Haiku Stairs – Access Restricted

A lot of reviewers already left very helpful information. We did this via Moanalua Middle Ridge (round trip) since we don’t live in HI and don’t want to risk needing to return for a court date (though, an excuse to fly back wouldn’t be so bad…) See the Moanalua Middle Ridge page for more in-​depth reviews.
Weather conditions weren’t ideal the day we hiked (30 mph wind gusts) so the hike wasn’t easy.
As far as the stairs itself, it’s got some pretty great views. We were freezing up top (due to literally being in a cloud) so we descended below the cloud line to get a clearer view. So, if you do the hike & your legs are sore, just go down enough stairs to get below the cloud line.
Please respect the stairs and maintain safe behavior. We’re lucky to be able to get on it still and others would love the opportunity as well.

Where to begin? I went on this hike today, June 4^th, 2016. I came to Oahu with a friend who I was originally going to do this hike with but I ended up doing it all by myself since she backed out of the plan 2 days ago. I quickly started a hiking group on
and ended up going with a local girl and a couple who were also just visiting like myself. We started our journey at 2am coming from Waikiki, we parked in the neighborhood at 2:30ish and started going through the main gate which we had to climb around (but as we later figured out from other people that told us it was opened the whole time, you just lift the pole -.-) Anyway, we studied numerous blogs on how to get to the stairs but got lost twice! We even ended up right under the highway, at highway level where you could actually touch the bottom of it. I think this is a first since I’ve never heard anyone mention this in other reviews. We finally figured it out and finally got to the start of the stairs. The guard was just in the car without any lights so we just ran to the stairs and started our hike. At first I was literally just going up on ladder type of stairs and it’s kind of cramped from all the plants surrounding you, there is nothing to look at from the sides at this point, just plants. It is really slippery and the rails are all wet but I actually enjoyed that part since it was already warm at around 3:45am which is when we were starting on the actual stairs. I kept hearing from people to bring a light jacket since it gets cold up in the mountain but I will tell you this from my experience, I feel like it’s all a big lie! I was wearing a light camo trench coat and a long sleeve underneath and I was sweating like a pig even before I got to the stairs. That is why I enjoyed the refreshing wet rails on my hands and it also cleaned my hands as I went up when I got mud on my palms from going up ladder-​like. At many times while I was going up I never thought I’d actually make it all the way up, but it’s really just a mind game. You have to fight through every thought that tells you you can’t. Going up there as the sun was slowly rising was beyond words. I made it just in time when the sun was actually coming out. It was perfectly clear, no fog and just downright beautiful. I enjoyed being on the stairs more than actually getting up to the satellite since it’s so run down, abandoned and just straight up trashed. Plus there were like 30 people up there just hanging out being stupid, taking GQ photoshoots and being super rude if you were in their shot (this was more from the tourists than the locals who were actually extremely helpful and courteous). You really need to work together and watch out for one another, talk to people and get to know them, it really helps! We came back down at 8:30am and the guard was actually really cool, he just told us to go to our left since there is a shortcut there & that we had 9 mins to leave the premises since the cops were gonna come and do their stop at that time. I feel like we took like 20−30mins to get back to the residential area and never saw a cop car so I think he just told us that to scare us. Either way we took the info and made dash for it with a mahalo. Always be polite to the guard, no matter what. All in all, I can’t believe I got to do this. It is truly an experience of a lifetime! I don’t think I’ll ever do it again since I don’t want to risk getting a $ 1,000 fine and it is grueling to the body. Especially your joints from the below the hips. My knees were inflamed when I got back to my hotel room that I had to take some inflammatory meds and put ice over my knee caps as I took a nap. I am much better now but I will not put my body through all this pressure for a while!
P.S Keep the country, country! Don’t trash the place if you ever have hopes of it getting it reopened. That is why they shut it down in the first place, for vandalism.
Oh btw, the local that gave us a ride got her car either towed or stolen, haven’t heard back from her yet since she sprained her ankle at the first base and had to turn back. Didn’t get to actually leave with her so we hope she is ok and doing well :/​Note: Just take a lyft there guys!

AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, BREATHTAKING. I don’t know how else to describe this hike! It is pretty intimidating, but I’m a chick who doesn’t do a whole lot of hiking and has a fear of heights so if I can do this and love it, anyone can!
Our group got our directions here on Unilocal and they were great, got us right where we needed to go. Instead of renting a car and parking in the neighborhood we just got a Lyft and had him drop us right off at the gate at around 330am. When we were finished we just texted him and he came at the perfect time to be our get away driver.
The security guard is a little intimidating but just be polite go on your way!
I would recommend gloves if you are climbing before sunrise, since the handrails get dew on them and get slippery. Also bring a headlamp/​flashlight, a light jacket/​rainjacket, and lots of water and some snacks. It took us 3.5 hours to get to the top since we stopped a few times and we got to the top right at sunrise. I totally get why the call it the Stairway to Heaven since we were in the clouds for the last hour or so. On our trek back down we finally were able to see the sun breaking through the clouds over downtown Honolulu.
Please be respectful of the community and don’t blast your music, yell, litter or park in their neighborhood. I was also surprised by all the trash I found while climbing up the stairs and at the top! Take your litter with you and keep the Haiku Stairs pristine for all of us to enjoy!
Mahalo!

I hear that the guard no longer calls the cops on you, but the police show up and will ticket anyone that is there during their random stops. The tickets have a mandatory court appearance, so keep that in mind when deciding if it’s worth the risk. I’ve also heard that the cop will show up around 8am, but can be anywhere between 8−9am so don’t start or end your hike during this time. This is all as of late May 2016 when I did the hike. I got lucky and the cop was pulling into the neighborhood while we were driving out around 8:30am.
None of the neighbors that lived there said anything to me when I was there, but we also kept really quiet and made sure not to park directly in front of anyone’s house. Be respectful and do not walk through anyone’s property or leave any trash anywhere because you’ll just ruin it for everyone. While climbing up the stairs, we came across a group that said they climbed through people’s yards to get to the hike. That is exactly why the neighbors get so angry about people doing this. Please don’t be that person. If you want to do this while avoiding the guard/​cops, search online for directions for the trail using the aqua duct that I believe the locals use.

Best hike ever! Keep in mind it is super illegal but it was beyond worth it. We got directions from Sam & Kay’s blog and followed them exactly. My two girl friends and I did the hike and it took us about 5 hours round trip. The hike from the neighborhood to the actual start of the stairs was pretty difficult. There is a part with no exact trail, you just have to grab onto trees and pull yourself up. Your gloves will come in handy because we slid down the mud a few times since sometimes there are only small rocks to grab onto. I recommend starting around 4−5am if you don’t mind missing the sunrise. The actual hike on the stairs is pretty hardcore. We took plenty of water and rest breaks. It’s amazing once you clear the height of the trees, the view keeps getting better and better. I would recommend taking snacks, toilet paper, a head light, gloves, plenty of water and a windbreaker. The wind was crazy at the top! We literally had to hold on to the rails and stay very low to keep from flying away. On our way down, we saw a couple without any water or supplies. Please don’t be that couple. Do your research and come prepared and you will have an amazing time. We completed this hike on April 13^th, 2016. Also, there was a parked car which we assumed was security, but we just walked right past them. Maybe we just got lucky. Good luck and mahalo!

Fear is adrenaline’s FUEL. To be fucking afraid, but still 2 or 3 levels separated from shitlessly terrified, is a magical zone of focus and presence. I am not a climber, I am not in awesome shape, I don’t have great balance, and I’m not comfortable with heights. But, I’m also not a pussy, and today I’m not dead. What I am is a HUMBLE VETERAN of Haiku Stairs!
5 S T A R S !
This story took place in late 2014. My two friends, Dan and Ramon, led me up and down the ‘Stairway To Heaven’. An illegal and insane endeavor, but they had both done it a few times, so I had nothing to fear…
* TERROR AT 2800 FEET
«Don’t worry brah,» they reassured, «we’ll hike up the back and then climb down the stairs. It’s actually easier.» EASIER MY ASS! What they called a ‘hike up the back’ was full-​on mountain climbing, scaling the edges of Oahu’s steep ridges with NO EQUIPMENT! Before I could refuse, we were clambering up steep, knife-​edged paths, often without a branch to grasp, the wild wind trying to tear off my hat, and an unlucky slip off the side meaning certain death! My savvy sherpas continued confidently despite the hazards, but I was often BEYOND AFRAID, and I could only follow behind them on the narrowest paths by crawling on my hands and knees. More than a couple of times, I contemplated the reason for the name, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ — maybe the steps would lead me to meet my Maker…
* EXHAUSTION NOT AN OPTION
To get to the Haiku Stairs, we had to cross 6 mountainous miles along side the H3 freeway. Dan and I were not in the best shape for this! As the slopes got steeper, our thighs turned into jelly every 50 feet, and we had to take yet another rest. 50 feet, our energy sapped, we slowly recovered; 50 more feet, energy sapped again, we slowly recovered — on and on like this for 8 HOURS!
* THE ADRENALINE WAS ONOLICIOUS!
The ‘hike up the back’ happened to require climbing over 3 peaks! From afar, the peaks looked like vertical nightmares. But touching their turf up close, I learned that each gusty peak was doable if done carefully, scaling one small section at a time. By the time we had crossed over the second peak, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to die. And thus, the constant cocktail of fear and adrenaline mingled into a lovely, and intoxicating buzz.
* WILD, WONDERFUL BEAUTY
The Hawaiian wilderness is nothing but affectionate beauty! The moss, ferns, flowers, colors, textures, sights, and SMELLS! All gorgeous, all wonderfully happy to live and grow! When we FINALLY made it to the radar station at the very top of the stairs, our collective breaths were truly taken away. Triumphant, we opened our packs to unwrap slices of Costco pizza, and enjoyed the SPECTACULAR views of Kaneohe far, far below. In the end, Ramon was right: climbing down steel steps bolted into rock was so much easier than the harrowing, and arduous journey that took us up there. At the bottom, the security guard was in a hang-​loose mood, and kindly sent us on our way (No Ticket!)
* THE LOVE OF THE LAND (OR MAYBE JUST STOCKHOLM SYNDROME)
Despite the adventure of the climb, what’s remained with me the most was being in the presence of the land itself. It was perfectly gorgeous, from the mud at my feet, to the majestic volcanic ridges in the distance. When I got home, I cleaned the soil from my boots. But as I scrubbed the leather, I couldn’t quite wash it all off because part of me felt that the mud was sacred. I’ve loved Oahu from my very first trip, but on this dangerous trek, I fell in love with the LAND. Far away from the wires and concrete, the land exhales a kind, and loving energy that you can FEEL. And that, dear Unilocaler, must be the real reason they call it the Stairway to HEAVEN!

This was recommended to my wife and I. Not knowing that there was restricted access, we ventured over. We were reading the postings of ‘private property’ and an angry little man jumped up from behind his wall to take a picture of my wife and I. He then was visibly mad and verbally condescending. Be advised, he is a looney toon and on patrol with nothing better to do — lives right at trail entrance.

I did this hike in Feb 2016, but it was previously labeled as «closed» so I wasn’t able to write a review.
This was the most terrifying, amazing experience! This hike is not easy. It can be very dangerous, so be prepared. I am so happy I was able to complete this hike, but it shook me to the core! On the day we went, it was wet and rainy. The sky was covered with clouds. It made for different, but still beautiful pictures. Too bad we missed out on the view of the island. But it may have been more terrifying if we weren’t surrounded in a blanket of clouds. Some of the other Unilocal reviews have a lot of detail about the trail, which was super helpful. We used them the whole way! A few quick tips, do not carry anything in your hands, wear comfortable shoes, consider bringing a light jacket. If it’s rainy, bring water proof gloves to help you grip the railings. Go at your own risk. In some ways, I agree with the guard and ticketing. It’s not completely safe.

One of the best hikes ever!
These links will be helpful to prep you for the hike:
Directions on how to get to the hike:

NOTE this IS an illegal hike. In no way am I saying trespassing is Okay. But if you are like me you’re probably going to do it anyway so hopefully this will tell you what to expect. They’ve really gotten strict about ticketing so be prepared for cops. Also please be respectful — people who are trashing these kind neighbors’ areas and disrespecting their properties are part of the reason why this is illegal. Also it is a dangerous hike. Please consider this if you’re going to go!
100% the most amazing hike I’ve ever done. However! It is not for the faint of heart. I usually handle heights pretty well, but I was absolutely terrified for most of the hike. :) For the 2^nd half up you’re basically on a cliff just the width of the stairs you’re on with sheer cliff drop-​offs on either side of you. We didn’t train at all for this, so naturally it kicked our asses. It’s 3922 stairs each way, and it took me 5 days to walk normally again.
As far as the condition of the stairs — they’re in good shape minus one spot where a landslide ruined the stairs. It’s small though, and easy to climb over the broken spot. And it’s not on a cliff, so you have room to get around. The guards are super nerve-​wracking. We had read up on it beforehand and knew — there’s a guard stationed at the base of the trail all the time. He will tell you you’re trespassing and there’s a good chance the neighbors will call the cops. We went on. When we came back down (it took us 5 hrs) there was a different guard who asked us to wait for the cops due to our trespassing. We hurried on. You go out a different way and it’s longer and involved jumping over a fence, but you end up in the neighborhood street which is better. But the cops can be waiting for you, so you have to be pretty quiet and careful and respectful.
A lot of times I read the guard will say they’ve called the cops just to scare you, but they really don’t. However I have seen people got tickets. Just be prepared for a good climb! There are 3 lookouts you can stop on, and I just sat on the stairs for breaks too. Here’s an incredible blog post that tells you exactly how to get to the start of the trail. Without this, we would have been lost. !
FOR PHOTOS:

Hiked on 1÷20÷16. The overall experience was amazing. However, it was very scary (the hike itself and getting warned by the cop at the end). This hike is not for the faint of heart. If you have a fear of heights, then this may be too much of a challenge for you.
Parking: We parked closer to the school. We didn’t want to park in front of any of the residents just in case. Be respectful to the neighbors. Be as quite as possible walking through the neighborhood. Many houses that we passed have larger dogs that will bark within a close proximity of the property.
Trail: It was a challenge to get to the beginning of the stairs. There is a recently build barbwire fence that you would have to navigate through first. We found a manmade track around it so we followed it. Becareful because there were a lot of sharp wires sticking out. It’s about .5-.75 miles from that point to the beginning of the stairs.
We arrived to the bottom of the stairs at 4 am to see a security guard posted in the car. He warned us that this hike is illegal and that we will get fined. We decided to continue onto the hike.
It is straight up from here, stairs after stairs. There are a couple of lookout spots that was a good spot to take a breather and to enjoy the view. The stairs are very narrow. A majority of the stairs are pretty sturdy. There was an area where it was washed out. Some parts are very steep so ascend slowly. It started sprinkling on the way up and down! Of all the luck… However, if you take your time, you will be fine.
It took us about 2 – 2.5 hours to the top and about 1.5−2 hours down.
There were a total of 10 people (including my group) that did the hike that morning. As we were heading down, the same security guard stood outside his car waiting for us with some paperwork. A couple of minutes later, a second security guard and a cop showed up! They took down all of our names and gave us all warnings. They easily could have ticketed us. We were VERY LUCKY.
Tips:
–Bring a light jacket, it can get chilly on the top.
–Bring enough water
–Bring a headlamp

Climbed on 1÷24÷2016
Absolutely gorgeous, very unique hike, scary but so SO worth it.
For more info, check out a wordpress blog written by myself and fellow Unilocal Elite Kay L.
Quick tips about stairway to heaven:
Details on how to get to the haiku stairs:

