The Ehukai Pillbox Trail is the only scenic trail on the North Shore.
Also known as the “Sunset Pillbox,” it’s a popular and trendy spot famous for its beautiful sunsets!
It’s a relatively gentle trekking course, making it safe for beginner hikers. It’s a popular walking path for not only tourists but also locals.
By the way, right in front of the Ehukai Pillbox is Ehukai Beach, which is home to the famous surf spot known as the Banzai Pipeline.
As one of the world’s premier surfing beaches, be sure to enjoy both the beach and the pillbox hike.
A Complete Guide to the Ehukai Pillbox Trail
Although it’s a relatively easy, straightforward trail, some people occasionally get lost as it winds through the forest.
It can be difficult to get back on track if you stray from the path, and it becomes very dangerous when visibility is low after sunset.
That’s why this time, I’d like to provide a detailed explanation of everything about the Ehukai Pillbox Trail, along with some important points to keep in mind!
To give you a better idea of the trail’s difficulty, we had one of our tour guests model the hike for us.
The trailhead is located next to the parking lot of Sunset Beach Elementary School, right across from the Banzai Pipeline (Ehukai Beach).
While it’s generally an easy-to-climb hiking course, there are rocky areas and tree roots that can be tripping hazards, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes like sneakers!
Be especially careful on rainy days or when the ground is muddy, as sandals can be quite slippery.
For the first 2-3 minutes after entering the trail, you’ll be walking on flat ground through the forest.
It’s a single path, so just keep following it straight ahead!
Once the path opens up, it becomes a gentle uphill slope.
Recently, more people have been mountain biking in this area, so you might see some dirt tracks that look like animal trails. Stay on the main dirt path and avoid going into the grassy areas.
If you do get lost, remember that the pillbox is on the left side (ocean side), so always choose the path to your left.
Since it’s a well-maintained trail, they’ve built stairs like these in the slightly steeper sections.
From here on, there are no stairs on the gentle slopes, but you’ll be climbing stairs in the steeper sections.
If you find yourself climbing a fairly steep slope without any stairs, you’ve likely wandered onto the wrong path, so it’s best to turn back.
After about 15 minutes of climbing slopes and stairs, you’ll come across a bench for resting.
Once you reach this point, you’re almost there, and the uphill climb is mostly over.
Beyond the bench, the uphill trail ends, and a flat path continues.
The shade from the trees, the breeze, and the sound of the ocean feel amazing!
After walking along the flat path for about 10 minutes, you’ll finally arrive at the pillbox.
The total time to this point is about 30 minutes on average.
After all that effort, the best views from the pillbox are waiting for you!
Inside the pillbox, there’s colorful graffiti, and on the roof, there’s a convenient bench to sit on.
During the winter season (around September to March), you’re highly likely to see big waves, so it might be nice to take a break while watching the surfers from a distance.
Actually, if you walk about another 10 minutes from this pillbox, there’s a second one.
When you leave the first pillbox, you’ll see a wide path on your right that goes gently uphill, and on your left, a grassy path that runs along the cliff.
Again, go to the left and follow the grassy path along the cliff. It will then lead to a rocky, downhill section that doesn’t look much like a path.
The correct route is not the well-defined uphill path on the right, but the one that goes down the rocks along the coastline.
If you reach the first pillbox and still feel like you can keep going, definitely give it a try!
This is the second pillbox.
While the first pillbox is higher in elevation, the second one offers a more open, panoramic view, making it a spectacular scenic spot.
The sunsets in this area are particularly beautiful, and watching them from the top of the pillbox is fantastic!
However, once the sun sets, it gets very dark in the forest, and the path becomes hard to see, so please start your descent early and be careful.
In the past, people have gotten lost after dark, requiring search and rescue teams and helicopters. So, even though it’s an easy trail, don’t underestimate it!
Ehukai Pillbox Basic Information
| Name | Ehukai Pillbox |
| Address | 59-178 Ke Nui Rd, Haleiwa, HI 96712 |
| Map | |
| Hours | 24 hours |
| Closed | None |
| Time Required | Approx. 1 hour or more |
| Restrooms | Available |
| Parking | Available (Free) |
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