Hiking the Puʻu O Hulu Trail (Pink Pillbox) on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
The Puʻu O Hulu Trail, more commonly known as the Pink Pillbox Trail, on the West Side of Oʻahu is a short but steep day hike above Māʻili and Lualualei Valley that is without a doubt one of the best sunset hikes on Oʻahu!
I believe this because the Pink Pillbox from the summit of Puʻu O Hulu is one of the best places on Oʻahu to watch golden hour light up the Waiʻanae Mountains, but perhaps what’s even more important, the Puʻu O Hulu Trail can also be a very hot and exposed trail if hiked at midday.
All this to say, the Pink Pillbox Trail is great for those looking for a quick hike with stunning views, which is why I see Puʻu O Hulu as one of the best effort-to-reward day hikes on the island!
Puʻu O Hulu Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pink Pillbox Trail is located on the side of Kaukama Road, about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from the stoplight on Farrington Highway.
Out of caution, consider the Puʻu O Hulu Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Puʻu O Hulu Trailhead
Hiking the Puʻu O Hulu Trail (Pink Pillbox)
From the trailhead to the summit, the Puʻu O Hulu Trail is an entirely uphill hike, which gains about 700 ft. (213 m) of elevation in just 0.8 miles (1.3 km).
That being said, it doesn't matter which trailhead you choose to take from the side of Kaukama Road, as they both meet up shortly after the start.
At this split in the photo below, you can either go right up the steeper cable route or left up the more gradual but slightly longer switchback, as they both meet up shortly ahead.
Personally, I prefer to go left, which is what the photos show below.
After the split, the rest of the Pink Pillbox Trail simply climbs a number of switchbacks before reaching the first pillbox along the crest of the ridge.
Puʻu O Hulu Pillboxes
Once on the ridge, there are four main pillboxes that you can explore, with the uppermost pillbox being the summit of Puʻu O Hulu.
Native Plants on the Puʻu O Hulu Trail
Being that Puʻu O Hulu is a relatively low-elevation peak for Hawaiʻi, the mountain is dominated by mostly non-native/ invasive species.
Therefore, the only native plant that I typically see on the hike is ʻUhaloa, which can be found near the pillboxes at the top.
All said, if you would like to learn more about ʻUhaloa and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post using the link below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
