Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. 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. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. To remember: You came this far. Instagram @dblock55. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @mike.karas or email me at [email protected] if youd like to join or like gear for the hike I have plenty of microspikes and gloves. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Loving all your content and guidance! Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. This is the trailhead for the hike and you will follow this path until you reach the middle ridge. 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. Im Jackson, an Australian adventure traveler who has been on the road for eight years now. Even the Kalalau Trail is open in Kauai despite being much more risky than the Stairway To Heaven. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. He was Stars and Stripes roving Pacific reporter from 2011-2013 while based in Tokyo. 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. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. Anthony Polizzi, Col. Dan Dobbels, commander of the 15th Wing, said in the statement. Moanalua Valley Trail 4 0 ftHiking Trails Pearl Harbor National Memorial 13,695 2.7 miHistoric Sites Military Bases & Facilities USS Arizona Memorial 27,032 Historic Sites Cemeteries See all See what other travelers are saying JacksonJones 24 contributions Amazing Ridge Hike to the Top of the Haiku Stairs 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. The Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike is epic, dangerous, and illegal. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. Im not easy to sunburn, but he tosses me the bottle anyway, a suggestion to rub in a little more than I already have. Please explore other trails nearby. The first mile on this trail climbs 900 feet in elevation and is primarily through trees. We put on our microspikes at the riverbed and they were handy all the way to the summit. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. 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. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. Please be quiet and respectful of the local residents as you are parking, packing, and reaching the trailhead. At another, I cut up my knuckles clawing for exposed roots to keep from tumbling down the rugged spine. DM me on IG: @OutFullSending. 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. Criminal penalties and EMS fees are charged as well due to the illegal nature of the hike. Firefighters had to comb through a wooded area and ask a hiker to shake a tree before they found the body just after noon, Fire Captain KevinMokulehua said. You walk an easy trail for 3 miles before you start ascending to the summit, which is nearly 2 miles up. 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. The exposed ridges have more space on the sides than the pictures seem. Crouching Lion and Sacred Falls are other examples. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Drone shot of the mountain. The trail is a legal hike and you should have no issues on the route towards the summit. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. 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. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. 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 Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. Climbing Haiku Stairs on Oahu - realhawaii.co 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. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". a pic? Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Finiahed in 10 hours. The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. 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. Ill also share my full experience and all of my photos including some epic shots from the summit so you can get an idea of why this was one of my favorite hikes on Oahu, Hawaii. Its Definitely challenging get rest water food. I was wondering 10.4 miles is it a round trip? Trailhead Coordinates - Latitude: 21.37409 | Longitude: -157.880509. Legal Statement. Ghosts and Night Marchers in Moanalua Mysteries of Hawai'i 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. 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. If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. 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. Fun hike. 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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. 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. Parking: Park at the Moanalua Valley Park. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. Daylenn "Moke" Pua, 17, vanished five days ago while heading to the Haiku Stairs. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). Ownership of the stairs was given to the city of Honolulu, and supposedly they were planning to turn the Haiku Stairs hike into a paid attraction. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. However, it is infrequent and often there is no one up there and you can explore if you choose to. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Definitely not a short one. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. Choose wisely! I explored the radio tower, Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven), and a set of abandoned, overgrown stairs. Toa Luau at Waimea Valley. Be prepared for lots of mud! That hasnt stopped locals, hikers, and tourists sneaking past a guard who is posted at the bottom of the stairs to experience the thrilling 4000ft long climb along an 18-inch wide staircase reaching heights of above 2000ft. 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. You can also reach out for info/if you have other questions about the hike or other hikes here. Super muddy, have to cross the river to complete. The Moanalua trail can be muddy after rain, so check the conditions before you go. Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. Please explore other trails nearby. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. We will be hiking in later June so probably drier. Liability is the main reason theyre closed. 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. For me personally, it was well worth any of the risks involved! After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. Give me a break!, its a hike, and a damn good one at that! Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. 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. Moanalua Valley Trail - Yelp The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. IG: @ lis.aloha. We recommend packing an external back-up battery. Yes, technically it is illegal to climb the Oahu Haiku Stairs since theyre closed to the public. Kulana'ahane Trail | Outdoor Project Im chicken little when it comes to doing anything that is deemed illegal. The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. It has about 3 times as much elevation gain and takes at least 3 times as long to climb. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. Have some light. If its handled right, this solution could resolve many of the issues associated with the Stairway To Heaven. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! 0 rides ; 6 Months. A short walk . 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. There are dozens of other legal trails that give you a similar view that you can hike. This is the trail that leads you up the Moanalua Ridge, also known as the Moanalua Middle Ridge. Moanalua Valley Trail is the back route and legal access to the Haiku Stairs, which is illegal to access from the front stairway. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. We did the Uncle Toms Trail in Yellowstone and for me that was one of the best little adventures Ive done. 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. Still interested? Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Moanalua Valley. Similar to the Angles Landing Hike in Zion National Park. If you have all trails just follow that! 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. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. So if you're going to be later than that park outside on the street so as not to get towed. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. I was extremely surprised at the amount of people who I crossed when I hiked it. Thanks for your support. The time should be posted on the gate. Park off the Old Pali Highway before the lookout in the dirt parking lot. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Please be respectful to the place we call home and follow the rules. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. The area escorts us into a network of trails here, where the middle ridge opens up upon crossing a streambed found just after the marker for the Kulanaahane Trail. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. These people are mad and will make increasing trouble for hikers as time goes by. Loved every minute of it! The trail is a little over 9 miles roundtrip and took us about 7 hours (we hung out at the top for 30 minutes or so). There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. For safety. These are extremely helpful and if the trail is the least bit muddy they are a full-fledged necessity. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. 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. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike.