Hello everyone!
A few weekends back I completed my first hike on the westside of Oahu. Since I have previously shared so much information about hikes on the eastern side of the island, I felt it fitting I tell you guys about this one, too!
Maili Pillbox (aka Oahu's Pink Pillbox)
Getting to the pillbox is an easy feat. Located in the area of Nanakuli, this hike is surrounded by hills and breathtaking views of the ocean. While safe for children, animals, and pregnant women (I can confirm this because I actually saw a pregnant woman hiking this) I cannot help but caution all of those interested in doing this for themselves.
Whether you're a daredevil or a hiker who's more on the cautionary side, this hike has a trail for you. For mine and Daniel's wellbeing, we opted for the safer route out of the two. The path we took starts immediately after the 9th light pole on the right side of Kaukama Road. Once you reach the 9th light pole (I counted) you should park and, from here, begin your hike!
The hike itself is a moderate one that winds its way up the mountain. With little shade, I advise you to stop and rest early at one of the big rock walls before hiking up to the top. Daniel and I took a break twice and found that we got tired much earlier on than we had anticipated. Once you're done resting, continue on up the path.
While the path is easy to follow, I want to mention how slippery it can be. Much of the ground is rocky and dry, and I actually found myself slipping on occasion. There is not much to hold on to besides brush, so don't try and run up the trail!
The boxes themselves are all quite easy to get to, but the one that is most popular is the pink one. Painted in honor of breast cancer awareness, this pillbox is a vibrant pink that can be seen all the way from the highway below.
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| Daniel standing inside the pink pillbox with the outline of Westside beside him. |
After taking our fair share of pictures inside of the pink box, we made our way back down the trail to some of the earlier pillboxes, where I sat at the top for more of an aesthetic picture.
On the descent down I would caution all of you to go slowly and with intention. Like I said there isn't much to hold on to, and as you can see I had to nearly tip-toe my way down the mountain.
While the sun was brutally hot, the great thing about this hike is the proximity to the beach! Once down on level ground I wanted nothing more than to go running into the fresh, west-side water.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the pink pillbox or prefer the ones on Lanikai side more? Personally I think I favor the ones in Kailua, but each of these hikes offer something different, so I'm happy to have completed this one.
