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. Hawaii, like any other state, has property laws. If you want to see this place legally with almost no chance of fines, you can hike up the Moanalua Valley Trail on the back side of the same mountain. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. BLOG POST: If you are interested in my experience (many years ago) hiking the Stairway to Heaven the regular way you can check out my blog post here: STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN HIKE ON OAHU, HAWAII: UPDATED 2021, OAHU HIKING GUIDE: Ive written a guide for the top hikes on Oahu that I am sure you will find useful: TOP 10 HIKES ON OAHU, HAWAII. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. This is known as the back way for the Stairway To Heaven. Eventually you will crest on a peak with a sign pointing the way you've come, the first indication of the trails actual name of "Middle Ridge". In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. We recommend packing an external back-up battery. Mahalo! In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. Id allow a good 4hrs to hike if with a group and more time if the conditions are windy or muddy. Try hike the Lanikai pill box brah. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. I also didnt get enough sleep dont be like me. The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. 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 helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. Youll cross the streambed immediately and then begin to climb quickly. Also, more so than the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the peak to the radio station is far muddier and much more slippery. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. 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. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! Drone shot of the mountain. Usually trail run in the valley or hike up the ridge a couple times a week. Tripadvisor performs checks on . Be careful on your footing & hand placements not all branches are build to hold your weight. 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. Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. Lastly, you could also be billed for emergency services if youre somehow injured and need to be rescued while doing this hike. 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. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. 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. Gallantry: Biden presents Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. Paris Davis for his heroics in Vietnam, US to send bridge-launching vehicles for tank deployments to Ukraine in new $400M aid package, Japan complains to US over Utah senators remarks on imprisoned Navy officer, Military, VA provide troops, vets more gun safety options to help reduce suicides, Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. Im not easy to sunburn, but he tosses me the bottle anyway, a suggestion to rub in a little more than I already have. Good luck and enjoy! My issue isn't with people hiking to the stairs, its with people using Moanalua to hike to the stairs and not caring about the impact they are leaving while doing so. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. 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. In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. Also please pack out your trash! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Translation: Its going to be a long day. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. 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. Youll encounter a couple more ropes (as you did during the Moanalua hike) which will be instrumental in getting down some of the slopes. Whenever you buy something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Theres also a legal way to reach the top of the mountain by climbing it from the backside via Moanalua Valley trail, which Ill explain in more detail later in this guide. Firefighters hiked up the trail and made contact with the woman at 10:12 p.m., and determined both hikers were uninjured so, it was decided to escort the hikers on foot. Finiahed in 10 hours. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. We put on our microspikes at the riverbed and they were handy all the way to the summit. The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. If you'd like to help even more, be sure to check out my Patreon as well. Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve (Moanalua section). Relax, its not as scary as it looks here. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. Additionally, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. Ethical? 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. Generally considered a challenging route. The group is part of the 15th Wing. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. The small section damaged by the storm is not steep. Market data provided by Factset. Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking, Furnishings, appliances from Shirokiya Japan Village Walk up for auction, Former Mililani High athletic director indicted, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. 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. ; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. You have permission to edit this article. Liability is the main reason theyre closed. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. Accessing the Trail: The trail starts at Moanalua Valley Park, about 20 minutes away from Waikiki. In this web series,we bring you our favorite Oahu trails once a month. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your 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). Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. DM me on IG: @OutFullSending. I noticed families on the trail, along with babies being carried by their parents. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. Make sure you at least have the basics and you will be prepared for bad weather or any mishaps on the trail. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. There are shorter hikes on this island with better views and less risk. Similar to the Angles Landing Hike in Zion National Park. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. 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. I did this hike solo about a month ago. -Rain jacket/windbreaker . 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. The first mile on this trail climbs 900 feet in elevation and is primarily through trees. Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. You definitely want good weather for this hike. It was beautiful! ", 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. 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. This is incorrect. HONOLULU (KITV4) Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on the Moanalua Valley Trail on Friday evening. Wow, the Haiku Stairs, although strenuous, it looks fun with great views and a sense of accomplishment at the end. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY], https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=11354. 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. 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. Once finally at the peak youll see the Haiku Stairs Radio Tower comes into view. This breathtaking gem was built in 1982 by the US Army Corps of Engineering to prevent flooding. 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. Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. 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. The trail takes you to the same lookout as the Haiku Stairs. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. However, if you cross over and set foot on the platform of the satellite or venture onto the stairs you are now in an illegal area. (Phi Phi Leh), Santorini Greece Travel Guide: Things To Do In Santorini Island, Navagio Beach Greece: Shipwreck Bay In Zakynthos Island, Zakynthos Greece Travel Guide: How To Visit Zakynthos Island, Phi Phi Island Thailand Travel Guide (Koh Phi Phi Islands), Huayna Picchu Hike: The Machu Picchu Stairs Of Death, Utah Hiking Guide: 17 Best Utah Hikes & Trails, 35 Best Things To Do In Oahu Hawaii (Fun, Couples, Free), 25 Best Hikes In Indonesia: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, & Jungles, Koko Head Hike: Koko Crater Trail & Stairs In Oahu Hawaii, Angels Landing Hike: Epic Chain Trail In Zion National Park Utah, Komodo Island Indonesia: National Park & Dragon Tour. From a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. Ill add a note about that in the article. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. The final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. The trail to the top of the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is prohibited. Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Go past it about 20 paces. The ground can get dangerously slippery and muddy. Most accidents happen when hikers leave the established trail and disregard warning signs. (iStock). Ironically, the general consensus is that the stairs are actually a safer and easier route to the top of the mountain. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. 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. The sounds of the cars on the H3 highway below you gradually disappear, and everything starts to get quiet. In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. While you cant legally step foot on the stairs or satellite summit area, you can make it all the way up to that area so this route is a great alternative to the controversial and heavily regulated Haiku Stairs (the front way). Well worth that investment of time sweat & tears! ", Hikerstold KHONthe trail was muddy from rain this past weekend. 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. Recommended. 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. Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. You need to take the MIDDLE option. Dinner and Show Tickets. Do NOT take this route. Date of experience: June 2019. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. Get an early start, because parking fills up fast. A coworker identified the victim as Nathan Stowell, 24. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th. Many people come unprepared for hiking on Oahu and thats why there are so many rescues. Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. The trail was washing away. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? 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. Start at the parking lot at the end of Moanalua Valley Road. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. For me personally, it was well worth any of the risks involved! The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike.