Please see J T s comments below before attempting this. Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? Hiker, 24, plunges to his death from dangerous Hawaii trail However, dont be confused by people who tell you this is the legal way to visit the Haiku Stairs. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. Hiking Moanalua Middle Ridge on Oahu, an All-Day, Experts-Only Went up the stairs last week with wife and baby. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Watch out for roots as this is the largest risk as you climb. Keep in mind climbing begins over 2 miles from start point. Finiahed in 10 hours. Hawaii Camping Reservation - Reservations After that, it should be pretty straightforward. Once you pass the sign and creek crossing go to the right, the trail behind the foliage, not the obvious one on the left. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. 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. You can read about it in this SFGate article. I lived for a few years in Kaneohe (graduated James B Castle HS) some 50 years ago and NEVER knew about the Haiku stairway. I'm providing information that is factual instead of perpetuating a myth. Criminal penalties and EMS fees are charged as well due to the illegal nature of the hike. In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. ", 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. This is the trailhead for the hike and you will follow this path until you reach the middle ridge. 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. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Copyright 2020 Hawaii News Now. Liability is the main reason theyre closed. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. I first discovered the Stairway To Heaven Oahu hike on the internet in 2015 and knew I had to try it. Word to the wise: count the crossings, but don't take them as gospel. Polizzi was on the hike with a group of friends. 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. This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. 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. Hiking can be dangerous, and not every trail is a good idea for every person. Moanalua Valley Trail is the back route and legal access to the Haiku Stairs, which is illegal to access from the front stairway. I feel surprisingly renewed by this and take a moment to find my center of gravity before retracing the long way back. This is incorrect. To remember: You came this far. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? Whether climbing Stairway to Heaven illegally or legally via Moanalua Valley Trail, know that this hike is not for the faint of heart. So windy with no microspikes, gloces. As soon as you veer from top of the middle ridge, roughly 2000ft from the top of the stairs, you are trespassing and can be fined for doing so. Make sure you allow enough time to complete the hike so youre not heading back in the dark. For safety. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use it's not. Please be respectful to the place we call home and follow the rules. Past Week. absolutely not! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. All rights reserved. Follow a small path in the grass, or walk to the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is on my list of the top ten most beautiful nature places you can drive to. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . No skate shoes.) Be careful with the wind and rain on the ridge. It may never be surpassed! Please be prepared! 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. You'll enjoy sweeping views of southern Oahu on this 10.4-mile roundtrip hike. Not the one all the way to the left. I'm David, an American with a passion for adventure, the outdoors, and all things travel. To stay safe on this hike, just wear shoes with good grip and remember to keep three points of contact at all times. The final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). Many residents of Oahu have fond memories of hiking up the Stairway to Heaven years ago (legally). Moanalua Valley Trail Hiking Trail - Pearl City, HI - Trailforks The steepest section of stairs is actually near the start of the hike, right before you reach the first platform. Market data provided by Factset. Did this exact hike. The Best of Hawai'i's Great Outdoors: 20 Great O'ahu Hikes Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. There is a bathroom and water at the park only. Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. Pass the little sign and stream and itll be on your right. Love this hike! (10-15) When I got to the top there was probably 10 or so people hanging out which is cool and all, but took away from the experience for me. 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. 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). -2L water MINIMUM. As we continue on for the next few hours theres something encouraging about being able to zero in on where we started at Moanalua Valley Park and the remote summit before us, to visually track our progress. I'd recommend doing this hike early as possible to avoid the potential crowds. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! I really hope they dont do that. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. 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. The trailhead is located in the back of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and crosses seven old cobblestone bridges while making its way up the valley floor. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. If you look closely, you can see the winding stairway. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. Legal Statement. Though theres no ocean view at the end,this trail is a journey through a bunch of natural beauty and history. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? Please explore other trails nearby. and news flash, every part of Hawaii is sacred! 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. It's 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 you're done. Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. Climbing Haiku Stairs on Oahu - realhawaii.co Usually trail run in the valley or hike up the ridge a couple times a week. Once up on the ridge, the view is absolutely incredible! 2023 Stars and Stripes. 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. A Mariposa County sheriff's deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead . There were plans to remove the stairs, but theres also been a lot of pushback from Hawaii locals wanting to keep the stairs. 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. MOANALUA VALLEY TRAIL - 493 Photos & 61 Reviews - Yelp 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) . Bring water & food. Toa Luau at Waimea Valley. -Food. Been there. Invalid password or account does not exist. Suddenly youre alone on the mountain. Dinner and Show Tickets. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. It has some sections of nearly vertical, rope and muddy sections. 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. Winds were rough as gusts reached up to 40 mph but not once did we feel our lives were threatened. 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. or redistributed. The main problem is going through the neighborhood. I hope this clears up YEARS of misconceptions about this trail. 30 BEST HIKES ON OAHU, HAWAII - Journey Era He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. Thank you. Anthony J. Polizzi. The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. Every time I turned around to look back towards the city, the view just kept getting better and better. We won't share it with anyone else. She was . Ive lived here for 33 years and yes its fricken ridiculous WHEREVER YOU GO. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. It will take you through a creek bed, where the trail is fairly obvious to find. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. 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. It is for this reason that it is NOT recommended to hike this trail in heavy rains due to flash flooding. A short walk . The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. I wouldnt recommend this trek if you have a big fear of heights, but most people who do the hike will agree its not nearly as bad as they expected. Make sure you at least have the basics and you will be prepared for bad weather or any mishaps on the trail. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the view of the abandoned Radio Tower comes into view. One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. 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. Go past it about 20 paces. 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. Trudging up the slope, it takes about half an hour to scale the first hump. Stay hydrated and prepare for the unexpected. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th. . A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. After you reach the first platform, the hike flattens out quite a bit and things get much easier. 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 cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. Trailhead Coordinates - Latitude: 21.37409 | Longitude: -157.880509. Be prepared. Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. Lastly, you could also be billed for emergency services if youre somehow injured and need to be rescued while doing this hike. At some points, the stairs of death are almost vertical, clinging to the side of the steep mountain. If you have further questions about the legality of this hike, you can contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Steep drops on both sides, but the metal Haiku stairs and railings are surprisingly solid. Bring ziplock bag to gather your trash respect the land & beauty of the island. Daylenn "Moke" Pua, 17, vanished five days ago while heading to the Haiku Stairs. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail - YouTube This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Can see the water on both sides of the islands the further up you hike. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". The Moanalua trail can be muddy after rain, so check the conditions before you go. Moanalua Middle Ridge is a challenging, 11- to 12-mile, out-and-back hike in Central Oahu, a journey that, more or less, takes eight hours to complete. 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. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. 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. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. 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). I did this hike solo about a month ago. I explored the radio tower, Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven), and a set of abandoned, overgrown stairs. Please find another hike. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of most fitness levels. Its been a wild ride. Please do not bring your babies, this hike is far too dangerous for young children. Drone shot of the mountain. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of mostfitness levels. Stairway To Heaven Hawaii Hike: Epic Haiku Stairs Oahu Trail Too many litterbugs on the island sadly. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. Posted on Last updated: February 22, 2022. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. 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. We make our initial ascent. 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.. 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. There are a few more rope sections and some very deep, muddy crevasses you will have to sneak through before you reach the top of this hike. Keep in mind, the adventurers MUST be respectful to neighbourhood residents living in this area. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. Fun hike. The trail is a legal hike and you should have no issues on the route towards the summit. He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. To begin the Moanalua Valley Trail you will first need to drive to the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and park in the streets nearby. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. TEEN GIRL DIES IN FALL FROM CLIFF HIKE AT ZION NATIONAL PARK. We made a false start up a precarious slope and had to go back down and restart closer to the stairs. Moanalua Valley Trail - Moanalua Valley Trail - Tripadvisor Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley trail, and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Tripler Army Medical Center Tuesday. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. DIRECTIONS Traveling west on the H-1, take Exit 10 (Pearl city/Waimalu) onto Moanalua Road. 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. 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. Judd Trail Mountain View is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Fair enough. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday,Dec. 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). However, the whole Haiku valley is surrounded by a residential area with fences, yappy dogs, and a security guard, with only a few possible entrances. The trail to the top of the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is prohibited. Im 100% in favor of keeping the stairway and letting hikers continue to hike it, but, David, you might want to add another item to bring with you on this hike a respectful & considerate disposition. Im chicken little when it comes to doing anything that is deemed illegal. 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. Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. Well worth that investment of time sweat & tears! The main reason to take the back way is just to stay legal and rule out any possible fines. I hope to do it again someday. Legal Statement. ", "You were one of the most out going [sic], funniest, and happiest people Ive ever had the chance to get to know and call a friend," wrote friend Greg Glawatz in another Facebook post. 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. 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 hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. Not muddy today. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. INDEFINITE CLOSURE: This trail is closed to the public and violators/trespassers are SUBJECT TO $1000 FINES, COMMUNITY SERVICE, BENCH WARRANTS, AND/OR ARREST. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! Most accidents happen when hikers leave the established trail and disregard warning signs. Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there! 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! This is known as the back way for the Stairway To Heaven. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. -Headlamp. Do NOT take this route. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. Super muddy, have to cross the river to complete. If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. The time should be posted on the gate. 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. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. This is the trail that leads you up the Moanalua Ridge, also known as the Moanalua Middle Ridge. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. There are dozens of other legal trails that give you a similar view that you can hike. Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Moanalua Valley Trail (Honolulu) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Ill keep this blog post updated. Judd Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail | Map, Guide - Oahu, Hawaii | AllTrails Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. Just wished the front way was open, For experienced hikers dont do alone unless youre a pro & even then let someone know where you are. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail Hard 4.7 (4054) Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve Photos (5,132) Directions Print/PDF map Length 9.2 miElevation gain 2,998 ftRoute type Out & back Enjoy this 9.2-mile out-and-back trail near Honolulu, Oahu. Translation: Its going to be a long day. Dont attempt this hike when its raining or for a couple of days after heavy rain. Had to go the long way from Moanalua Valley (the legal way so not sure why this says its closed ~ unless its speaking of the actual stairs) I wanted to do this hike every since I moved here 17.5 years ago. The Kulana'ahane Trail offers unparalleled hiking through native Hawaiian forest to a scenic overlook. The sounds of the cars on the H3 highway below you gradually disappear, and everything starts to get quiet. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening