Pu'u O Hulu: Oahu's Pink Pillbox Hike

Located on Oahu’s west side, this moderately challenging ridge hike offers a fantastic way to explore the area. A steep but short trail leads to the first of four pillboxes perched along the ridgeline. From here, continue along the spine to reach the remaining pillboxes—including the iconic Pink Pillbox—and take in sweeping views of the deep blue Pacific.

Trail Info

Trailhead Name	Pu'u O Hulu
Distance	2 miles / 3.2 km (out and back)
Estimated time	1-2 hours
Elevation gain	700 ft / 210 m
Highest point	850 ft / 260 m (4th pillbox)
Permits / fees	None
Parking	Along shoulder
Toilets?	No
Dog friendly?	Yes (leash strongly recommended due to steep dropoffs)

Know before you go

This trail is entirely shadeless. It's Hawaii, so sun protection is a must. But this hike has zero shade, so lather up accordingly.
Expect some uneven footing and a few narrow sections along the ridge. Nothing too sketchy, but enough to keep your attention.

Other trails nearby

Mount Ka'ala

Distance: 7 miles (11.3 km)

Elevation gain: 3,500 ft (1,050 m)

Details: Strenuous but rewarding ridge trail with fun scrambles that leads to Oahu’s highest peak.

The Trail

The trail begins just off the side of the road with plenty of shoulder parking available. Despite its popularity, parking usually isn’t a problem. Look for the obvious path cutting into the brush.

And up we go! The trail gets steep pretty quickly. You can just see the pillboxes peaking over the ridge.

Be sure to look back occasionally for views of the Waiʻanae Range unfolding behind you.

It won’t take long to reach the first pillbox. There are four pillboxes in total scattered along the ridge.

🛡️ Brief History of Pillboxes: These old bunkers were built during WWII to keep an eye out for enemy ships. They're spread throughout ridge hikes on Oahu and often make for some killer viewpoints.

From here, follow the ridge to reach the others. This narrow stretch is as sketchy as the trail gets.

And now for the main event: Pillbox #3, the Pink Pillbox.

🎨 Why Is It Pink?: This pillbox was painted pink to help spread breast cancer awareness, and it stuck. These days, it’s kind of a west side icon—colorful, meaningful, and makes for great pics for the #gram.

Beyond the Pink Pillbox lies the fourth and final pillbox. It marks the highest point of the hike and is topped with a windswept Aloha flag.

The calm winds on my visit gave me the perfect opportunity to send up the drone. You can see how Puʻu O Hulu ridge juts out near the coastline, standing apart from the broader Waiʻanae range.

And one last shot of the Pink Pillbox (spot me on top?). Hard to beat this as a late afternoon spot on the west side.

SS Reflections

Puʻu O Hulu is hands-down my go-to west side hike. It’s short, scenic, and has a bit of history, plus it's one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset. Anytime I’ve got friends visiting or just want a mellow adventure, this is at the top of the list. There’s nothing quite like dangling your feet off the edge of a pillbox, beer in hand, while the sun sinks into the Pacific.

Other helpful resources

Check out Hawaii Funshine's detailed post for more pillboxes and hidden bunkers to explore in the area