When I did the Haiku Stairs Oahu trek for the first time on my birthday in 2016, the weather started out clear but then some clouds came in. However, it is not the most dangerous hike on Oahu. There is a security guard at the beginning. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Thats how it works everywhere else, and its why so many wonderful hiking trails like Angels Landing are still open in the mainland United States after all these years. Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. The first part of the hike takes you through a bamboo forest. shoes meant for hiking. We rest here for a while, towering above the island. Did this hike last week started at 6 AM. . Access to the public is restricted. We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. It may never be surpassed! Accessing the Trail: The trail starts at Moanalua Valley Park, about 20 minutes away from Waikiki. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. The time should be posted on the gate. Anthony J. Polizzi. Also please pack out your trash! After you reach the first platform, the hike flattens out quite a bit and things get much easier. As we continue on for the next few hours theres something encouraging about being able to zero in on where we started at Moanalua Valley Park and the remote summit before us, to visually track our progress. 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If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. We won't share it with anyone else. 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. The path is quite wide and at many points there are forks in the road which come back to the same point after about 20 yards. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. Please explore responsibly! Legal? Cool ridge hike, 4hrs at 28 mins moving time. Speaking of which, please be respectful of the local neighborhood and dont make noise or throw trash, and definitely dont jump any fences or go into anyones yard. Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. Check out their website and consider donating if youre a fan. However, we wouldnt recommend running. The Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike is epic, dangerous, and illegal. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! From plantation towns to planned communities, Central Oahu has its share of secret spots, a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats. Make sure you have done your research (YouTube) and you should be ready to are some awesome views. The road eventually turns to an unimproved road and later a narrow trail. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. The Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs is a 10.7 mile (roundtrip) hike along varying terrains with several rope climb sections and very narrow ridge climbing. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. TEEN GIRL DIES IN FALL FROM CLIFF HIKE AT ZION NATIONAL PARK. Keep in mind climbing begins over 2 miles from start point. The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. Overall, I think the risk of death on the Stairway To Heaven in Hawaii is greatly overstated, and as long as youre careful you should be fine. It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. 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. More advanced hike along the ridge line. Most of the time it will be muddy, so be prepared to get dirty. Be prepared. All anyone posts on here is about hiking the "legal" way, its not. Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest blog posts, tips, & travel guides. Don't. Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. Anthony J. Polizzi. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Someone needs to find a better means of access that bypasses the neighborhood totally. One hiker, Dale Yoshuizu, told the station that while he'd done the hike "a lot of times it makes you aware that no matter how many times you've done the hike you need to be careful. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th Maintenance Group at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the Air Force said in a statement Thursday. The victim plunged off Mount Olomana's third peak, near Kailua, around 10:50 a.m.,Hawaii News Now reported, citing the Honolulu Fire Department. The 2nd mile of this trail brings 1100 ft of elevation, is far more exposed and the trail teeters in the middle of sharp angled drop offs on either side. 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The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. -2L water MINIMUM. The ground can get dangerously slippery and muddy. A man who was hiking Hawaii's Olomana Trail reportedly plummeted hundreds of feet to his death on Sunday after he reportedly tried to grab his hat, marking the fourth death linked to the. Theres the potential for a criminal charge of second degree trespassing (a misdemeanor record), which could be a big problem for some people who have security clearances, sensitive employment, professional licenses, immigration applications, etc. The first mile on this trail climbs 900 feet in elevation and is primarily through trees. Thank you. Liability is the main reason theyre closed. Eat healthy foods bring nuts, fruits like bananas or mandarins to get quick sugar fixes so you can have quick energy (if you can have those things) . Its not quite the same experience as climbing the stairs from the bottom up, but you can still reach the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail at the top and go back down in either direction when youre done. I really hope they dont do that. As of 2023, there have never been any falling deaths on the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs is the only legal trail, and it is recommended for very experienced hikers. The trail starts as a road barred by a green gate. We were SO excited to find a legal way to hike the Haiku Stairs. ", "You were one of the most out going [sic], funniest, and happiest people Ive ever had the chance to get to know and call a friend," wrote friend Greg Glawatz in another Facebook post. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Assuming you are doing the middle ridge hike, very enjoyable. Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley. Puu Keahi a Kahoe is the end of this trail, but symbolically it serves as a beginningit marks the start of the ahupuaa(land division) of Kaneohe. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. DM me on IG: @OutFullSending. No more news yet. Copyright Journey Era, 2022 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. Ive done most of the hikes on the island before. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Posted on Last updated: February 22, 2022. ", Barney Griggs, a spokesperson for the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, said anyone who wants to hike the Olomana Trail "should be an experienced hiker. There are shorter hikes on this island with better views and less risk. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. (Google Maps calls it Moanalua Valley Trail Start.) If its handled right, this solution could resolve many of the issues associated with the Stairway To Heaven. A coworker identified the victim as Nathan Stowell, 24. -Good shoes. The city of Honolulu spent almost a million dollars repairing the stairs and was considering re-opening the stairs in 2002 but resident complaints and safety concerns halted the re-opening and the stairs have been closed ever since. Hawaii, like any other state, has property laws. It is only accessible by hiking approximately 2.5 miles up the Kamananui Valley Road Trail, where a marked sign on the left designates the trailhead. At some points, the stairs of death are almost vertical, clinging to the side of the steep mountain. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). You can go all the way up and assess the situation and make your decisions from there but even if you dont want to venture onto the illegal area you will have great views so it is still worth the journey either way. Mahalo! Im Jackson, an Australian adventure traveler who has been on the road for eight years now. Instead walk another 15 feet further and youll see a small, unsigned trail on your left hand side. The stairs start in the Haiku Valley, under the H3 highway (John A. Burns Freeway) and they wind up the side of a mountain near Kaneohe, called Puukeahiakahoe. Beyond the legality of this hike, whether you are a local or just visiting Hawaii, doing this hike shows great disrespect to Hawaii, its people, its natural resources, and our culture. Moanalua Valley Trail the legal back way for the Stairway To Heaven. They have already put up high fences on access points reported online and we were only able to get in through one of the drainage ditches, and that was challenging. This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. There is also a cliff diving spot at one of the falls. The last crossing is allll the way at the end, and immediately after that last crossing, it's dense 12ft tall grass and the trail disappears. I lived for a few years in Kaneohe (graduated James B Castle HS) some 50 years ago and NEVER knew about the Haiku stairway. Copyright 2023 Journey Era | Mediavine Trellis Child - Journey Era on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Thanks for looking! One of my favorite trails, with tons of side trails, pools, and ruins to explore. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of most fitness levels. In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. For more information, visit: Moanalua Valley and Tripler Ridge Trail Loop, Kalihi Ice Ponds [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY]. I was extremely surprised at the amount of people who I crossed when I hiked it. Pass the little sign and stream and itll be on your right. 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. If you look closely, you can see the winding stairway. Wow, the Haiku Stairs, although strenuous, it looks fun with great views and a sense of accomplishment at the end. 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. You can read about it in this SFGate article. 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. I would have liked to investigate an entry from the south if time permitted. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. Do NOT take this route. Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. Whenever you buy something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. Not willing to change her identity to be part of the industry, Mahina Florence is at the height of her career because of her flawless Hawaiian complexion, strong athletic build, and friendly aloha spirit. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY] Hard 4.7 (2199) Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve Photos (5,275) Directions Print/PDF map Length 10.5 miElevation gain 5,029 ftRoute type Out & back Bummer, this trail is closed. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. A helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. Once at the summit of the Moanalua Valley Trail you will essentially enjoy the view and then turn back around and head down the way you came. Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. 00:00 01:00 Only In Your State Step 3 Take the Red Hill/Moanalua Valley exit (exit 2) and turn right on Ala Aolani Street. 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. ! There is an entry along the fence that will go through. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. They are fairly obvious when you cross over them and from the time you start there will be 17 crossings prior to the Middle Ridge Trailhead. If you have further questions about the legality of this hike, you can contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Personally I think hikers should decide for themselves what kind of risks theyre comfortable with, but bear the responsibility themselves if they have an accident. Eventually, a sliver of the Pacific Ocean peeks out from the other side of the mountain and, before I know it, were at our destination, rewarded with a panoramic view of the Windward Side. Significantly more roots are exposed as well. 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. More recently, Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi has publicly stated he may be willing to consider new options to save the Haiku Stairs, and Hawaii Senator Schatz has pitched the idea of handing it over to the federal government to renovate and operate, with a different entrance so all parties are happy. Being inside the Forest Reserve is completely legal, as is being on Kamananui Trail. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. One of the main challenges of climbing the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail is just finding where it starts. Aloha! An absolutely amazing experience. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. We did this trail in about 6.5 hours (both of us experienced hikers) with stoping for many photos and breaks. Legal Statement. A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. Anyone who hikes the 10 miles round trip is obviously going to go to the top of the stairs, or beyond. adventures and follow local regulations. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. . Moanalua Valley Trail 4 0 ftHiking Trails Pearl Harbor National Memorial 13,695 2.7 miHistoric Sites Military Bases & Facilities USS Arizona Memorial 27,032 Historic Sites Cemeteries See all See what other travelers are saying JacksonJones 24 contributions Amazing Ridge Hike to the Top of the Haiku Stairs Whoever JT is he needs to lighten the hell up. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your If you are inside a Forest reserve outside of those times and without a camping permit, you are in violation of the HRS chapter 104 rules and can be cited. Let's stay updated! The trail becomes quite steep from this point on with lots of tree roots to scramble up, boulders to clamber over and small rope sections to navigate. Thank you for sharing your experience and pics. Werner Karl, you're right. There is danger involved with traversing a mountains ridgeback, an absurdly obvious fact thats slightly deceiving during the first leg of this trek, which begins at Moanalua Valley Park, a flat, straightforward 3-mile walk into Kamananui Valley. Date of experience: June 2019. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. You'll enjoy sweeping views of southern Oahu on this 10.4-mile roundtrip hike. 0 rides ; 6 Months. The only death Im aware of was caused by a heart attack in a middle aged hiker (that steep ascent to platform one can be strenuous). listen to flash flood warnings. Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. Its possible to walk up without the rope but I suggest having some gloves as most people will be holding onto the rope the whole time. This was one of my favorite sections of the hike and the backdrop over the shoulder gave great views of the ridge we had just hiked up. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. Now that you have made it onto the Moanalua Middle Ridge, the trail is quite easy to follow as it basically follows the ridgeline all the way up to the summit. (iStock). WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? After that, it should be pretty straightforward. All water should be . My wife Intan and I are usually in our second home Bali, but our journeys take us to destinations all over the world. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. Im chicken little when it comes to doing anything that is deemed illegal. It is for this reason that it is NOT recommended to hike this trail in heavy rains due to flash flooding. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The group is part of the 15th Wing. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? We put on our microspikes at the riverbed and they were handy all the way to the summit. 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. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. Alone with some of the best views in the world. Wear proper shoes and bring gloves!Quite muddy This is classic government stupidity for you tax people to build them, tax more to fix them, then tax to take them out because they are dangerous when actually they are much safer than no stairs.