So of all the reviews on here it seems like everyone talks about the guards and police but nobody has been ticketed. Well, we all got tickets :/​We were able to complete the hike before the cops came and started ticketing people. There was a group of probably 10 that came down before us, and our group of 4, all ticketed. Other than that, it was awesome. Well worth it. It is pretty steep and you walk on some sketchy stairs so not for the weak stomachs. The directions we got from previous reviews got us there easily. a review put up by somebody a few days before mine talks about a back way down. We saw the path and it might be a bit more sketchy but might be worth it if you can avoid the tickets. Gloves would have been a little helpful and if you are going in the dark, headlamps would, in my opinion, be a must. Good luck, be safe.
Note: previous reviews talk about being quiet and respectful of the neighbors. I disagree, after receiving numerous rude emails from the «friendly neighbors» I’ve concluded that most of them are rich people that think they own the whole mountain. It is because of them and their complaining that people are getting these crazy tickets. Just like anywhere else on this busy little island, if you live next to a historical beautiful place like this, your gonna get visitors. Make a parking lot, post some directional signs, quit trying to claim the mountain as your own, and maybe there wouldn’t be so many issues ;)

This hike is phenomenal and was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Highly recommended. My girlfriend and I climbed the Haiku Stairs on Fri. 2÷12÷2016 after doing some research beforehand about finding the stairs, the guards, Moanalua Ridge, etc.
We decided to take our chances and go up the front of the Haiku stairs where the guard was stationed using the 10-​step directions listed below. When we showed up, the guard was fairly intimidating and told us that nobody was allowed up and after Feb. 1, everyone who went up and came back down was being issued $ 600 – 1,000 fines and was required to show up back in court in Hawaii. A few other hikers turned away, but after chatting with him for a bit, we decided to take our chances and head up the stairs (he’s not paid to detain you, just to warn you that it’s trespassing and that you will be fined).
Shortly after we started up the stairs, we could see a white car with sirens waiting at the bottom, but luckily we had researched the Moanalua Ridge and decided that we would go down the backside where we wouldn’t be ticketed; this was the best decision ever. Not only was the backside beautiful, but we weren’t worried about collectively paying $ 1,200−2,000 the whole time on our way back down the mountain.
The Moanalua Ridge is very easy to spot once you get to the top of the Haiku Stairs — hop the fence on the left (if you’re climbing the last flight of stairs) and look for a dirt trail through the mountain. When you get to the top of the first ridge, there will be a clearing with a fork. There should be a sign that says Moanalua Ridge, but if there’s not for some reason, take a right and follow this all the way down to the bottom. It’s about 4 miles, very tiring, challenging, and will take 3 – 4 hours, but it’s well worth it. I’ve posted a Google Earth picture of the ridge below — we hiked the farthest green line all the way down to the neighborhood then called an Über who took us 25 minutes back to our car where we parked to climb the Haiku Stairs.
Here’s a video of the hike:
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL to the neighbors and neighborhood if you park here. Do not leave trash, be as quiet as possible, and do not gather in large groups or cause any disturbances.
To get to the Haiku Stairs (from Sheila’s review):
1. Walk to the corner of Kuneki St. and Makena St. [there are 2 corners, make sure you’re at the further one, not close to the elementary school]. To your left you will see a fenced gate stating of the stairway’s closure. To the right of this gate is an opening. Go through here to start your journey to find the stairs. Also, if you’re doing this at night, turn on your flashlights as it’ll be pretty dark.
2. Follow the paved road until you reach a fork. Go left at this fork.
3. Continue down the paved road until you reach another fork. Go right at this fork.
4. Continue down the paved road but pay close attention to the left hand side of the road for a small man made trail. It’s a little ways up so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see it right away. This trail doesn’t fork FORWARD like the other two forks, it goes off the paved road in an almost U-​Turn fashion into the forest.
5. Shortly after you start walking on the man-​made trail you will reach a fence. There is a huge opening on the bottom of this fence. Just go under here and continue walking.
6. Keep following the trail until you reach a paved road. TURN LEFT ONTO THE ROAD! (I followed directions that told me to go right and I ended up at a dead end 10 min later). Once again TURN LEFT AT THE PAVED ROAD.
7. Follow this road down until you see a canopy/​tent and/​or car to your left. This is the guard’s duty station. To your right you will see a trail of steps and a fence at the end of those steps.
8. Once you reach the first fenced gate, just go to the right of the gate and there will be an opening to go through. Proceed to go up the steps again until you reach the second gate.
9. On the second gate, go to the left of the gate and you will be able to go around it with no trouble at all.
10. Now you have reached the steps! YAY! Have fun!

