Date of experience: June 2019. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Wear proper shoes and bring gloves!Quite muddy Although small and unmarked its an obvious trail. a view? There should be more information about this soon. Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. 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. One of the main challenges of climbing the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail is just finding where it starts. It's not easy to find. The middle ridge in Moanalua is home to many native species not found anywhere else in the world, and being at the top of the ridge, the effects of illegal hikers and illegal tours ripples down into the valley. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. ", Hikerstold KHONthe trail was muddy from rain this past weekend. Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Moanalua Valley Trail (backway to Stairway to Heaven) and have good luck and good weather on your journey! Toa Luau at Waimea Valley. Drone shot of the mountain. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. I was wondering 10.4 miles is it a round trip? Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. 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. Too many litterbugs on the island sadly. 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. Accessing the Trail: The trail starts at Moanalua Valley Park, about 20 minutes away from Waikiki. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. 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. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. 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! Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. Both times I did the hike, the security guard yelled at us from a distance but didnt seem to chase after us or call the police. 14 guest maximum. 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. 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. Moanalua Valley Trail is the back route and legal access to the Haiku Stairs, which is illegal to access from the front stairway. There were plans to remove the stairs, but theres also been a lot of pushback from Hawaii locals wanting to keep the stairs. Its been a wild ride. So if you're going to be later than that park outside on the street so as not to get towed. Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. Cool ridge hike, 4hrs at 28 mins moving time. I hope this clears up YEARS of misconceptions about this trail. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. To put it another way, THIS HIKE IS ILLEGAL. The Kulana'ahane Trail offers unparalleled hiking through native Hawaiian forest to a scenic overlook. From a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. All rights reserved. However, it is infrequent and often there is no one up there and you can explore if you choose to. Someone needs to find a better means of access that bypasses the neighborhood totally. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. Well worth that investment of time sweat & tears! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! The Stairway To Heaven trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. If you decide to bring Fido, keep him leashed. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. This breathtaking gem was built in 1982 by the US Army Corps of Engineering to prevent flooding. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. (Facebook). Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Definitely not a short one. There is an entry along the fence that will go through. A Mariposa County sheriff's deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead . 804. You definitely want good weather for this hike. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. Bummer, this trail is closed. As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers. Whoever JT is he needs to lighten the hell up. Lol ALOHAAAAA. Not muddy today. Its possible to walk up without the rope but I suggest having some gloves as most people will be holding onto the rope the whole time. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. You have permission to edit this article. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. We made a false start up a precarious slope and had to go back down and restart closer to the stairs. Haiku Stairs Map How might someone prepare to hike Stairway to Heaven? If you want to do a guided hike anywhere on State Lands, please ask the guide to see a copy of their commercial use permit, issued by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. While the first peak is the "highest and offers the best views," it's the mountain's third peak where Stowell fell to his death that "offers the greatest climbing challenge. Hold tight and watch your footing. Super muddy, have to cross the river to complete. 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) . This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. Do not attempt this hike. Non-potable stream water can be found through out the valley. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. Gallantry: Biden presents Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. 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Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. and news flash, every part of Hawaii is sacred! I didnt end up using mine even with the amount of rain and mud present. Originally the stairs were built in 1942 by the U.S. Navy as a top-secret facility for transmitting radio signals to ships that were sailing in the Pacific Ocean. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. Even the Kalalau Trail is open in Kauai despite being much more risky than the Stairway To Heaven. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mahalo for reading this. Thank for your continued support. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. If you knew anything about natural resources, you'd understand that this isn't just about respecting something that's sacred but rather protecting a watershed that provides benefits that you clearly take for granted. The Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike is epic, dangerous, and illegal. Ask bognarofsydney about Moanalua Valley Trail. 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. Be careful. 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. At a few points I need to brace myself against the bark of an ohia tree to keep from losing my balance. Get an early start, because parking fills up fast. The steepest section of stairs is actually near the start of the hike, right before you reach the first platform. Stay hydrated and prepare for the unexpected. Unfortunately, in September 2021, the city administration randomly reversed this decision and decided they would rather spend $1.3 million to remove the stairs, which could happen as soon as 2023. The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. 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. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. Fair enough. This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. To begin the Moanalua Valley Trail you will first need to drive to the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and park in the streets nearby. The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. For safety. This is my Journey Era. Daylenn "Moke" Pua, 17, vanished five days ago while heading to the Haiku Stairs. 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. Also, more so than the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the peak to the radio station is far muddier and much more slippery. 