Heed no trespassing and other warning signs. It was beautiful! Copyright 2020 Hawaii News Now. 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 Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday,Dec. It's not easy to find. Staying on the trail greatly reduces your chances of getting injured or lost. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs is the only legal trail, and it is recommended for very experienced hikers. However, it is infrequent and often there is no one up there and you can explore if you choose to. The trail is a legal hike and you should have no issues on the route towards the summit. 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. I hope this clears up YEARS of misconceptions about this trail. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. A Mariposa County sheriff's deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead . (iStock). We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. 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. 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.
Stairway To Heaven Hawaii Hike: Epic Haiku Stairs Oahu Trail Native plants along the ridge and rare apapane (Hawaiian honeycreeper) sightings aside, the hike has grown in popularity over the years because of its whispered status as a legal access route, the back way, to the infamous HaikuStairs.
Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking No more news yet.
Ghosts and Night Marchers in Moanalua Mysteries of Hawai'i it's not. Its here, you should remind yourself, as you make your initial descent, not to rush. 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. That means that if you purchase a product or service that I reccomend, I get a small cut of the sale. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. Did this hike last week started at 6 AM. 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). Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. Thank for your continued support. Dinner and Show Tickets. 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. DM me on IG: @OutFullSending. Been there. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. or redistributed. Youll encounter a couple more ropes (as you did during the Moanalua hike) which will be instrumental in getting down some of the slopes. 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. Here are my hiking essentials. I was wondering what hike is the one you took the first picture in!! Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. 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. The time should be posted on the gate. Ive done most of the hikes on the island before. The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. IG: @ lis.aloha. The main reason to take the back way is just to stay legal and rule out any possible fines. This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. Wonderful read! You definitely want good weather for this hike. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The trail quietly opens up and were greeted with an elevated view of the valleys treetops sprawling out beneath us. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). The stairs are hiked by thousands of people every year, but the status of the trail is still in limbo because the state of Hawaii is afraid of liability and cant decide what to do with the stairs. If you don't want to do the illegal way, this way is worth it. 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). The final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. It has some sections of nearly vertical, rope and muddy sections. With alternate trails and surrounding hunting grounds, its easy for dogs to get lost. 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.
Moanalua Valley Trail (Honolulu) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Suddenly youre alone on the mountain. When she willed the entire ahupuaa of Moanalua to Damons father in 1884, the luxurious valley home was built.)
Moanalua Valley Trail Hiking Trail - Pearl City, HI - Trailforks Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. This is the trailhead for the hike and you will follow this path until you reach the middle ridge. 12. 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. Liability is the main reason theyre closed. 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. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. So windy with no microspikes, gloces. No skate shoes.) The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. Blah, blah, blah. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. 2 Thank bognarofsydney . All rights reserved. A helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Copyright Journey Era, 2022 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. I feel surprisingly renewed by this and take a moment to find my center of gravity before retracing the long way back. Im not easy to sunburn, but he tosses me the bottle anyway, a suggestion to rub in a little more than I already have. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. Pass all the crossings and continue to follow the trail. Hunters frequent the surrounding area, so, when in doubt, follow the stream! The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. Went up the stairs last week with wife and baby. Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. However, we wouldnt recommend running. It was gorgeous & worth all the aches later lol. 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. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. 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. Follow a small path in the grass, or walk to the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is on my list of the top ten most beautiful nature places you can drive to.
Date of experience: June 2019. This is incorrect. The trail will cross the stream 28 more times before the last 1/4 mile of trail. It's not about the rules and laws I've cited. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. -Headlamp. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. Legal? HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Army officials have released new details surrounding the death of an Airman assigned to the 15th Wing. adventures and follow local regulations. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. I wont share the location and exact directions to the stairway here publicly, but I understand there are at least three different main ways to reach the stairs from the neighborhood below, and Ive used two of them in the past. The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. Please do not bring your babies, this hike is far too dangerous for young children. Go past it about 20 paces. (Facebook). Most of the time it will be muddy, so be prepared to get dirty. Dont sue the state.
Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. It was intense & very rewarding. Every time I turned around to look back towards the city, the view just kept getting better and better. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY], https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=11354. Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak. Theres a nature trail by the Botanic Library that takes you to a lake. Fun hike. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. As of 2023, there have never been any falling deaths on the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Bring water & food. Trudging up the slope, it takes about half an hour to scale the first hump. In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail. Well worth that investment of time sweat & tears! absolutely not! For a complete list of LEGAL State Trails, please visit hawaiitrails.hawaii.gov/trails Lastly, guided hikes and other commercial activity being conducted inside Moanalua valley are illegal. My issue is with the erosion scar that's been exacerbated ten-fold on the middle ridge allowing invasive species to spread further and further to the summit. Gallantry: Biden presents Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. Paris Davis for his heroics in Vietnam, US to send bridge-launching vehicles for tank deployments to Ukraine in new $400M aid package, Japan complains to US over Utah senators remarks on imprisoned Navy officer, Military, VA provide troops, vets more gun safety options to help reduce suicides, Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. Looking to hike this any day in next week .if anybody's down, msg me in insta @allispichkooo:), Anyone want to do this on 11/24 or 11/25? If you'd like to help even more, be sure to check out my Patreon as well. After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. To remember: You came this far. The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. More advanced hike along the ridge line. (Phi Phi Leh), Santorini Greece Travel Guide: Things To Do In Santorini Island, Navagio Beach Greece: Shipwreck Bay In Zakynthos Island, Zakynthos Greece Travel Guide: How To Visit Zakynthos Island, Phi Phi Island Thailand Travel Guide (Koh Phi Phi Islands), Huayna Picchu Hike: The Machu Picchu Stairs Of Death, Utah Hiking Guide: 17 Best Utah Hikes & Trails, 35 Best Things To Do In Oahu Hawaii (Fun, Couples, Free), 25 Best Hikes In Indonesia: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, & Jungles, Koko Head Hike: Koko Crater Trail & Stairs In Oahu Hawaii, Angels Landing Hike: Epic Chain Trail In Zion National Park Utah, Komodo Island Indonesia: National Park & Dragon Tour.