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This is the trail that leads you up the Moanalua Ridge, also known as the Moanalua Middle Ridge. Check out their website and consider donating if youre a fan. (Facebook/Nathan Stowell). If its your first time on the trail and you lose sight of other hikers, take care to keep to the right once youre about two miles in, as heading left will take you to a different trail. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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 views are simply stunning and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Chinamans Hat near Kualoa Ranch and in the other direction, you can see all the way to Rabbit Island at Makapuu. 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. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. 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. Thanks for looking! THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. -2L water MINIMUM. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? No skate shoes.) from around the world. Yes, technically it is illegal to climb the Oahu Haiku Stairs since theyre closed to the public. We did this trail in about 6.5 hours (both of us experienced hikers) with stoping for many photos and breaks. 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. Fun hike. Please see J T s comments below before attempting this. It was intense & very rewarding. Anthony J. Polizzi. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. Do NOT take this route. Too many litterbugs on the island sadly. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. The first 2.5ish miles are flat and the next 2 miles are a pretty steep incline. It was gorgeous & worth all the aches later lol. I hope my travels give you the motivation to set off on an epic adventure of your own. The Moanalua Valley Trail isnt as popular as the Haiku Stairs themselves but it is growing in popularity and the trail can get quite busy. As someone who grew up in a nearby neighborhood in the 80s and still has a good family friend that lives IN the Haiku stairs neighborhood Ill tell you one thing hiking blogs and social media posts dont seem to mention the history of bad behavior from young, disrespectful hikers who arrive at 4am, dont even try to keep their noise levels down, cut through the backyards of residents, and use residents hoses to rinse off after hiking the stairway. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. 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.. From a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. Please explore responsibly! There is a bathroom and water at the park only. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. Thank for your continued support. from. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. No more news yet. The trail quietly opens up and were greeted with an elevated view of the valleys treetops sprawling out beneath us. Tripadvisor performs checks on . listen to flash flood warnings. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. It has about 3 times as much elevation gain and takes at least 3 times as long to climb. The view from the tower is the most spectacular although there will be lookouts before which are gorgeous as well. Toa Luau at Waimea Valley. Liability is the main reason theyre closed. Thank you. Though the trail is not particularly hilly, it is also not paved and there are muddy spots that should be approached with caution. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Instead, retrace the Moanalua Ridge route to get back to your original destination. Once up on the ridge, the view is absolutely incredible! The cause of the airmans death is under investigation. Its actually one of the safest parts of the hike IMO. (Google Maps calls it Moanalua Valley Trail Start.) The trailhead begins at Moanalua Valley Park. Not the one all the way to the left. 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. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. That wouldnt be cheap. You'll enjoy sweeping views of southern Oahu on this 10.4-mile roundtrip hike. 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). Loved every minute of it! Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. Wear spikes if you have them, makes most of the trail up the ridge line easier. After the first three miles, when you start to ascend, it could get really slippery, if youre not an experienced hiker, DO NOT do this hike after rainy days. Be prepared for lots of mud! He was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, where he was pronounced dead, the Air Force said. I'd recommend doing this hike early as possible to avoid the potential crowds. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. If someone is offering to take you on a hike for a fee, you should report them to the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. Firefighters said that the rivers crossing the trail were at a dangerously high level. 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. He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Also please pack out your trash! Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. Drone shot of the mountain. After that, it should be pretty straightforward. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. 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. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. In this web series,we bring you our favorite Oahu trails once a month. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. Put a damn police officer in the station at the top and fine them and arrest them if you dont want people there. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. Spikes and gloves definitely help but arent 100% necessary. Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. He was Stars and Stripes roving Pacific reporter from 2011-2013 while based in Tokyo. 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. Though theres no ocean view at the end,this trail is a journey through a bunch of natural beauty and history. Ive done both hikes many times over the years, and I have to say there is really no comparison in terms of difficulty. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. It's not about the rules and laws I've cited. Keep in mind, the adventurers MUST be respectful to neighbourhood residents living in this area. Keep in mind, to stay 100 percent legal on this hike you will have to go back the same way you came. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Parking: Park at the Moanalua Valley Park. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @mike.karas or email me at mikekarasphotography@gmail.com if youd like to join or like gear for the hike I have plenty of microspikes and gloves. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. "It was an absolute honor when you asked me to commission you into the Air Force," wrote David Michael Rothzeid in a Facebook post. ", James Keener, of Hawaii Fresh Farms where Stowell worked, according to his Facebook page, wrote that the 24-year-oldwas like a son to himand "died the way he lived, taking chances, and living everyday to its fullest.". Ironically, the general consensus is that the stairs are actually a safer and easier route to the top of the mountain. (iStock). 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. How To Get There: Stairway Entrance / Directions, Deaths On The Stairway To Heaven In Hawaii. Ive done most of the hikes on the island before. No experience and with a 8 year old. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Blah, blah, blah. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. 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. After all, well be inching closer to the sun at an elevation gain of about 2,585 feet from where were currently standing. 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. The key in the first part of the hike is to be cognizant of the distance you are covering as the ridge trail is somewhat hidden and can be easily missed. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. If you have all trails just follow that! On my hike up the Moanalua Valley Trail, I went halfway down the stairs and back up just to explore and then returned via the Moanalua Valley Trail although I met some people who were going to try and exit via the stairs. An absolutely amazing experience. Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). 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 trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. 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. Moanalua Valley has a rich cultural history that is important to the people of Hawaii. ! Anyone who hikes the 10 miles round trip is obviously going to go to the top of the stairs, or beyond. Ill add a note about that in the article. (Facebook). Instead walk another 15 feet further and youll see a small, unsigned trail on your left hand side. I'll save you some time and note that it goes nowhere :). It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. Id allow a good 4hrs to hike if with a group and more time if the conditions are windy or muddy. Regular athletic shoes will not do the job. no reports have been added for Moanalua Valley Trail yet, add a trail report. Translation: Its going to be a long day. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. I'm David, an American with a passion for adventure, the outdoors, and all things travel. Hoomaluhia means "to make a place of peace and tranquility." document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Mahalo! 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. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Wind and rain can make it much harder and more risky. Legal Statement. 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 dangerous trail since 2011. 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. Know your physical abilities and limitations; select trails that can be enjoyed safely. The small section damaged by the storm is not steep. "I am so proud of the leader you became and the passion with which you tackled your maintenance profession. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Hunters frequent the surrounding area, so, when in doubt, follow the stream! It's not easy to find. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. 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. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. Please be respectful to the place we call home and follow the rules. There is no legal way to the stairs. 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". The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. Please find another hike. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. No such facilities are available within the valley itself. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. 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. Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. Don't listen to the naysayers who hate tourists. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. Make sure you allow enough time to complete the hike so youre not heading back in the dark. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. Lol ALOHAAAAA. Ethical? Be careful on your footing & hand placements not all branches are build to hold your weight. 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. People claim the stairs are dangerous but they are a lot safer than climbing the mountains without stairs which is what people are doing to avoid breaking the law (but then they get on the stairs at the top for photos). More advanced hike along the ridge line. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. You have permission to edit this article. Park off the Old Pali Highway before the lookout in the dirt parking lot. I was lucky enough to have climbed on a windless morning, but any wind will add to the complexity and risk to the hike. Staying on the trail greatly reduces your chances of getting injured or lost. Market data provided by Factset. Have some light. The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. 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. Mahalo for reading this. Bring ziplock bag to gather your trash respect the land & beauty of the island. 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. 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. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. I noticed families on the trail, along with babies being carried by their parents. All rights reserved. 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. Looking to hike this any day in next week .if anybody's down, msg me in insta @allispichkooo:), Anyone want to do this on 11/24 or 11/25? This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Been there. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. Bring a cell phone, which can be a lifesaver during an emergency. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. "Novices have no business being on that hike. Wonderful read! 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. 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. Recommended. At a few points I need to brace myself against the bark of an ohia tree to keep from losing my balance. 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 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. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. Wyatt Olson is based in the Honolulu bureau, where he has reported on military and security issues in the Indo-Pacific since 2014.