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. 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. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. We won't share it with anyone else. Good hike, perfectly legal way. Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. 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. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. 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! Lots of people sliding down on the trail or ripping out plants because they dont have traction damages the trail and makes it worse for everyone else. Judd Trail Mountain View is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. Do not attempt this hike. Cool ridge hike, 4hrs at 28 mins moving time. Oahu Hike of the Month: Moanalua Valley Trail Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. The steepest section of stairs is actually near the start of the hike, right before you reach the first platform. Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail. Also please pack out your trash! Please explore other trails nearby. from. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. We made a false start up a precarious slope and had to go back down and restart closer to the stairs. Word to the wise: count the crossings, but don't take them as gospel. It may never be surpassed! Park off the Old Pali Highway before the lookout in the dirt parking lot. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. A helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking All water should be . We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. HONOLULU (KITV4) Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on the Moanalua Valley Trail on Friday evening. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs is the only legal trail, and it is recommended for very experienced hikers. Can be very muddy like lots of the ridges out here on island. At some points, the stairs of death are almost vertical, clinging to the side of the steep mountain. 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. Market data provided by Factset. No more news yet. These are extremely helpful and if the trail is the least bit muddy they are a full-fledged necessity. Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. So if you're going to be later than that park outside on the street so as not to get towed. Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest blog posts, tips, & travel guides. 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. Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. A short walk . Love this hike! Best time for Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs in Hawaii 2022 Ghosts and Night Marchers in Moanalua Mysteries of Hawai'i 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. Please explore other trails nearby. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. Ironically, the general consensus is that the stairs are actually a safer and easier route to the top of the mountain. Thank for your continued support. The group is part of the 15th Wing. Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. Thanks for looking! Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. An absolutely amazing experience. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. ", Hikerstold KHONthe trail was muddy from rain this past weekend. Moanalua Valley Trail - Moanalua Valley Trail - Tripadvisor We dont know for sure what happened, but its more likely his death happened on the steep and muddy Moanalua trail, not the stairway. Be careful with the wind and rain on the ridge. 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. An off-duty firefighter died in 2014 and a social worker died in 2011, both from falling off the trail. Judd Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. per adult. It was gorgeous & worth all the aches later lol. Its been a wild ride. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Liability is the main reason theyre closed. Not the one all the way to the left. 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. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. All rights reserved. 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. Mahalo! There were plans to remove the stairs, but theres also been a lot of pushback from Hawaii locals wanting to keep the stairs. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. 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. If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. In this web series,we bring you our favorite Oahu trails once a month. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. 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. 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. Legal? Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. 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! Moanalua Middle Ridge (Honolulu) - All You Need to Know - Tripadvisor Bummer, this trail is closed. If people cared more about the "nature" that they so desperately enjoy in this valley, then I wouldn't even be on here. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Leads to the Kulana'Ahane Trail - Review of Moanalua Valley Trail 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. It has about 3 times as much elevation gain and takes at least 3 times as long to climb. and news flash, every part of Hawaii is sacred! If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. Ethical? Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs (Legal 'Backway' to Stairway to But is the solution to shut everything down? The trail starts as a road barred by a green gate. It's not easy to find. Legal Statement. Dont sue the state. After that, it should be pretty straightforward. Moanalua Valley Trail - Yelp Good luck and enjoy! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Make sure you have done your research (YouTube) and you should be ready to are some awesome views. The cause of the airmans death is under investigation. "It was an absolute honor when you asked me to commission you into the Air Force," wrote David Michael Rothzeid in a Facebook post. a pic? The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. Kulana'ahane to H-3 Summit Saddle | Map, Guide - AllTrails Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Stairway To Heaven Hawaii Hike: Epic Haiku Stairs Oahu Trail You can also reach out for info/if you have other questions about the hike or other hikes here. Hiking sandals are ok IF you're experienced hiking in muddy slippery conditions in them. A guide to those volcanic terms: Pele's hair, caldera, volcanic ash -- learn what they mean, Suspect in deadly Kapiolani hit-and-run crash released from jail, Beware of counterfeit products this holiday shopping season, Homeland Security Investigations warns, Maui County residents asked to report property damage caused by massive weekend ocean swells, Thanksgiving travel should be less chaotic than summer, Sunday Morning Weather - Light Trade Winds Continue. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. 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. One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. (Damon was the son of Bernice Pauahi Bishops husbands business partner. Please be prepared! The trailhead begins at Moanalua Valley Park. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Also, more so than the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the peak to the radio station is far muddier and much more slippery. Don't. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. However, we wouldnt recommend running. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. . 