", 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 is a security guard at the beginning. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. Whenever you buy something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. Stairway To Heaven Hawaii Hike: Epic Haiku Stairs Oahu Trail Unfortunately, in September 2021, the city administration randomly reversed this decision and decided they would rather spend $1.3 million to remove the stairs, which could happen as soon as 2023. Overnight parking is not allowed in Moanalua Valley Park - the gate is locked and the park is closed at a certain hour. It's not about the rules and laws I've cited. Choose wisely! All rights reserved. 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. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs is the only legal trail, and it is recommended for very experienced hikers. We did run into a few people who had gotten lost at the start though. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! So long as you make the right turn in The Valley you can easily find your way up, assuming youre up to the effort. -2L water MINIMUM. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. Similar to the Angles Landing Hike in Zion National Park. Good luck and enjoy! Crouching Lion and Sacred Falls are other examples. Ironically, the general consensus is that the stairs are actually a safer and easier route to the top of the mountain. It will take you through a creek bed, where the trail is fairly obvious to find. After all, well be inching closer to the sun at an elevation gain of about 2,585 feet from where were currently standing. Im chicken little when it comes to doing anything that is deemed illegal. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. 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. DM me on IG: @OutFullSending. The group is part of the 15th Wing. Mahalo! Most of the time it will be muddy, so be prepared to get dirty. This is known as the back way for the Stairway To Heaven. Ive done the Hawaii Haiku Stairs hike several times now, and even after traveling in many countries, its still probably my favorite trek in the world. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. Regular athletic shoes will not do the job. The final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. Go past it about 20 paces. Anthony J. Polizzi. No such facilities are available within the valley itself. This is a review for hiking the Moanalua Valley to Middle Ridge to Tripler Ridge (AKA the legal back way to the Stairway to Heaven) and then down the stairs. Please see J T s comments below before attempting this. The area escorts us into a network of trails here, where the middle ridge opens up upon crossing a streambed found just after the marker for the Kulanaahane Trail. Wow, the Haiku Stairs, although strenuous, it looks fun with great views and a sense of accomplishment at the end. Copyright Journey Era, 2022 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. These are extremely helpful and if the trail is the least bit muddy they are a full-fledged necessity. You have permission to edit this article. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". 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. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. Most accidents happen when hikers leave the established trail and disregard warning signs. 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. I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. That wouldnt be cheap. The middle ridge in Moanalua is home to many native species not found anywhere else in the world, and being at the top of the ridge, the effects of illegal hikers and illegal tours ripples down into the valley. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. All rights reserved. I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! 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. age 94, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the St. John of God Retirement Center in Los Angeles, CA. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there! Ive done both hikes many times over the years, and I have to say there is really no comparison in terms of difficulty. A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. After you reach the first platform, the hike flattens out quite a bit and things get much easier. Looking to hike this this week if anybody wants to go .msg insta @allispichkooo :), Aloha! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. 11 hikers stranded by rising rivers on Moanalua Valley trail safely Hawaii Camping Reservation - Reservations At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. He was Stars and Stripes roving Pacific reporter from 2011-2013 while based in Tokyo. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. listen to flash flood warnings. TEEN GIRL DIES IN FALL FROM CLIFF HIKE AT ZION NATIONAL PARK. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. How to Legally Hike to the Haiku Stairs | All Things Kate I'm also attempting to educate people about how this place is being overrun by people who want to experience nature but are doing so at the cost of nature and for what? In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. Although small and unmarked its an obvious trail. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. Foster Botanical Garden is a loop trail that is used for walking and nature trips located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. 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. Finiahed in 10 hours. I lived for a few years in Kaneohe (graduated James B Castle HS) some 50 years ago and NEVER knew about the Haiku stairway. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail | Map, Guide - Oahu, Hawaii | AllTrails However, we wouldnt recommend running. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY], https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=11354. One of the main challenges of climbing the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail is just finding where it starts. I first discovered the Stairway To Heaven Oahu hike on the internet in 2015 and knew I had to try it. 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. Your selfish Instagram post is at the expense of destroying the island's fragile eco-diversity. 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. It was intense & very rewarding. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. A grueling 3,922 stairs lead up the imposing mountain ridge, often at an almost vertical incline, with only a handrail to catch you from falling into the valley below. or redistributed. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This hike sounds like something I would love to do. If you want to do a guided hike anywhere on State Lands, please ask the guide to see a copy of their commercial use permit, issued by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. The Kulana'ahane Trail offers unparalleled hiking through native Hawaiian forest to a scenic overlook. There is one short section of stairs that was mangled in a storm, but the damage is pretty minimal and you can pass that part without any trouble. A helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. Park off the Old Pali Highway before the lookout in the dirt parking lot. The weather today is just as my friend hoped for; hes been monitoring it daily since a week out to ensure the trail will be dry and moderately windless, opportune conditions for a hike that has us teetering across razor-thin sections with steep drops on either side. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of most fitness levels. Firefighters said that the rivers crossing the trail were at a dangerously high level. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. Create a password that only you will remember. The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. adventures and follow local regulations. Moanalua Valley Trail the legal back way for the Stairway To Heaven. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! If you want to see this place legally with almost no chance of fines, you can hike up the Moanalua Valley Trail on the back side of the same mountain. A non-profit group called Friends of Haiku Stairs has drawn up some good plans for keeping the staircase and re-opening it with managed access, hiker fees, assumed liability, and minimal disturbance to the local neighborhood. There were plans to remove the stairs, but theres also been a lot of pushback from Hawaii locals wanting to keep the stairs. Kulana'ahane Trail | Outdoor Project The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. Usually trail run in the valley or hike up the ridge a couple times a week. If people cared more about the "nature" that they so desperately enjoy in this valley, then I wouldn't even be on here. Cause of death for California family found during Sierra hike - Los The time should be posted on the gate. Instead, retrace the Moanalua Ridge route to get back to your original destination. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. It's 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 you're done. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. (That said, while you may take in the jaw-dropping views it showcases of Oahu at the hikes summit, the stairs themselves are still illegal to go down and trespass on, regardless of how youve reached them.) The first 4.5 miles are perfectly legal and get you the same views as stairway (and you can walk on the stairway at the top if you want to). Criminal penalties and EMS fees are charged as well due to the illegal nature of the hike. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. If you have all trails just follow that! Preview trail You need to take the MIDDLE option. (Damon was the son of Bernice Pauahi Bishops husbands business partner. ", James Keener, of Hawaii Fresh Farms where Stowell worked, according to his Facebook page, wrote that the 24-year-oldwas like a son to himand "died the way he lived, taking chances, and living everyday to its fullest.". The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. Thanks for looking! However, the whole Haiku valley is surrounded by a residential area with fences, yappy dogs, and a security guard, with only a few possible entrances. In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. Many of the best hikes in Oahu have been closed preemptively to avoid more of these unjustified lawsuits. a view? Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. Do NOT take this route. Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. Mahalo for reading this. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening Yes, technically it is illegal to climb the Oahu Haiku Stairs since theyre closed to the public. Editors Note: We love hiking! If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Also, it's a ridge..which could mean wind. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Many people come unprepared for hiking on Oahu and thats why there are so many rescues. Its actually one of the safest parts of the hike IMO. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. 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. The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. shoes meant for hiking. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Make sure you have done your research (YouTube) and you should be ready to are some awesome views. A Mariposa County sheriff's deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead . The trail to the top of the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is prohibited. No experience and with a 8 year old. The Moanalua Valley Trail begins at the end of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park. -Rain jacket/windbreaker . In this blog post, I will share with you all of the details about the Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs including distance, elevation, legalities, what to bring, and how to avoid trouble on this route. it's not. 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. Hoomaluhia means "to make a place of peace and tranquility." Please be prepared! 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) . Oh my! The trail is quite easy to follow for the first few miles with a wide path, winding you through lush forest and warming up your legs. Get an early start, because parking fills up fast. Theres a nature trail by the Botanic Library that takes you to a lake. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, you will catch your first glimpse of the radio tower/satellite. I'll save you some time and note that it goes nowhere :). Tripadvisor performs checks on . 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. Haiku Stairs Map How might someone prepare to hike Stairway to Heaven? Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. Kamananui Valley Road | Outdoor Project Hiking can be dangerous, and not every trail is a good idea for every person. What can be earliest time to start this hike? THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. 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. 2 Thank bognarofsydney . 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. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stair ( Stairway to Heaven) Legal? The valley itself is historical, with the earliest human inhabitants dating back to the 1500s. We put on our microspikes at the riverbed and they were handy all the way to the summit. However, dont be confused by people who tell you this is the legal way to visit the Haiku Stairs. absolutely not! More advanced hike along the ridge line. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Not the one all the way to the left. Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley. Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. We rest here for a while, towering above the island. Toa Luau at Waimea Valley. That isnt to say people arent, or should not be super respectful, ie, no trash, tread lightly, be quiet, etc, all that goes with just being a responsible and respectful human being. It may sound dramatic but at times that is the situation. The first part of the hike takes you through a bamboo forest. Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. 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. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. We made a false start up a precarious slope and had to go back down and restart closer to the stairs. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. Firefighters had to comb through a wooded area and ask a hiker to shake a tree before they found the body just after noon, Fire Captain KevinMokulehua said. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve (Moanalua section). 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. 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. I'd recommend doing this hike early as possible to avoid the potential crowds. The trail is a legal hike and you should have no issues on the route towards the summit. While you cant legally step foot on the stairs or satellite summit area, you can make it all the way up to that area so this route is a great alternative to the controversial and heavily regulated Haiku Stairs (the front way). Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. Thank you for sharing your experience and pics. 12. 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. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. Market data provided by Factset. Please explore other trails nearby. 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. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). Future Of The Haiku Stairs Open / Closed? A short walk . The back way to the ever popular and still somewhat illegal Haiku Stairs, the Moanalua Middle Ridge hike brings plenty of beauty and even more challenges than the path down the Haiku Stairs. 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. The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. Lots of people sliding down on the trail or ripping out plants because they dont have traction damages the trail and makes it worse for everyone else. Invalid password or account does not exist. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. We recommend packing an external back-up battery. This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Its 328 steps to a raging waterfall. The stairs are priceless to many of us, and we all hope the staircase hike can be saved. 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. Moanalua Valley Trail Hiking Trail - Pearl City, HI - Trailforks In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. Suddenly youre alone on the mountain. The sounds of the cars on the H3 highway below you gradually disappear, and everything starts to get quiet. Relax, its not as scary as it looks here. Assuming you are doing the middle ridge hike, very enjoyable. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 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.