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. He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. 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. Test first before committing your weight on it. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. To remember: You came this far. Invalid password or account does not exist. 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. Polizzi collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley trail on Oahu. Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the view of the abandoned Radio Tower comes into view. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Thank for your continued support. Super muddy, have to cross the river to complete. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. adventures and follow local regulations. -Headlamp. These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! Keep in mind climbing begins over 2 miles from start point. Bring A LOT of water, snacks, sunscreen and gloves really help for the ropes. The sounds of the cars on the H3 highway below you gradually disappear, and everything starts to get quiet. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The first 2.5ish miles are flat and the next 2 miles are a pretty steep incline. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. Not muddy today. As of 2023, there have never been any falling deaths on the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike. Please be prepared! The cause of the airmans death is under investigation. What can be earliest time to start this hike? Also please pack out your trash! Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. Though the trail is not particularly hilly, it is also not paved and there are muddy spots that should be approached with caution. There are dozens of other legal trails that give you a similar view that you can hike. Thank you. 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. If people cared more about the "nature" that they so desperately enjoy in this valley, then I wouldn't even be on here. At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. -Good shoes. This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. There is parking in the park parking lot, but it's only open from 7 am to 7 pm. For more information, visit: Moanalua Valley and Tripler Ridge Trail Loop, Kalihi Ice Ponds [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY]. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. 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. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. Translation: Its going to be a long day. Ask bognarofsydney about Moanalua Valley Trail. The group is part of the 15th Wing. But, this is just the beginning, and there are more to scale, a handful of which require ropes already strung along its steepest sections, and I gather this will be the theme of the day: up and down, then up again until theres nowhere else to climb. JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. 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. (A proper trail runner or hiking shoe. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. 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. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Ill add a note about that in the article. The 2nd mile of this trail brings 1100 ft of elevation, is far more exposed and the trail teeters in the middle of sharp angled drop offs on either side. To begin the Moanalua Valley Trail you will first need to drive to the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and park in the streets nearby. Make sure you allow enough time to complete the hike so youre not heading back in the dark. Drone shot of the mountain. Bummer, this trail is closed. 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. Polizzi was on the hike with a group of friends. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. Word to the wise: count the crossings, but don't take them as gospel. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. Still interested? Your selfish Instagram post is at the expense of destroying the island's fragile eco-diversity. (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. Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Oh my! Know your physical abilities and limitations; select trails that can be enjoyed safely. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Once up on the ridge, the view is absolutely incredible! Hunters frequent the surrounding area, so, when in doubt, follow the stream! Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. You walk an easy trail for 3 miles before you start ascending to the summit, which is nearly 2 miles up. Eventually, a sliver of the Pacific Ocean peeks out from the other side of the mountain and, before I know it, were at our destination, rewarded with a panoramic view of the Windward Side. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. My issue is with the multiple bags of rubbish and litter in the valley that I've personally removed. I really hope they dont do that. Not the one all the way to the left. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. Youll cross the streambed immediately and then begin to climb quickly. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! 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. It will take you through a creek bed, where the trail is fairly obvious to find. 0 rides ; 6 Months. Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. Accessing the Trail: The trail starts at Moanalua Valley Park, about 20 minutes away from Waikiki. If you have further questions about the legality of this hike, you can contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs (Stairway To Heaven) [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY] Hard 4.7 (2199) Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve Photos (5,275) Directions Print/PDF map Length 10.5 miElevation gain 5,029 ftRoute type Out & back Bummer, this trail is closed. Loved every minute of it! There is a bathroom and water at the park only. It's not easy to find. Put a damn police officer in the station at the top and fine them and arrest them if you dont want people there. The trail quietly opens up and were greeted with an elevated view of the valleys treetops sprawling out beneath us. from. This is incorrect. Park off the Old Pali Highway before the lookout in the dirt parking lot. Moanalua Valley Trail the legal back way for the Stairway To Heaven. You have permission to edit this article. 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. A non-profit group called Friends of Haiku Stairs has drawn up some good plans for keeping the staircase and re-opening it with managed access, hiker fees, assumed liability, and minimal disturbance to the local neighborhood. Looking to hike this this week if anybody wants to go .msg insta @allispichkooo :), Aloha! 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! Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak. Date of experience: June 2019. So long as you make the right turn in The Valley you can easily find your way up, assuming youre up to the effort. Overall, I think the risk of death on the Stairway To Heaven in Hawaii is greatly overstated, and as long as youre careful you should be fine. Native plants along the ridge and rare apapane (Hawaiian honeycreeper) sightings aside, the hike has grown in popularity over the years because of its whispered status as a legal access route, the back way, to the infamous HaikuStairs. At another, I cut up my knuckles clawing for exposed roots to keep from tumbling down the rugged spine. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. Oahu Small Group Circle Island Sightseeing Tour. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Let's stay updated! The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. -Rain jacket/windbreaker . The last crossing is allll the way at the end, and immediately after that last crossing, it's dense 12ft tall grass and the trail disappears. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. Instead, retrace the Moanalua Ridge route to get back to your original destination. 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. We did run into a few people who had gotten lost at the start though. Hoomaluhia means "to make a place of peace and tranquility." There are shorter hikes on this island with better views and less risk. The Stairway To Heaven trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The middle ridge in Moanalua is home to many native species not found anywhere else in the world, and being at the top of the ridge, the effects of illegal hikers and illegal tours ripples down into the valley. When you make it to the sign saying Kulanaahane continue on for another few meters until you will find the pathway on your left, which leads you across the rocky riverbed. Thanks for your support. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. Even the Kalalau Trail is open in Kauai despite being much more risky than the Stairway To Heaven. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. I noticed families on the trail, along with babies being carried by their parents. No experience and with a 8 year old. 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. 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. Bring water & food. I didnt end up using mine even with the amount of rain and mud present. 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). Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! 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. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. Anthony J. Polizzi. This trail suits two- and four-legged hikers of most fitness levels. The other specific laws that come into play here are located in HRS chapters 104 and 130, State Forestry and Na Ala Hele Access. One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. A headlamp, rain jacket, and good hiking boots or shoes are the three main pieces of gear you need. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. All rights reserved. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. There should be more information about this soon. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. $125.33. HONOLULU (KITV4) Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on the Moanalua Valley Trail on Friday evening. The trail takes you to the same lookout as the Haiku Stairs. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. Good hike, perfectly legal way. 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 helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. You can see the windward side of Oahu island with Kaneohe Bays sandbars, and an amphitheater of mountains surrounding you on all sides. Thousands of people hike this trail every year and no one has ever died by falling. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. Mahalo! He was Stars and Stripes roving Pacific reporter from 2011-2013 while based in Tokyo. Please explore responsibly! Significantly more roots are exposed as well. The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. I also didnt get enough sleep dont be like me. Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. We make our initial ascent. Make the risks known to people, but dont close all the hikes. The Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs is a 10.7 mile (roundtrip) hike along varying terrains with several rope climb sections and very narrow ridge climbing. The time should be posted on the gate. Lol ALOHAAAAA. Fortunately,Oahu is full of great hikes. "Novices have no business being on that hike. The small section damaged by the storm is not steep. . 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 Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. You can read about it in this SFGate article. 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. Stay hydrated and prepare for the unexpected. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. This is quite the work out and worth the view. Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). The trail to the top of the Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is prohibited. Once at the summit of the Moanalua Valley Trail you will essentially enjoy the view and then turn back around and head down the way you came. An off-duty firefighter died in 2014 and a social worker died in 2011, both from falling off the trail. This hike is long, and the weather can change quickly along the trail as you ascend to just shy of 3,000ft elevation. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. Basically, politics and money got in the way of this epic hike. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. 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. Every time I turned around to look back towards the city, the view just kept getting better and better. Lastly, you could also be billed for emergency services if youre somehow injured and need to be rescued while doing this hike. 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. 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. There is a security guard at the beginning. From a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. It may sound dramatic but at times that is the situation. Generally considered a challenging route. You can read more here: https://www.haikustairs.org/. The Moanalua Valley Trail begins at the end of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park. 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. -2L water MINIMUM. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Army officials have released new details surrounding the death of an Airman assigned to the 15th Wing. "I am so proud of the leader you became and the passion with which you tackled your maintenance profession. The Stairway To Heaven also has much more epic views than Koko Head in my opinion, but Koko Head is still a great hike in its own way, and its completely legal, so its a good choice if you want another challenging hike with some fantastic island views. Legal? Whether climbing Stairway to Heaven illegally or legally via Moanalua Valley Trail, know that this hike is not for the faint of heart. It is for this reason that it is NOT recommended to hike this trail in heavy rains due to flash flooding. Hiking can be dangerous, and not every trail is a good idea for every person. If the weather goes bad on you, you could get stuck for a while. Views are worth it. 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! Even with all the information there is floating around online to help hikers prepare for it, I prefer to have a guide, someone in the flesh whos done this before, to lead the way to the finale peak, Puu Keahi a Kahoe, at the back of Moanalua Valley. 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. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. Do not attempt this hike. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. The final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. 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. (Facebook/Nathan Stowell). Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets The Stairway To Heaven Hawaii hike is epic, dangerous, and illegal. age 94, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the St. John of God Retirement Center in Los Angeles, CA. WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? Its actually one of the safest parts of the hike IMO. Mahalo for reading this. or redistributed. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. ", Hikerstold KHONthe trail was muddy from rain this past weekend. Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest blog posts, tips, & travel guides. Turtle Canyon Snorkel Cruise by Catamaran. Suddenly youre alone on the mountain. -Food. August 10, 1928 - February 22, 2023 Sister Mary Ellen Sprouffske, C.S.J. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. Being inside the Forest Reserve is completely legal, as is being on Kamananui Trail. 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. 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. 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. 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. I'm providing information that is factual instead of perpetuating a myth. -Dogs and babies not advisable on this trail. Wonderful read! At a few points I need to brace myself against the bark of an ohia tree to keep from losing my balance. You need to take the MIDDLE option. Not only are the views out of this world, but the whole experience is just beyond awesome and unique. Moanalua is still a pretty epic hike in its own right, and the views are amazing, so Id recommend doing it if you enjoy hard hikes! Please find another hike. A short walk . The stairs were then opened to the public until 1987 when they were deemed unsafe because of disrepair. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. Assuming you are doing the middle ridge hike, very enjoyable. Steep drops on both sides, but the metal Haiku stairs and railings are surprisingly solid. I hope it will be repaired and preserved for people to enjoy forever. The trail will cross the stream 28 more times before the last 1/4 mile of trail. Posted on Last updated: February 22, 2022. Preview trail Plan accordingly. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. 2023 Stars and Stripes. The Moanalua trail can be muddy after rain, so check the conditions before you go. Once you pass the sign and creek crossing go to the right, the trail behind the foliage, not the obvious one on the left. If you are interested in climbing the back (legal) way up to the summit you can contact @mike.karas on Instagram and chat with him about when his next tour is running as he hikes the trail most weeks. Choose wisely! Its absolutely gorgeous. We did this trail in about 6.5 hours (both of us experienced hikers) with stoping for many photos and breaks. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. ! A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. Market data provided by Factset. Such an exhilarating trail that really puts your body and mind to the ultimate test. Instead walk another 15 feet further and youll see a small, unsigned trail on your left hand side. 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. 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. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. Be careful. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The only death Im aware of was caused by a heart attack in a middle aged hiker (that steep ascent to platform one can be strenuous). 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. However, it is not the most dangerous hike on Oahu. 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. 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). (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.