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I didnt end up using mine even with the amount of rain and mud present. Youll cross the streambed immediately and then begin to climb quickly. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of most fitness levels. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. We were SO excited to find a legal way to hike the Haiku Stairs. Thanks for looking! Can see the water on both sides of the islands the further up you hike. 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. Trudging up the slope, it takes about half an hour to scale the first hump. 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. Regular athletic shoes will not do the job. All water should be . This hike sounds like something I would love to do. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Such an exhilarating trail that really puts your body and mind to the ultimate test. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Thanks Billie! 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). All rights reserved. a view? Preview trail Dogs on leash Hiking Walking Bird watching River Views Waterfall Wildflowers Over grown Scramble Description Parking is at the Moanalua Valley Park (open from 7am - 7pm) at the end of Ala Aolani Street. You may also be wondering how Stairway To Heaven compares to the infamous Koko Crater Trail in Oahu, also known as the Koko Head Stairs of Doom.. I hope it will be repaired and preserved for people to enjoy forever. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! Ill add a note about that in the article. Judd Trail Mountain View is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. I hope to do it again someday. Generally considered a challenging route. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. Be prepared. 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. (iStock). 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. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. Did this exact hike. Hold tight and watch your footing. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. There are a few rope sections and some very intense drop offs on the sides for lots of the trail, so this is not for the faint of heart. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. This is a beast of a hike, my friend says, as he slathers his face with sunscreen, the tinted kind that leaves streaks on your skin like war paint. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. A short walk . Thank you. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. 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. We won't share it with anyone else. Too many litterbugs on the island sadly. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. Also, more so than the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the peak to the radio station is far muddier and much more slippery. I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! Werner Karl, you're right. JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? (A proper trail runner or hiking shoe. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, you will catch your first glimpse of the radio tower/satellite. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. Amazing! A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. No such facilities are available within the valley itself. The first 2.5ish miles are flat and the next 2 miles are a pretty steep incline. Easy hike through the lush forest of Kamananui Valley. To watch your footing. It has about 3 times as much elevation gain and takes at least 3 times as long to climb. A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. Maybe we miscounted the 4 wheel drive crossings because we were at 15 or 16 when we hit the Kulana'ahane trailhead (on the left). The exposed ridges have more space on the sides than the pictures seem. Parking: Park at the Moanalua Valley Park. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? 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. The other specific laws that come into play here are located in HRS chapters 104 and 130, State Forestry and Na Ala Hele Access. 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. Preview trail There are shorter hikes on this island with better views and less risk. Yes, technically it is illegal to climb the Oahu Haiku Stairs since theyre closed to the public. 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. If you don't want to do the illegal way, this way is worth it. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. Despite the drop-offs, the trail is quite well protected and unless it is a very windy day you should be fine unless you have little experience on ridges or with heights. I'll save you some time and note that it goes nowhere :). 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. -Good shoes. Being inside the Forest Reserve is completely legal, as is being on Kamananui Trail. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. If its handled right, this solution could resolve many of the issues associated with the Stairway To Heaven. People claim the stairs are dangerous but they are a lot safer than climbing the mountains without stairs which is what people are doing to avoid breaking the law (but then they get on the stairs at the top for photos). 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. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! Its Definitely challenging get rest water food. It will take you through a creek bed, where the trail is fairly obvious to find. Its been a wild ride. However, we wouldnt recommend running. Your selfish Instagram post is at the expense of destroying the island's fragile eco-diversity. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. The steepest section of stairs is actually near the start of the hike, right before you reach the first platform. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. Ethical? 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. Market data provided by Factset. Date of experience: June 2019. no reports have been added for Moanalua Valley Trail yet, add a trail report. These are extremely helpful and if the trail is the least bit muddy they are a full-fledged necessity. Super muddy, have to cross the river to complete. Lastly, you could also be billed for emergency services if youre somehow injured and need to be rescued while doing this hike. The Haiku Stairs Hawaii hike is steep and strenuous, but the toughest part is the first 1/3rd of the stairway leading up to platform one. I did this hike solo about a month ago. 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) . A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. The fine is reportedly $1000 if you are ticketed at the summit or on the stairs. Loved every minute of it! Put a damn police officer in the station at the top and fine them and arrest them if you dont want people there. You'll enjoy sweeping views of southern Oahu on this 10.4-mile roundtrip hike. You walk an easy trail for 3 miles before you start ascending to the summit, which is nearly 2 miles up. Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. Aloha! WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? Staying on the trail greatly reduces your chances of getting injured or lost. Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Not only are the views out of this world, but the whole experience is just beyond awesome and unique. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". Can be very muddy like lots of the ridges out here on island. At another, I cut up my knuckles clawing for exposed roots to keep from tumbling down the rugged spine. After you reach the first platform, the hike flattens out quite a bit and things get much easier. Not the one all the way to the left. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. A coworker identified the victim as Nathan Stowell, 24. The trail takes you to the same lookout as the Haiku Stairs. 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. 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. Ironically, the general consensus is that the stairs are actually a safer and easier route to the top of the mountain. These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve (Moanalua section). 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. Thanks for your support. 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. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. The Stairway To Heaven trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. I'm providing information that is factual instead of perpetuating a myth. 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. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. 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. Its 328 steps to a raging waterfall. Ive done most of the hikes on the island before. per adult. Anthony J. Polizzi. So long as you make the right turn in The Valley you can easily find your way up, assuming youre up to the effort. Wear proper shoes and bring gloves!Quite muddy Whoever JT is he needs to lighten the hell up. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. ", 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. If you have all trails just follow that! My issue is with the multiple bags of rubbish and litter in the valley that I've personally removed. Ownership of the stairs was given to the city of Honolulu, and supposedly they were planning to turn the Haiku Stairs hike into a paid attraction. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. Eventually you will crest on a peak with a sign pointing the way you've come, the first indication of the trails actual name of "Middle Ridge". It was gorgeous & worth all the aches later lol. Once finally at the peak youll see the Haiku Stairs Radio Tower comes into view. Translation: Its going to be a long day. Please be quiet and respectful of the local residents as you are parking, packing, and reaching the trailhead. Still interested? I would have liked to investigate an entry from the south if time permitted. It's not easy to find. A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. There is no legal way to the stairs. I first discovered the Stairway To Heaven Oahu hike on the internet in 2015 and knew I had to try it. 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. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley trail, and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Tripler Army Medical Center Tuesday. Significantly more roots are exposed as well. 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. 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. With alternate trails and surrounding hunting grounds, its easy for dogs to get lost. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. 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. As the years have gone by and patience thinned then disappeared completely, hikers have tried to be more stealthy but its a little too late I dont know about you but if all that was happening on a near daily basis to my neighborhood, Id be pretty upset too! Heed no trespassing and other warning signs. Its absolutely gorgeous. Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. "It was an absolute honor when you asked me to commission you into the Air Force," wrote David Michael Rothzeid in a Facebook post. The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. 2023 Stars and Stripes. Love this hike! She was . My issue isn't with people hiking to the stairs, its with people using Moanalua to hike to the stairs and not caring about the impact they are leaving while doing so. The road eventually turns to an unimproved road and later a narrow trail. There is also a cliff diving spot at one of the falls. 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. 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. Don't listen to the naysayers who hate tourists. The trail to the top of the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is prohibited. Haiku Stairs Map How might someone prepare to hike Stairway to Heaven? Ill keep this blog post updated. An absolutely amazing experience. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. No more news yet. 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). 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. One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. -Food. It's not about the rules and laws I've cited. listen to flash flood warnings. When people refer to it as the legal backway to get to the Stairway to Heaven that refers to the legal route to the top of the Moanalua Valley Trail but you still arent allowed to actually go on the stairs or the satellite area. 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. All Rights Reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Make sure you have done your research (YouTube) and you should be ready to are some awesome views. Views are worth it. Drone shot of the mountain. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. 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. Once you are inside the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park, you will find the trail at the back of the park. 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? 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. An off-duty firefighter died in 2014 and a social worker died in 2011, both from falling off the trail. Assuming you are doing the middle ridge hike, very enjoyable. The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. Not muddy today. 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. Here are my hiking essentials. Many residents of Oahu have fond memories of hiking up the Stairway to Heaven years ago (legally). Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). Do not attempt this hike. The valley itself is historical, with the earliest human inhabitants dating back to the 1500s. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Let's stay updated! Be prepared for lots of mud! Most accidents happen when hikers leave the established trail and disregard warning signs. Just because you don't see or understand the damage you are causing doesn't make it right. We did run into a few people who had gotten lost at the start though. Been there. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail. 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. The cause of the airmans death is under investigation. (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 hike is four miles each way . "I am so proud of the leader you became and the passion with which you tackled your maintenance profession. 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. 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. Dinner and Show Tickets. Additionally, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. The World Travel Guy 2023 From plantation towns to planned communities, Central Oahu has its share of secret spots, a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats. The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Please see J T s comments below before attempting this. Moanalua Valley Trail is the back route and legal access to the Haiku Stairs, which is illegal to access from the front stairway. I explored the radio tower, Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven), and a set of abandoned, overgrown stairs. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. One of the main challenges of climbing the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail is just finding where it starts. Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest blog posts, tips, & travel guides. We rest here for a while, towering above the island. The trail will cross the stream 28 more times before the last 1/4 mile of trail. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. -Rain jacket/windbreaker . It was beautiful! UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. Instagram @dblock55. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This Trail is ILLEGAL. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. 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. Create a password that only you will remember. That wouldnt be cheap. I lived for a few years in Kaneohe (graduated James B Castle HS) some 50 years ago and NEVER knew about the Haiku stairway. Polizzi collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley trail on Oahu. If you are interested in climbing the back (legal) way up to the summit you can contact @mike.karas on Instagram and chat with him about when his next tour is running as he hikes the trail most weeks. 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? It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. The view is wonderful worth the hike. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. Wow, the Haiku Stairs, although strenuous, it looks fun with great views and a sense of accomplishment at the end. 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. Winds were rough as gusts reached up to 40 mph but not once did we feel our lives were threatened. There were 2 other parties of 2 hiking that day, plus a group at the top who came from the other trail that made them muddy and take much longer. Even with all the information there is floating around online to help hikers prepare for it, I prefer to have a guide, someone in the flesh whos done this before, to lead the way to the finale peak, Puu Keahi a Kahoe, at the back of Moanalua Valley. Moanalua Valley. 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. 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. Bring water & food. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. As of 2023, there have never been any falling deaths on the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike. 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. 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. Judd Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Pass all the crossings and continue to follow the trail. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. Most of the time it will be muddy, so be prepared to get dirty.

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