At another, I cut up my knuckles clawing for exposed roots to keep from tumbling down the rugged spine. Dont sue the state. 0 rides ; 6 Months. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 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. Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). You walk an easy trail for 3 miles before you start ascending to the summit, which is nearly 2 miles up. Its been a wild ride. Past Week. There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. Not the one all the way to the left. Air Force captain who died during Hawaii hike remembered as 'leader 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. Anthony J. Polizzi. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Views are worth it. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. 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. We did the Uncle Toms Trail in Yellowstone and for me that was one of the best little adventures Ive done. The Stairway To Heaven trail is scary, but not very dangerous in my opinion unless you goof off or do something dumb. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. shoes meant for hiking. Moanalua Valley Trail - Yelp 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. (10-15) When I got to the top there was probably 10 or so people hanging out which is cool and all, but took away from the experience for me. I was wondering what hike is the one you took the first picture in!! 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. Still, thousands of people make the climb every year, and for good reason its one of the most spectacular hikes on Earth! Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs (Legal 'Backway' to Stairway to Being inside the Forest Reserve is completely legal, as is being on Kamananui Trail. Preview trail 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. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. (Google Maps calls it Moanalua Valley Trail Start.) We were SO excited to find a legal way to hike the Haiku Stairs. There is parking in the park parking lot, but it's only open from 7 am to 7 pm. Blah, blah, blah. Mahalo for reading this. These are extremely helpful and if the trail is the least bit muddy they are a full-fledged necessity. or redistributed. 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). 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. Here are my hiking essentials. This is a review for hiking the Moanalua Valley to Middle Ridge to Tripler Ridge (AKA the legal back way to the Stairway to Heaven) and then down the stairs. About 200 yards from the radio tower, the trail eases up and you begin to see the sweeping panoramic views over Honolulu and southern Oahu. (iStock). 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. 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. All rights reserved. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. "It was an absolute honor when you asked me to commission you into the Air Force," wrote David Michael Rothzeid in a Facebook post. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. We did not have spikes or gloves and it was 100% fine, but it would have been a help especially if there has been recent rain. Amazing! This will lead you to an open grassy valley that gives you spectacular views of the valley. Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. Please be respectful to the place we call home and follow the rules. As the years have gone by and patience thinned then disappeared completely, hikers have tried to be more stealthy but its a little too late I dont know about you but if all that was happening on a near daily basis to my neighborhood, Id be pretty upset too! The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. Future Of The Haiku Stairs Open / Closed? Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. As we continue on for the next few hours theres something encouraging about being able to zero in on where we started at Moanalua Valley Park and the remote summit before us, to visually track our progress. 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. Wow, the Haiku Stairs, although strenuous, it looks fun with great views and a sense of accomplishment at the end. Easy hike through the lush forest of Kamananui Valley. In any case, just be aware that fines of up to $1,000 have occasionally been given out to people caught climbing the staircase. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. If you look closely, you can see the winding stairway. Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. 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. Its 328 steps to a raging waterfall. When she willed the entire ahupuaa of Moanalua to Damons father in 1884, the luxurious valley home was built.) These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. Market data provided by Factset. 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. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. You have permission to edit this article. Though theres no ocean view at the end,this trail is a journey through a bunch of natural beauty and history. From plantation towns to planned communities, Central Oahu has its share of secret spots, a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats. Non-potable stream water can be found through out the valley. 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. The main problem is going through the neighborhood. It has some sections of nearly vertical, rope and muddy sections. Ironically, the general consensus is that the stairs are actually a safer and easier route to the top of the mountain. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. I noticed families on the trail, along with babies being carried by their parents. 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. Start hiking along the road/trail just past the bathrooms. Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. Talk Kaimuk Has Coffee Drinks by Day, Cocktails at Night, Where to Find Mochi and Other Sweet Treats for Girls Day in Honolulu, The Bowl that Converted Me: Saimin at Janes Fountain, AYCE Nights: My Favorite All-You-Can-Eat Hot Pot Spots in Honolulu, Photos: 2023 Best Dentists in Hawaii Reception, The Top 5 Whiskey Drinks to Order at ELEVEN, The HDS Tooth Fairy is Coming Back to Kakaako, A Locals Guide to an Oahu Road Trip: Wahiaw to Salt Lake, Spring Fashion Feature: Proud Hawaiian Model Mahina Florence Inspires Murals, 10 Local Ocean-Friendly Restaurants on Oahu to Try Now, February 2023: Our Top 3 Most-Viewed Posts About Oahus Food Scene, Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: March 28, 2023, 28 Irresistibly Cute Girls Day Gifts for Women and Keiki, Why We Eat Mochi and Display Dolls on Girls Day in Hawaii, My 12 Favorite Restaurants Off the Strip in Las Vegas. 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. Fair enough. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. Park off the Old Pali Highway before the lookout in the dirt parking lot. Give me a break!, its a hike, and a damn good one at that! 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. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. Though the trail is not particularly hilly, it is also not paved and there are muddy spots that should be approached with caution. This hike is long, and the weather can change quickly along the trail as you ascend to just shy of 3,000ft elevation. Finiahed in 10 hours. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail | Map, Guide - AllTrails Its absolutely gorgeous. Invalid password or account does not exist. Check out their website and consider donating if youre a fan. Have some light. Also please pack out your trash! The road eventually turns to an unimproved road and later a narrow trail. However, we wouldnt recommend running. Continue on the main trail up and up and up. Get an early start, because parking fills up fast. 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. This is the trailhead for the hike and you will follow this path until you reach the middle ridge. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. Plan accordingly. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. Most accidents happen when hikers leave the established trail and disregard warning signs. If you are confused follow the AllTrails map. If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. 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. A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. MOANALUA VALLEY TRAIL - 493 Photos & 61 Reviews - Yelp