The valley itself is historical, with the earliest human inhabitants dating back to the 1500s. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. Love this hike! I think its best to begin just after sunrise as it can be quite a hot, exposed trail if you leave it too late in the day for the ascent. A coworker identified the victim as Nathan Stowell, 24. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Staying on the trail greatly reduces your chances of getting injured or lost. Yes, technically it is illegal to climb the Oahu Haiku Stairs since theyre closed to the public. Don't listen to the naysayers who hate tourists. We rest here for a while, towering above the island. Wind and rain can make it much harder and more risky. Went up the stairs last week with wife and baby. Both times I did the hike, the security guard yelled at us from a distance but didnt seem to chase after us or call the police. I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Moanalua Valley Trail (backway to Stairway to Heaven) and have good luck and good weather on your journey! You walk an easy trail for 3 miles before you start ascending to the summit, which is nearly 2 miles up. This trail in Oahu, also known as the Haiku Stairs, takes you to the top of the Koolau mountains via 3,922 metal stairs of pure adrenaline and doom. The Haiku Stairs Hawaii trail was officially closed in the 1980s, and its been damaged a little (and repaired) on and off in the years since then. Put a damn police officer in the station at the top and fine them and arrest them if you dont want people there. If its handled right, this solution could resolve many of the issues associated with the Stairway To Heaven. Thanks Billie! You can read about it in this SFGate article. Hiking can be dangerous, and not every trail is a good idea for every person. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. Start hiking along the road/trail just past the bathrooms. . Stay hydrated and prepare for the unexpected. As of 2023, there have never been any falling deaths on the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. 44 Hawaiian and Pidgin Phrases Every Visitor Needs to Know, 20 Thoughts Every Hiker has had on the Trail Up Koko Head Crater, Shop These 5 Sophisticated Aloha Shirt Brands, The Enduring Nostalgia of Hawaii's Historic Drive-In Restaurants, Find Solitude and Serenity at the Waipio Wayside Bed and Breakfast, How (And Where) To Watch the Massive Waves on Oahu's North Shore. Also please pack out your trash! The police sometimes send an officer to hike up to the summit to give out fines and one time a police helicopter even landed up there. The other specific laws that come into play here are located in HRS chapters 104 and 130, State Forestry and Na Ala Hele Access. This blog post will explain some of the details and history of the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven hike, and then Ill discuss some of the politics behind the stairs and plans for their future. Preview trail Dogs on leash Hiking Walking Bird watching River Views Waterfall Wildflowers Over grown Scramble Description Parking is at the Moanalua Valley Park (open from 7am - 7pm) at the end of Ala Aolani Street. There is danger involved with traversing a mountain's ridgeback, an absurdly obvious fact that's slightly deceiving during the first leg of this trek, which begins at Moanalua Valley Park, a flat, straightforward 3-mile walk into Kamananui Valley. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Dont attempt this hike when its raining or for a couple of days after heavy rain. The hike follows the Moanalua Valley Trail before connecting up the Moanalua Middle Ridge, which is the legal 'backway' to the Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs) satellite summit. Ill add a note about that in the article. Eventually you will crest on a peak with a sign pointing the way you've come, the first indication of the trails actual name of "Middle Ridge". Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve (Moanalua section). There are notable repeat offenders that continue to make 4 or 5-digit profits in a single week, none of which benefits the environment which they are degrading. If you look closely, you can see the winding stairway. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. or redistributed. Also, it's a ridge..which could mean wind. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Posted on Last updated: February 22, 2022. Bring a cell phone, which can be a lifesaver during an emergency. From a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. I wouldnt recommend this trek if you have a big fear of heights, but most people who do the hike will agree its not nearly as bad as they expected. -Food. All water should be . She was . On my hike up the Moanalua Valley Trail, I went halfway down the stairs and back up just to explore and then returned via the Moanalua Valley Trail although I met some people who were going to try and exit via the stairs. Give me a break!, its a hike, and a damn good one at that! The key in the first part of the hike is to be cognizant of the distance you are covering as the ridge trail is somewhat hidden and can be easily missed. The stairs are priceless to many of us, and we all hope the staircase hike can be saved. ; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Significantly more roots are exposed as well. The views are simply stunning and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Chinamans Hat near Kualoa Ranch and in the other direction, you can see all the way to Rabbit Island at Makapuu. Even with all the information there is floating around online to help hikers prepare for it, I prefer to have a guide, someone in the flesh whos done this before, to lead the way to the finale peak, Puu Keahi a Kahoe, at the back of Moanalua Valley. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! If its your first time on the trail and you lose sight of other hikers, take care to keep to the right once youre about two miles in, as heading left will take you to a different trail. a pic? Date of experience: June 2019. Parking: Park at the Moanalua Valley Park. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Once you are inside the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park, you will find the trail at the back of the park. I first discovered the Stairway To Heaven Oahu hike on the internet in 2015 and knew I had to try it. Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. (iStock). You can read more here: https://www.haikustairs.org/. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! To stay safe on this hike, just wear shoes with good grip and remember to keep three points of contact at all times. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. If people cared more about the "nature" that they so desperately enjoy in this valley, then I wouldn't even be on here. The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday,Dec. An absolutely amazing experience. The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. These people are mad and will make increasing trouble for hikers as time goes by. Know your physical abilities and limitations; select trails that can be enjoyed safely. Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak. Be careful on your footing & hand placements not all branches are build to hold your weight. The left goes to the valley. We did the Uncle Toms Trail in Yellowstone and for me that was one of the best little adventures Ive done. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. About 200 yards from the radio tower, the trail eases up and you begin to see the sweeping panoramic views over Honolulu and southern Oahu. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. The Haiku Stairs Hawaii hike is steep and strenuous, but the toughest part is the first 1/3rd of the stairway leading up to platform one. However, if you cross over and set foot on the platform of the satellite or venture onto the stairs you are now in an illegal area. Please explore responsibly! The time should be posted on the gate. Fair enough. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The main reason to take the back way is just to stay legal and rule out any possible fines. Ethical? This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. You can see everythingKaneohe, Kailua, Mokolii (akaChinamans Hat), Olomana and the H-3 snaking its way through it alland Im basking in the extraordinary sight of how miniature life looks from up above. However, its possible to take some great pictures on the stairs and then leave via Moanalua without hiking the entire stairway from top to bottom, that way you get to experience some of both hikes. Copyright Journey Era, 2022 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. We make our initial ascent. Ill also share my full experience and all of my photos including some epic shots from the summit so you can get an idea of why this was one of my favorite hikes on Oahu, Hawaii. Werner Karl, you're right. INDEFINITE CLOSURE: This trail is closed to the public and violators/trespassers are SUBJECT TO $1000 FINES, COMMUNITY SERVICE, BENCH WARRANTS, AND/OR ARREST. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. Moanalua Valley has a rich cultural history that is important to the people of Hawaii. 2 Thank bognarofsydney . There were 2 other parties of 2 hiking that day, plus a group at the top who came from the other trail that made them muddy and take much longer. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. For me personally, it was well worth any of the risks involved! 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. I hope it will be repaired and preserved for people to enjoy forever. A guide to those volcanic terms: Pele's hair, caldera, volcanic ash -- learn what they mean, Suspect in deadly Kapiolani hit-and-run crash released from jail, Beware of counterfeit products this holiday shopping season, Homeland Security Investigations warns, Maui County residents asked to report property damage caused by massive weekend ocean swells, Thanksgiving travel should be less chaotic than summer, Sunday Morning Weather - Light Trade Winds Continue. Be careful with the wind and rain on the ridge. "I am so proud of the leader you became and the passion with which you tackled your maintenance profession. Good hike, perfectly legal way. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. So windy with no microspikes, gloces. