Ehukai Pillbox is the only spectacular scenic trail on the North Shore.
Also known as “Sunset Pillbox,” it is a popular pillbox famous as a stylish spot with beautiful sunsets!
Since it is a relatively gentle trekking course, it is safe even for hiking beginners, and it has become a walking path not only for tourists but also for locals.
By the way, right in front of Ehukai Pillbox is Ehukai Beach, which is the surf spot known as Pipeline.
As it is one of the world’s leading spots for surfing beaches, please be sure to enjoy both the beach and the pillbox.
Complete Route Guide to Ehukai Pillbox
Basically, it is a single path and a relatively easy pillbox hike, but since you go through the forest, some people rarely get lost.
If you wander off the route, it is quite difficult to get back, and it is very dangerous at dusk as visibility becomes narrow.
Therefore, this time, I would like to explain everything about Ehukai Pillbox in detail along with some points to note!
To convey the difficulty level of the trek, we had our customer act as a tour model this time.
The entrance is located next to the parking lot of Sunset Beach Elementary School, right in front of Pipeline (Ehukai Beach).
It is generally an easy-to-climb hiking course, but there are rocky areas and tree roots that are easy to trip over, so try to wear comfortable walking shoes such as sneakers!
Please be especially careful because sandals can be quite slippery on rainy days or when the ground is muddy.
First, after entering the entrance, you will walk flat through the forest for 2 to 3 minutes.
Since it is a single path, just keep going along the way!
When the path opens up, it becomes a gentle uphill slope from there.
Recently, more people are riding mountain bikes around here, so you might see what looks like animal trails, but do not enter the grass and keep proceeding on the dirt.
If you ever get lost, make sure to choose the “left path,” as the left side (ocean side) is the direction of the pillbox.
Because it is a gentle trail course, they have made stairs like this when the slope gets a little steep.
From here on, there are no stairs where it is gentle, but you will climb stairs where there is a certain degree of incline.
If there are no stairs and you are climbing a fairly steep slope, you might have wandered onto the wrong path, so you should simply turn back.
After climbing the slopes and stairs for about 15 minutes, there is a bench for resting.
Once you reach here, you are almost there, and the uphill path is almost over.
Beyond the bench, the uphill path disappears, and a flat path continues.
The shade of the trees, the wind, and the sound of the ocean feel very pleasant!
After walking the flat path for about 10 minutes, you finally arrive at the pillbox.
The average time it takes to get here is about 30 minutes.
After your hard work, the best view from the pillbox is waiting for you!
There is colorful graffiti inside the pillbox, and the roof has a bench that is just right for sitting down.
During the winter season (around October to March), there is a high probability of seeing big waves, so it might be nice to take a break while watching surfers from a distance.
Actually, if you walk about 10 more minutes from this pillbox, there is a second pillbox.
When you leave the first pillbox, on your right there is a “large path that gently climbs to the right,” and on your left there is a “path with grass on both sides that goes along the cliff.”
Again, head to the left, and if you follow the “path with grass on both sides that goes along the cliff,” it then leads to a “rocky area going down where there seems to be no path.”
The correct route is not the clean path climbing to the right, but rather the course going down the rocks along the coast!
If you think “I can still keep going!” after reaching the first pillbox, please definitely go for it.
This is the second pillbox.
The first pillbox is higher in elevation, but the second pillbox offers a more open view and is a scenic spot offering a panoramic view of the area.
The sunset is especially beautiful around here, so watching it from the top of the pillbox is also a great experience!
However, once the sun sets and it gets dark, the forest becomes quite dark and you won’t be able to see the path, so please head down the mountain as early as possible and be careful.
In the past, there have been people who got lost after dark and had rescue teams and helicopters dispatched to search for them, so even though it is an easy trail, please do not underestimate it!
Basic Information on Ehukai Pillbox
| Name | Ehukai Pillbox |
| Address | 360 Kamehameha Hwy |
| Map | |
| Hours | 24 hours |
| Closed | None |
| Time Required | From about 1 hour |
| Restroom | Available |
| Parking | Available (Free) |
Popular Articles with the Same Theme as Ehukai Pillbox
Top 5 Popular Pillboxes in Hawaii – Classic Scenic Treks and Quiet Hidden Gems
Recommended Sightseeing Spots on the North Shore – Must-Visit Classics and Local Hidden Gems
Complete Guide to Popular Spots on Oahu’s North Shore – Permanent Preservation Edition