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Future Of The Haiku Stairs Open / Closed? Be careful. -2L water MINIMUM. Keep in mind, the adventurers MUST be respectful to neighbourhood residents living in this area. The view from the tower is the most spectacular although there will be lookouts before which are gorgeous as well. Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. So if you're going to be later than that park outside on the street so as not to get towed. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. The Moanalua trail can be muddy after rain, so check the conditions before you go. Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. Ive done both hikes many times over the years, and I have to say there is really no comparison in terms of difficulty. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! We did this trail in about 6.5 hours (both of us experienced hikers) with stoping for many photos and breaks. Test first before committing your weight on it. Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. . In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. Continue on the main trail up and up and up. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY], https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=11354. (A proper trail runner or hiking shoe. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. For me personally, it was well worth any of the risks involved! Youll encounter a couple more ropes (as you did during the Moanalua hike) which will be instrumental in getting down some of the slopes. Loving all your content and guidance! Anthony J. Polizzi. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. The stairs are priceless to many of us, and we all hope the staircase hike can be saved. I'm providing information that is factual instead of perpetuating a myth. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. Anthony J. Polizzi. We put on our microspikes at the riverbed and they were handy all the way to the summit. The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. Go past it about 20 paces. absolutely not! The other specific laws that come into play here are located in HRS chapters 104 and 130, State Forestry and Na Ala Hele Access. All anyone posts on here is about hiking the "legal" way, its not. Try hike the Lanikai pill box brah. 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. Keep in mind, to stay 100 percent legal on this hike you will have to go back the same way you came. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. or redistributed. There is a bathroom and water at the park only. Fun hike. Good hike, perfectly legal way. These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! Translation: Its going to be a long day. Invalid password or account does not exist. We did the Uncle Toms Trail in Yellowstone and for me that was one of the best little adventures Ive done. Fair enough. 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This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of mostfitness levels. and news flash, every part of Hawaii is sacred! As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers. 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. The hike follows the Moanalua Valley Trail before connecting up the Moanalua Middle Ridge, which is the legal 'backway' to reach the Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs) satellite summit. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. You need to take the MIDDLE option. Please be prepared! But is the solution to shut everything down? 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. Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Army officials have released new details surrounding the death of an Airman assigned to the 15th Wing. We made a false start up a precarious slope and had to go back down and restart closer to the stairs. Do NOT take this route. Aloha! If you decide to bring Fido, keep him leashed. 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. shoes meant for hiking. DIRECTIONS Traveling west on the H-1, take Exit 10 (Pearl city/Waimalu) onto Moanalua Road. Similar to the Angles Landing Hike in Zion National Park. INDEFINITE CLOSURE: This trail is closed to the public and violators/trespassers are SUBJECT TO $1000 FINES, COMMUNITY SERVICE, BENCH WARRANTS, AND/OR ARREST. Thank you for sharing your experience and pics. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. 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. 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. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail. Thanks for looking! Give me a break!, its a hike, and a damn good one at that! 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. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. Looking to hike this this week if anybody wants to go .msg insta @allispichkooo :), Aloha! I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. Please be respectful to the place we call home and follow the rules. He was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, where he was pronounced dead, the Air Force said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I'd recommend doing this hike early as possible to avoid the potential crowds. Bring ziplock bag to gather your trash respect the land & beauty of the island. Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley. Yes the steepest parts have metal railings to hold. 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. Generally considered a challenging route. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Foster Botanical Garden is a loop trail that is used for walking and nature trips located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Whenever you buy something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. After all, well be inching closer to the sun at an elevation gain of about 2,585 feet from where were currently standing. Spikes and gloves definitely help but arent 100% necessary. Dinner and Show Tickets. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening By KITV4 Web Staff Mar 19, 2022 0 HONOLULU (KITV4) - Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. Wow, the Haiku Stairs, although strenuous, it looks fun with great views and a sense of accomplishment at the end. Trailhead Coordinates - Latitude: 21.37409 | Longitude: -157.880509. She was . Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. It is for this reason that it is NOT recommended to hike this trail in heavy rains due to flash flooding. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. from around the world. Please do not bring your babies, this hike is far too dangerous for young children. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Preview trail The trail was washing away. 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. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. After that, it should be pretty straightforward. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. More advanced hike along the ridge line. 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. We recommend packing an external back-up battery. no reports have been added for Moanalua Valley Trail yet, add a trail report. To stay safe on this hike, just wear shoes with good grip and remember to keep three points of contact at all times. 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. 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. I lived for a few years in Kaneohe (graduated James B Castle HS) some 50 years ago and NEVER knew about the Haiku stairway. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Hawaii, like any other state, has property laws. One of the main challenges of climbing the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail is just finding where it starts. At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. 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). Past Week. Usually trail run in the valley or hike up the ridge a couple times a week. No skate shoes.) Firefighters said that the rivers crossing the trail were at a dangerously high level. ; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The road eventually turns to an unimproved road and later a narrow trail. For more information, visit: Moanalua Valley and Tripler Ridge Trail Loop, Kalihi Ice Ponds [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY]. The first part of the hike takes you through a bamboo forest. This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. You can go all the way up and assess the situation and make your decisions from there but even if you dont want to venture onto the illegal area you will have great views so it is still worth the journey either way. Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. This will lead you to an open grassy valley that gives you spectacular views of the valley. There is no legal way to the stairs. 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. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Instagram @dblock55. 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. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets 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. This hike is long, and the weather can change quickly along the trail as you ascend to just shy of 3,000ft elevation. Theres a nature trail by the Botanic Library that takes you to a lake. 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. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. An absolutely amazing experience. In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. Criminal penalties and EMS fees are charged as well due to the illegal nature of the hike. Please explore other trails nearby. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! The key in the first part of the hike is to be cognizant of the distance you are covering as the ridge trail is somewhat hidden and can be easily missed. Though theres no ocean view at the end,this trail is a journey through a bunch of natural beauty and history. 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. 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. WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the view of the abandoned Radio Tower comes into view. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. a view? We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. Polizzi was on the hike with a group of friends. 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). Though the trail is not particularly hilly, it is also not paved and there are muddy spots that should be approached with caution. The valley itself is historical, with the earliest human inhabitants dating back to the 1500s. This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. 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. 0 rides ; 6 Months. The left goes to the valley. 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. No such facilities are available within the valley itself. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. What can be earliest time to start this hike? However, dont be confused by people who tell you this is the legal way to visit the Haiku 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. 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). Thank you. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. The fine is reportedly $1000 if you are ticketed at the summit or on the stairs. Thanks for your support. Not only are the views out of this world, but the whole experience is just beyond awesome and unique. I was lucky enough to have climbed on a windless morning, but any wind will add to the complexity and risk to the hike. Wonderful read! Once finally at the peak youll see the Haiku Stairs Radio Tower comes into view. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. Also, it's a ridge..which could mean wind. A short walk . 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. 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! Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. Love this hike! There is a security guard at the beginning. Crouching Lion and Sacred Falls are other examples. 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. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. ", 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.". Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. This Trail is ILLEGAL. An off-duty firefighter died in 2014 and a social worker died in 2011, both from falling off the trail.