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The trailhead is located in the back of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and crosses seven old cobblestone bridges while making its way up the valley floor. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. Anthony J. Polizzi. Firefighters hiked up the trail and made contact with the woman at 10:12 p.m., and determined both hikers were uninjured so, it was decided to escort the hikers on foot. All Rights Reserved. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. Please explore other trails nearby. Bring water & food. Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. This hike sounds like something I would love to do. Crouching Lion and Sacred Falls are other examples. I hope this clears up YEARS of misconceptions about this trail. Im Jackson, an Australian adventure traveler who has been on the road for eight years now. (Facebook). Market data provided by Factset. When people refer to it as the legal backway to get to the Stairway to Heaven that refers to the legal route to the top of the Moanalua Valley Trail but you still arent allowed to actually go on the stairs or the satellite area. There is also a cliff diving spot at one of the falls. I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You definitely want good weather for this hike. ! The hike follows the Moanalua Valley Trail before connecting up the Moanalua Middle Ridge, which is the legal 'backway' to reach the Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs) satellite summit. This is incorrect. Watch out for roots as this is the largest risk as you climb. -Headlamp. When you make it to the sign saying Kulanaahane continue on for another few meters until you will find the pathway on your left, which leads you across the rocky riverbed. Had to go the long way from Moanalua Valley (the legal way so not sure why this says its closed ~ unless its speaking of the actual stairs) I wanted to do this hike every since I moved here 17.5 years ago. With alternate trails and surrounding hunting grounds, its easy for dogs to get lost. BLOG POST: If you are interested in my experience (many years ago) hiking the Stairway to Heaven the regular way you can check out my blog post here: STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN HIKE ON OAHU, HAWAII: UPDATED 2021, OAHU HIKING GUIDE: Ive written a guide for the top hikes on Oahu that I am sure you will find useful: TOP 10 HIKES ON OAHU, HAWAII. This hike is long, and the weather can change quickly along the trail as you ascend to just shy of 3,000ft elevation. Stick to the main trailfollow a tributary path, and you may wind up in Waimano Valley. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". 12. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. As someone who grew up in a nearby neighborhood in the 80s and still has a good family friend that lives IN the Haiku stairs neighborhood Ill tell you one thing hiking blogs and social media posts dont seem to mention the history of bad behavior from young, disrespectful hikers who arrive at 4am, dont even try to keep their noise levels down, cut through the backyards of residents, and use residents hoses to rinse off after hiking the stairway. While holding back any visions of being on the verge of setting foot on an old Dharma station (LOST fans, you'll understand once you're there), the 20-30 minute hike to the radio tower is full of its own challenges. The main problem is going through the neighborhood. Moanalua Valley Trail the legal back way for the Stairway To Heaven. (10-15) When I got to the top there was probably 10 or so people hanging out which is cool and all, but took away from the experience for me. Have some light. It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. The seemingly level elevation from point A to point B can be misleading and the giddy nature of being so close can come with a lack of focus. Wyatt Olson is based in the Honolulu bureau, where he has reported on military and security issues in the Indo-Pacific since 2014. Anthony J. Polizzi. The trail is a little over 9 miles roundtrip and took us about 7 hours (we hung out at the top for 30 minutes or so). ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Begin walking the trail and after about 2.5 miles you'll see the sign on the left for "Kulana'ahane Trail". Access to the public is restricted. Every trail I hike on this island and other islands is overrun, regulate yes, shut down no and certainly dont be a condescending dick about something you have zero authority over. Instead, retrace the Moanalua Ridge route to get back to your original destination. 2023 Stars and Stripes. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. Furthermore, Hawaii State Forest Reserves have other rules, such as what time they open and close, yes you read that correctly, Forest Reserves are only legal to hike in 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset. The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. I didnt end up using mine even with the amount of rain and mud present. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th. Thanks for looking!

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