This hike is one of my absolute favorite hikes on the island. It is short, kid-friendly, close to my house, and offers a relatively high reward for the little amount of effort it takes to get here. It offers fantastic sweeping views of the windward side of Oahu from Kaneohe all the way to Waimanalo, Bellows, and beyond. It prominently features the two mascots of Kailua and Lanikai- the Mokulua Islands.
Na Mokulua, the official name for the islands, means "the two islands" in Hawaiian. (I believe "Na" itself is short for "Na Really"). The one on the left is Moku Nui. The one on the right is Moku Iki. Most people just call them "the Mokes."
Both are bird sanctuaries and visits are regulated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Many people kayak there from Kailua Beach, but you must buy a permit for landing on the beach of Moku Nui. Moku Iki doesn't have a beach at all, so it's not really possible to land a kayak there.
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| Hey man, you're wrecking my aloha |
The one bad thing about this hike is parking is extremely limited. There are a few spots on the side of the road near the trail head, but once those are taken you must use street parking in front of someone's house. As you can imagine, the locals have had many problems with hikers blocking driveways, leaving trash in their yards, using their hoses without permission, being loud and disruptive, and other such lapses in common courtesy. If you hike here (or anywhere, really), be respectful of the residents and act like you are a guest on their land.
This hike is a fairly short climb through a wooded area followed by a bit of ridge walking. My wife gets scared every time we let the kids wander around by themselves because she is afraid they will go tumbling down the mountain. I am proud to say we have yet to lose a kid on this hike.
The trail leads to two World War II-era defensive positions (hence the "Pillbox"). The large guns and other fun stuff have long since been removed, but you are instead treated to a gallery of artwork from local youths.
I am told the trail continues to a third pillbox, but most people turn around at the second pillbox. I have never ventured much past #2, despite the many times I have done this hike.
One of the things I like best about this hike is the opportunity to see just how clear the water is over here. The light blue colors are the sand, the brownish colors are the coral. Look how easy it is to see to the bottom even from this height. (This also makes for great snorkeling)
Many people venture here to watch the sun rise. I am normally not that masochistic. However, I did make it up here one morning that I woke up early intending to do the Haiku Stairs again, but was turned away by some local fuzz. I think it worked out well for me.
I had the pillboxes to myself for a few hours and I took the opportunity to attempt some star trails.
Overall, this is a fantastic hike with a great payoff for a little amount of effort. I would recommend this to anyone.
