Lanikai Beach , Lanikai Pill Box

 

The Hawaiian Islands are magical any time of the day or year. It will continually fill you with wonder with its natural beauty at every turn. There are marvelous ways to keep busy from sunrise to sunset on the islands.

 Oahu island was our destination on this trip. We had a five-day holiday at Oahu. The days flew by, watching the sunrise, sunsets, going on adventurous hikes.

 On day 3 of our trip, we had the Lanikai Pillbox hike on our schedule. The initial plan was to catch the sunrise from the Lanikai Pillbox. However, we got up late and drove to Lanikai beach instead. We were on time to see the mesmerizing sunrise over the Pacific waters.

 The morning was perfect. The spontaneous decision to catch the sunrise gave us some fantastic moments. The rising sun cast a golden hue across the morning sky, parting the grey clouds. The golden rays spread across the ocean water. We stood by the ocean side, soaking in the warm glow of the morning rays. 

Pathway to the hike

Walking on the white sands of Lanikai beach for a while,  we set for the Lanikai Pill Box hike. It was only a few miles away from the Lanikai beach. And is a moderate hike along the ridges to the pillbox. It is a rather short hike (around an hour for the round trip for moderately fit hikers)

The entrance is on Kaelepulu Drive, opposite the Mid Pacific country club. One can find parking on the streets in the surrounding neighborhood, provided one arrives early enough.  There are signs to the entrance to the hike, which is easy to locate. 

The most challenging part of the trail is the long steep hill at the beginning of the track. It is a narrow path between two fences. A rope tied helpfully along the line of trees helps to climb the initial part. The terrain is not so tough after crossing the initial hurdle, and the constant enchanting views make it a far easier climb.

It is a rugged dirt trail for most of the way, with loose rocks and gravel at some places. The long-stemmed brown grass dotted the ridgeway facing the Ocean,  There are few narrow paths on the trail with a steep drop-off, and it is good to be cautious in these parts.

Flat areas around the midpoint are great spots to capture some cool pics, with the unique Lanikai beach hill views forming the backdrop. While it is best to catch the sunrise from the top - an elevation of around 600 feet, some of the views are stunning even when the sun is up. There is a constant stream of locals and tourists, along with dogs, on this trail. 

Halfway there

Tadasana at Lanikai

 

We did it

The climb was worth the effort, as there were breathtaking views at every turn. The trail overlooks the white sand beach of Lanikai, Kailua Beach, and the upscale neighborhood around the coast. The two islands dotting the horizon are the Mokolua Islands. We spent a good part of the morning sitting on the bunker and soaking in the beautiful clear blue waters of the shimmering Ocean.