The Stairway to Heaven in Hawaii is one of my favorite hikes of all time. Also known as the Haiku Stairs, this is one of the most well-known hikes on Oahu.
Unfortunately, over concerns of safety as well as privacy of the neighborhood where the trailhead is located, this hike has been closed for a while with significant (read: $1000) fines. In April 2020, it was decided to transfer ownership of the stairs. The ownership of the stairs was officiallly transferred to the city of Honolulu in July 2020 with the goal to have the stairs privatized, but until that time this hike is still not legal.
However, there is a back way to access the Stairway to Heaven. This will allow you to access the Haiku Stairs legally without worrying about a $1000 fine. This post will walk you through the back way to access the Stairway to Heaven in Hawaii.
Hiking in Hawaii can be incredibly dangerous as there have been fatalities on this hike and others. If this hike seems too challenging check out this post with the 6 best hikes on Oahu.
According to Wikipedia:
In 1942, contractors for the U.S. Navy began construction of the Ha?iku Radio Station, a top secret facility that was to be used to transmit radio signals to Navy ships that were then operating throughout the Pacific. Some remnant parts of the wooden ladder may still be seen beside the metal steps. The radio station was commissioned in 1943.
When the Naval base was decommissioned in the 1950s, the U.S. Coast Guard used the site for an Omega Navigation System station. In the mid-1950s, the wooden stairs were replaced by sections of metal steps and ramps - by one count, 3,922 steps. The station and trail were closed to the public in 1987. Some hikers ignored the "no trespassing" signs and continued to climb, contributing to the local community's misgivings about reopening the structure. In 2003, the stairs were repaired, costing the city $875,000.
However, for the past several years hikers have been threatened with $1000 fines for doing this hike and it has been enforced. Fortunately, there was a recent vote in April 2020 to make this legal once again - although implementation could take up to 18 months. In the meantime, hike the legal way to the Stairway to Heaven in Hawaii.
The Haiku Stairs can be legally accessed via the Moanalua Trail which is an approximately 10 mile round trip hike. (I don't have the exact distance as I forgot to charge my Garmin and it died!) This hike has 2,637 ft of elevation gain and has some near vertical, rope and muddy sections. As you will find when hiking in Oahu in general, caution is required as this is a steep and sometimes muddy hike that has had injuries and fatalities.
This route is longer than if you were to go up the actual stairs themselves and you don't actually see the stairs until you reach the very top. Going the back/legal way is also (from what I heard) more difficult than going up the stairs themselves. Although it is a nice way to make sure you aren't out $1000 - yikes!
One unusual tip I discovered for hiking on muddy terrain is to use microspikes. These are designed for hiking in the snow but surprising they also help with hiking on muddy terrain. Importantly, I would recommend the linked Kahtoola brand (pictured below) as some off-brand spikes have a metal bar that goes across the toe box area and puts significant pressure on your feet when heading downhill unless you are wearing heavy duty boots.
Prior to leaving, I would recommend that you download the AllTrails App as there are two trail junction areas that can be confusing. The direct link to the trail is here. If you are not as confident of a hiker, reach out to Mike Karas on Instagram via DM as he does this hike regularly.
Please note: Technically the act of being ON the stairs is ILLEGAL and trespassing on government property.
Hopefully you have an excellent time getting to the Stairway to Heaven in Oahu, Hawaii. This unique structure is something you won't find anywhere else. If you are looking for other hiking recommendations while on Oahu, check out this link to the 6 best hikes on Oahu.
Have you done this hike? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
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