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. Loving all your content and guidance! One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. If you have all trails just follow that! The trail starts as a road barred by a green gate. Thanks for looking! This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. 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 are confused follow the AllTrails map. Make sure you allow enough time to complete the hike so youre not heading back in the dark. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY], https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=11354. or redistributed. -Dogs and babies not advisable on this trail. Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. The Moanalua trail can be muddy after rain, so check the conditions before you go. I hope to do it again someday. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs is the only legal trail, and it is recommended for very experienced hikers. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. 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. Hawaii, like any other state, has property laws. 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. Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. Anthony J. Polizzi. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. The trailhead begins at Moanalua Valley Park. 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. There is a bathroom and water at the park only. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. 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. The trail takes you to the same lookout as the Haiku Stairs. Anthony J. Polizzi. There is a security guard at the beginning. I'll save you some time and note that it goes nowhere :). This will lead you to an open grassy valley that gives you spectacular views of the valley. It may sound dramatic but at times that is the situation. Good hike, perfectly legal way. Assuming you are doing the middle ridge hike, very enjoyable. What can be earliest time to start this hike? In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Please explore other trails nearby. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. 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? The ground can get dangerously slippery and muddy. HONOLULU (KITV4) Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on the Moanalua Valley Trail on Friday evening. 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. It has about 3 times as much elevation gain and takes at least 3 times as long to climb. 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. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. My issue is with the erosion scar that's been exacerbated ten-fold on the middle ridge allowing invasive species to spread further and further to the summit. These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! Let's stay updated! 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. If the weather goes bad on you, you could get stuck for a while. The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. Posted on Last updated: February 22, 2022. Please see J T s comments below before attempting this. Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. 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You can see everythingKaneohe, Kailua, Mokolii (akaChinamans Hat), Olomana and the H-3 snaking its way through it alland Im basking in the extraordinary sight of how miniature life looks from up above. After all, well be inching closer to the sun at an elevation gain of about 2,585 feet from where were currently standing. Thanks Billie! (Damon was the son of Bernice Pauahi Bishops husbands business partner. age 94, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the St. John of God Retirement Center in Los Angeles, CA. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. 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. (Facebook/Nathan Stowell). Although extremely tempting, the hike down the Haiku Stairs is highly illegal and subject to fine, etc. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. -Food. Once you are inside the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park, you will find the trail at the back of the park. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. 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. 44 Hawaiian and Pidgin Phrases Every Visitor Needs to Know, 20 Thoughts Every Hiker has had on the Trail Up Koko Head Crater, Shop These 5 Sophisticated Aloha Shirt Brands, The Enduring Nostalgia of Hawaii's Historic Drive-In Restaurants, Find Solitude and Serenity at the Waipio Wayside Bed and Breakfast, How (And Where) To Watch the Massive Waves on Oahu's North Shore. Mahalo! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there! Thank you. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. 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 final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. 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. 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. -Good shoes. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. Shortly after the 17th crossing, you should see a sign for the Kulana'ahane trail (note: Do NOT take this). 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. Anthony J. Polizzi. 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Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. Such an exhilarating trail that really puts your body and mind to the ultimate test. Ill add a note about that in the article. It was gorgeous & worth all the aches later lol. 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. -Rain jacket/windbreaker . Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? 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. 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. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Army officials have released new details surrounding the death of an Airman assigned to the 15th Wing. 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. Bring ziplock bag to gather your trash respect the land & beauty of the island. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. from around the world. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. Polizzi collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley trail on Oahu. The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. Overnight parking is not allowed in Moanalua Valley Park - the gate is locked and the park is closed at a certain hour. Pass the little sign and stream and itll be on your right. At the beginning, a large monkeypod tree leads to the Douglas Damon house site. Finiahed in 10 hours. 00:00 01:00 Only In Your State Step 3 Take the Red Hill/Moanalua Valley exit (exit 2) and turn right on Ala Aolani Street. To watch your footing. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. The main problem is going through the neighborhood. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. 12. 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. Be careful on your footing & hand placements not all branches are build to hold your weight. per adult. The first mile on this trail climbs 900 feet in elevation and is primarily through trees. At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. 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. JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? 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.
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