An off-duty firefighter died in 2014 and a social worker died in 2011, both from falling off the trail. 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. Once you are inside the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park, you will find the trail at the back of the park. Moanalua Valley. Moanalua is still a pretty epic hike in its own right, and the views are amazing, so Id recommend doing it if you enjoy hard hikes! I was lucky enough to have climbed on a windless morning, but any wind will add to the complexity and risk to the hike. The Stairway To Heaven trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. 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). We explored a few hundred meters down an abandoned set of stairs, quite sketchy and not recommended before turning back and returning towards the radio tower. Be careful on your footing & hand placements not all branches are build to hold your weight. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. Charges usually start at about $10,000 and go up from there. Be careful. I noticed families on the trail, along with babies being carried by their parents. Thanks for your support. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. Instead, retrace the Moanalua Ridge route to get back to your original destination. This breathtaking gem was built in 1982 by the US Army Corps of Engineering to prevent flooding. All anyone posts on here is about hiking the "legal" way, its not. Please explore other trails nearby. ", 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. Mahalo! I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. 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. 2023 Stars and Stripes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. The other specific laws that come into play here are located in HRS chapters 104 and 130, State Forestry and Na Ala Hele Access. There are dozens of other legal trails that give you a similar view that you can hike. Keep in mind, to stay 100 percent legal on this hike you will have to go back the same way you came. 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. This is incorrect. Try hike the Lanikai pill box brah. Still interested? One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. 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. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. However, we wouldnt recommend running. Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. If you have further questions about the legality of this hike, you can contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. At this point, it becomes a ridge walk as you keep gradually ascending to the radio tower, and even on a cloudy day the views are spectacular. Ask bognarofsydney about Moanalua Valley Trail. Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. We rest here for a while, towering above the island. I hope my travels give you the motivation to set off on an epic adventure of your own. 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. Please do not bring your babies, this hike is far too dangerous for young children. 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. Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley. Basically, politics and money got in the way of this epic hike. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. Moanalua Valley has a rich cultural history that is important to the people of Hawaii. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 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. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. 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. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Mahalo! Have some light. Access to the public is restricted. Moanalua Valley Trail is the back route and legal access to the Haiku Stairs, which is illegal to access from the front stairway. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the view of the abandoned Radio Tower comes into view. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. Trudging up the slope, it takes about half an hour to scale the first hump. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. At a few points I need to brace myself against the bark of an ohia tree to keep from losing my balance. listen to flash flood warnings. An absolutely amazing experience. -Good shoes. 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. It has some sections of nearly vertical, rope and muddy sections. Legal climbing of the stairs would mean providing a non-intrusive access route through the neighborhood below, but that could easily be accomplished with the millions of taxpayer dollars that have been spent on security over the years. So long as you make the right turn in The Valley you can easily find your way up, assuming youre up to the effort. The Associated Press contributed to this report. I was wondering 10.4 miles is it a round trip? "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. Do NOT take this route. 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. 12. 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. 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) . The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. Can be very muddy like lots of the ridges out here on island. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. In total the hike is 5.2 miles with 2585 ft in elevation gain (basically all of this is condensed into the final 2 miles). There are many more to check out! 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. Trailhead Coordinates - Latitude: 21.37409 | Longitude: -157.880509. Firefighters said that the rivers crossing the trail were at a dangerously high level. (iStock). The trail was washing away. After the first three miles, when you start to ascend, it could get really slippery, if youre not an experienced hiker, DO NOT do this hike after rainy days. DM me on IG: @OutFullSending. No more news yet. Thank for your continued support. We recommend packing an external back-up battery. We did run into a few people who had gotten lost at the start though. 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. Continue on the main trail up and up and up. I also didnt get enough sleep dont be like me. He was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, where he was pronounced dead, the Air Force said. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. Its absolutely gorgeous. I'm providing information that is factual instead of perpetuating a myth. Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. So if you're going to be later than that park outside on the street so as not to get towed. Thanks for looking! The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. 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. All rights reserved. Pass all the crossings and continue to follow the trail. Theres also a legal way to reach the top of the mountain by climbing it from the backside via Moanalua Valley trail, which Ill explain in more detail later in this guide. 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. If you'd like to help even more, be sure to check out my Patreon as well. Turtle Canyon Snorkel Cruise by Catamaran. Make sure you at least have the basics and you will be prepared for bad weather or any mishaps on the trail. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. There is parking in the park parking lot, but it's only open from 7 am to 7 pm. Good luck and enjoy! A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. Please be prepared! Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. 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? Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. Though the trail is not particularly hilly, it is also not paved and there are muddy spots that should be approached with caution. I was extremely surprised at the amount of people who I crossed when I hiked it. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Wind and rain can make it much harder and more risky. 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. Loving all your content and guidance! Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. I'll save you some time and note that it goes nowhere :). Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. -Food. All rights reserved. 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 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. Every time I turned around to look back towards the city, the view just kept getting better and better. 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. Views are worth it. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. If you do choose to continue on past the legal boundary and to the illegal area of the radio tower and reach the Haiku Stairs, this is what you can expect. The trail to the top of the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is prohibited. You have permission to edit this article. Our group did good timing but it was Still LONGGGG I believe I did it in 7 Hrs 45 mins (started about 5:30am - about 4 hrs or less to Get to top 9:15am, 30mins enjoying view / pics / eating 9:45am descend , arrived at my car by 1:20pm to get back took 3hr 35mins) I was beyond exhausted tho, my body was in survival mode at that point & just want to not be hiking anymore lol! If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. 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. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. Still, thousands of people make the climb every year, and for good reason its one of the most spectacular hikes on Earth! Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. The hike is four miles each way . Although small and unmarked its an obvious trail. There were plans to remove the stairs, but theres also been a lot of pushback from Hawaii locals wanting to keep the stairs. Ive done most of the hikes on the island before. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @mike.karas or email me at mikekarasphotography@gmail.com if youd like to join or like gear for the hike I have plenty of microspikes and gloves. The valley itself is historical, with the earliest human inhabitants dating back to the 1500s. You can read more here: https://www.haikustairs.org/. Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking, Furnishings, appliances from Shirokiya Japan Village Walk up for auction, Former Mililani High athletic director indicted, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Judd Trail Mountain View is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Being inside the boundaries of the TMK parcel that the stairs is built on is a finable offense for having broken property and trespass laws. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. 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 dangerous trail since 2011. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. The stairs are priceless to many of us, and we all hope the staircase hike can be saved. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. The view is wonderful worth the hike. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. 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. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. 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. I didnt end up using mine even with the amount of rain and mud present. All water should be . Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. I explored the radio tower, Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven), and a set of abandoned, overgrown stairs. 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. There is a bathroom and water at the park only. No such facilities are available within the valley itself. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, you will catch your first glimpse of the radio tower/satellite. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. You can read about it in this SFGate article. There is parking outside the gate, which we recommend using in case you don't get back before they close the gates in the evening. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. adventures and follow local regulations. 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. Check out their website and consider donating if youre a fan. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. Haiku Stairs Map How might someone prepare to hike Stairway to Heaven? Create a password that only you will remember. 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. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. There was also a hiker named Daylenn Pua who disappeared on the Moanalua Valley trail (the backside route that intersects with the Stairway To Heaven) and was never seen again. That means that if you purchase a product or service that I reccomend, I get a small cut of the sale. Fun hike. or redistributed. 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 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. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Copyright 2023 Journey Era | Mediavine Trellis Child - Journey Era on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Word to the wise: count the crossings, but don't take them as gospel. Been there. You definitely want good weather for this hike. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of mostfitness levels. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. 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. Can see the water on both sides of the islands the further up you hike. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. absolutely not! Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. Please explore other trails nearby. Wear proper shoes and bring gloves!Quite muddy This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. Though theres no ocean view at the end,this trail is a journey through a bunch of natural beauty and history. Usually trail run in the valley or hike up the ridge a couple times a week. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. But, this is just the beginning, and there are more to scale, a handful of which require ropes already strung along its steepest sections, and I gather this will be the theme of the day: up and down, then up again until theres nowhere else to climb. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. When she willed the entire ahupuaa of Moanalua to Damons father in 1884, the luxurious valley home was built.) Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. Know your physical abilities and limitations; select trails that can be enjoyed safely. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. 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. Additionally, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. That wouldnt be cheap. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. Keep in mind climbing begins over 2 miles from start point. 14 guest maximum. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. 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. Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. 2 Thank bognarofsydney . Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. The trailhead begins at Moanalua Valley Park. Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. This is my Journey Era. Wear spikes if you have them, makes most of the trail up the ridge line easier. The main reason to take the back way is just to stay legal and rule out any possible fines. Criminal penalties and EMS fees are charged as well due to the illegal nature of the hike. 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. Suddenly youre alone on the mountain. DIRECTIONS Traveling west on the H-1, take Exit 10 (Pearl city/Waimalu) onto Moanalua Road. Be prepared for lots of mud! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Did this exact hike. We did not have spikes or gloves and it was 100% fine, but it would have been a help especially if there has been recent rain. My issue is with the multiple bags of rubbish and litter in the valley that I've personally removed. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The fine is reportedly $1000 if you are ticketed at the summit or on the stairs. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. I really hope they dont do that. 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. IG: @ lis.aloha. The time should be posted on the gate. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. The Stairway To Heaven also has much more epic views than Koko Head in my opinion, but Koko Head is still a great hike in its own way, and its completely legal, so its a good choice if you want another challenging hike with some fantastic island views. In its original inception, Hawaii's Interstate H3 highway was set to pass through Moanalua Valley, with its tunnel being bored right through Maunakapu, where the burials of some of Oahu's most sacred ali'i were said to be located. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. I hope to do it again someday.

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