The short answer
We loved this hike. It is short, but the ascent is much steeper than the mileage makes it sound. The reward is one of the best views we had on Oʻahu: turquoise water, Lanikai Beach, the Mokulua Islands and the Windward Coast spread out below.
Short does not mean easy
The beginning climbs quickly on dirt and loose footing. This is not the same experience as paved Makapuʻu. We would wear shoes with good grip and expect the descent to require more attention than the distance suggests.
The view is the payoff
The reason to hike it is the elevated perspective over Lanikai and the Mokes. The photo here is our actual Lanikai coastline rather than unrelated Oʻahu scenery.
Parking was the bigger headache
When we visited, we parked on the street between the beach and the hike and walked, which made it easy to combine the two without moving the car. Parking and access rules have changed, so check current restrictions before relying on our exact parking experience.
Our verdict
For the effort-to-view ratio, this was one of our favorite Oʻahu stops. Makapuʻu is easier and more polished; Lanikai Pillbox feels steeper and rougher, but the viewpoint was the bigger payoff for us.