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. Many people come unprepared for hiking on Oahu and thats why there are so many rescues. 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. Start at the parking lot at the end of Moanalua Valley Road. Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. 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. Plan accordingly. It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. It was intense & very rewarding. 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. I really hope they dont do that. The first mile on this trail climbs 900 feet in elevation and is primarily through trees. All anyone posts on here is about hiking the "legal" way, its not. Loving all your content and guidance! Stay hydrated and prepare for the unexpected. 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. Firefighters said that the rivers crossing the trail were at a dangerously high level. This is the trailhead for the hike and you will follow this path until you reach the middle ridge. Many of the best hikes in Oahu have been closed preemptively to avoid more of these unjustified lawsuits. -Dogs and babies not advisable on this trail. 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. Please explore responsibly! Yes the steepest parts have metal railings to hold. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. Please do not bring your babies, this hike is far too dangerous for young children. We rest here for a while, towering above the island. 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. The Best of Hawai'i's Great Outdoors: 20 Great O'ahu Hikes I'd recommend doing this hike early as possible to avoid the potential crowds. 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. With alternate trails and surrounding hunting grounds, its easy for dogs to get lost. The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. Loved every minute of it! You definitely want good weather for this hike. Moanalua Valley. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of mostfitness levels. Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak. There is no legal way to the stairs. it's not. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Instagram @dblock55. Its towering heights along a steep ridge could cause a sudden slip to be fatal. Let's stay updated! 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. Wonderful read! Views are worth it. 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. This is known as the back way for the Stairway To Heaven. 804. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. The fine is reportedly $1000 if you are ticketed at the summit or on the stairs. There is parking in the park parking lot, but it's only open from 7 am to 7 pm. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". 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. 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. At the beginning, a large monkeypod tree leads to the Douglas Damon house site. Anthony J. Polizzi. I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. Did this exact hike. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers. Easy hike through the lush forest of Kamananui Valley. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Date of experience: June 2019. After all, well be inching closer to the sun at an elevation gain of about 2,585 feet from where were currently standing. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. 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. We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. It has some sections of nearly vertical, rope and muddy sections. This will lead you to an open grassy valley that gives you spectacular views of the valley. Personally I think hikers should decide for themselves what kind of risks theyre comfortable with, but bear the responsibility themselves if they have an accident. This hike sounds like something I would love to do. We did run into a few people who had gotten lost at the start though. Im chicken little when it comes to doing anything that is deemed illegal. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. All rights reserved. This is my Journey Era. He was Stars and Stripes roving Pacific reporter from 2011-2013 while based in Tokyo. You have permission to edit this article. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. To stay safe on this hike, just wear shoes with good grip and remember to keep three points of contact at all times. She was . adventures and follow local regulations. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. The Oahu Stairway To Heaven was built by the US Navy in 1942, along with a radio station and giant antenna at the top of the mountain that were used to communicate with ships in the Pacific during World War II. Please be quiet and respectful of the local residents as you are parking, packing, and reaching the trailhead. For more information, visit: Moanalua Valley and Tripler Ridge Trail Loop, Kalihi Ice Ponds [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY]. Oh my! Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. I didnt need spikes but some good traction helps. The other specific laws that come into play here are located in HRS chapters 104 and 130, State Forestry and Na Ala Hele Access. -Food. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. 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. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. The Moanalua Valley Trail begins at the end of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park. ", "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. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. Climbing Haiku Stairs on Oahu - realhawaii.co Can see the water on both sides of the islands the further up you hike. (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.) 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. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail | Map, Guide - AllTrails 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. Anthony J. Polizzi. 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. My wife Intan and I are usually in our second home Bali, but our journeys take us to destinations all over the world. 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. Wear proper shoes and bring gloves!Quite muddy 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. The Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike is epic, dangerous, and illegal. no reports have been added for Moanalua Valley Trail yet, add a trail report. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. Moanalua Valley Trail (Honolulu) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Regular athletic shoes will not do the job. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (A proper trail runner or hiking shoe. The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. Moanalua Valley Trail Hiking Trail - Pearl City, HI - Trailforks I hope it will be repaired and preserved for people to enjoy forever. Being inside the Forest Reserve is completely legal, as is being on Kamananui Trail. If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. I also didnt get enough sleep dont be like me. 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.. The main reason to take the back way is just to stay legal and rule out any possible fines. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. 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. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? 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. 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. 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