you excellent views of the windward side of the island. It does take some effort and can be slippery with mud following rain. While much of the trail is through a forested area, you will get peeks at the views and come across some lookout points overlooking K-Bay. Your goal is to reach the pillbox to get the full expanse of the bay below. The pillbox is one of many small bunkers/lookouts built by the military in World War II. The pillboxes have the best views on the island.
You’ll also have a perfect view of the Ko'olau Mountain Range before the trail heads into the trees that take you to the pillbox. Any of the steep areas have a rope to hold onto. Watch for the sign called "Digging Hill," and you’ll just be a few minutes from the pillbox. Take your time to look at the stunning expanse of the windward coast where you’ll spot Mokoli'i Island, K-Bay and its many sandbars. If you plan it right, you can also take in the colorful glow of early evening over the Ko'olau Mountains.
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.
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
Voice
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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
