History of the Stairs
During times of war, the US Navy built radio frequency towers along the ridge and over Ha’iku valley. The hidden amphitheater nature of the valley made this the appropriate location for such technology. The metal stairs we know and love today were actually and originally wooden stairs and were renovated to metal in the 1950’s. This is a summarization of what I’ve learned and read. Read some more on the Friends of Ha’iku stairs website.
https://www.haikustairs.org/post/building-the-stairs-construction-in-ha-iku-valley
Legal?…Illegal?
Let me start off by saying that the term LEGAL in regards to hiking Stairway to Heaven needs lots of clarification. There are two ways to go up
1) The “adventurous” one most travelers go up entails going through a Kane’ohe neighborhood, finding one of several entry points, and evading a security officer (most likely police also) to get a chance to walk up endless stairs up to the summit of the Ko’olau Ridge. What a dream, yea? Not for the residents of the neighborhood who have to deal with trespassers and noise early in the morning. You can hire a local for around $100 who can get you through with minimal issues….but, it’s still illegal.
2) The second one is on the Honolulu (leeward side) via the Moanalua Gardens Trail hike which is partially a state maintained trail that leads up to the summit where the stairs are. The pro is you won’t need to evade authorities nor bother residents. However, the con (if it matters to you) is that it takes four times longer than going straight up the stairs and if difficult in it’s own right.
So where does it become illegal:
Could be the very first step at the bottom or the last one at the top, being on the stairs at any point is illegal and will come with a hefty fine should you get lucky enough to get caught. Any many have gotten pretty lucky!
“The City Prosecutors Office said criminal trespass in the second degree carries a $1000 fine and even simple trespass cases the judge has the discretion to hand down fines of up to a thousand dollars.” [Article on KITV]
Should I go the “legal” or “Illegal” Way?
If you want the “adventure” of being one of many travelers that a local neighborhood gets annoyed about. Or want to risk a hefty fine many people have gotten just to post it on Instagram or Youtube, hell be my guest. But the reason why I went the “legal” way was not so I didn’t have to worry about evading officials, but because if hundreds of tourists snuck around my neighborhood at night and early morning making noise and bringing police around round the clock, I’d be annoyed as fuck. In short, RESPECT IS WHY!
If you’re still here and you’re not offended and would love to show some respect and aloha…here we go!
Hiking Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail
At the end of Ala Aolani Road, is the Community park where you can park your car. The rest is in photos 🙂
The Summit & Stairs
Reaching the summit allows you to walk on over to the former secret radio tower that now stands derelict, full of graffiti, and not in the best of conditions. Here you will find the inside full of rubbish, “Blah Blah was here”s, ash from campfires, and beer bottles placed around as collectibles. Before you head down the stairs, head to the rear of the building and look down at the ridge, you will notice a number of platforms and another separate set of stairs.
Back to the main attraction, the stairs & views in photos:
—————————————————
It took me 2.5-3 hours from trailhead to Summit.
And 5 hours in reverse due to a pulled muscle (yea, it really sucked)
Alot of time taking pictures plus lunch
7:30 AM – 5:45 PM
Personal Note
On a normal day of tourism, these stairs have been known to be crowded full of people. With mandatory 14 day quarantine for all visitors coming into Hawai’i, would mean that most of these trails have left room for Hawaii residents to enjoy minus any large crowds. And that was true for the Ha’iku stairs. I counted 40 to 50 or so people including myself from the trailhead to the stairs and were all local residents of Hawai’i. If there was any better time to do the Stairway to Heaven Hike, it would be during the coronavirus lockdown. Hawaii has always been welcoming and showing aloha to the outside world. But under these dark circumstances, these island have gotten a well needed break. That goes for the people of Hawai’i too!