Went all the way from Moanalua middle ridge and it was amazing (will post under that page).
NOTE: if you decide to trespass on a land you shouldn’t be on, eat teriyaki beef and drink booze on top, please be considerate enough to BRING YOUR FUCKING CRAP DOWN WITH YOU. I couldn’t believe how disguting the radio tower was — shitloads of bottles, plastic wraps, tissues, etc.
If you love outdoors adventures then please respect nature! Mahalo to fellow hikers who also try to clean up a little bit when they go :)

Absolutely amazing!!! This hike has been on my bucket list since moving to Hawaii almost 3 years ago. It is SO worth every little bit.
We got to Haiku Village about 4am to make the top for sunrise. PLEASE be respectful of this neighborhood. It is the middle of the night. We parked a street or two away from the entrances by a school as to not directly disturb any residences.
We followed the entrance through the canal as mentioned in other reviews and while we did get a little lost in the woods, a quick turn around was no problem and we got to the bottom of the stairs. This took about 45 minutes. The guard wanted to know how many we had and told us we were trespassing and HPD would be there when we got back. We moved forward.
The stairs themselves are very sturdy but it is definitely challenging. You are going up stairs for about 90 minutes. We turned off our head lights and enjoyed the moon and stars as we climbed up. The area that has been damaged by the storm is no trouble.
The view from the top is UNREAL. We could see pretty much the whole island. It is cold and windy though, so pack a long sleeve. After being up there for about an hour, We watched the sunrise and headed down. This took about 2 hours with lots of stops to enjoy the view and take pictures.
When we reached the bottom, a different guard told us that «we better hustle, the cops were in route» we made our way through the woods to the canal and out of the neighborhood quietly. We did not have any issues with the locals.
This is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

One of the most amazing things I have ever seen. This is not an easy hike and will leave you very exhausted the next day.
You have to go early and find street parking by someones house. The residents aren’t a fan so taking a taxi is a great idea. Get there before sunrise. Bring snacks and plenty of water.

This hike is by far the most beautiful hike on the entire island– the views are unparalleled!
I did this hike with a friend on 7÷04÷2015 through the Middle Ridge trail– like many of the other posts/​reviews regarding Middle Ridge, after you get to the Kulanaahane trail sign (roughly 2 miles from the Moanalua trail parking lot down a cobblestone pathway), you walk ten paces further to find another opening/​trail head that is marked by a giant boulder in an empty stream (last seen with a blue ribbon marking trailhead). You should begin to ascend almost immediately– if you don’t you are probably on the wrong trail.
I would categorize Middle Ridge itself as a challenging intermediate hike– the path is narrow and the last ¹⁄₃ of the hike is much more technical. This trail is not good for those who are extremely scared of heights, as there are some parts that are so narrow you have to crawl up on all fours. Ascending up Middle Ridge to get to the top of the stairs takes roughly 4.5−5 hours depending on pace and level of fitness.
The damaged part of the stairs that was reported after a storm is at a relatively flat part of the hike and is easy to get around, and surprisingly enough we had no issues with the guard that day. He didn’t say a word to us and just waved as we walked by (we figured this was due to the holiday/​chances cops had better things to do).
The most challenging part we found was finding a way out after we came down the stairs. There are various cutouts in the fence to go through, but many of the paths are overgrown and not well marked, and also lead into the yards of the residents in the area. We ended up hopping a fence with barbed wire after wandering in the bamboo forest for an hour. I would say that if you do this hike, plan your exit strategy accordingly and try to scope the area out prior to.
I’ve heard many rumors of residents booby trapping areas around the exits/​entrances to make it harder for hikers to get in and out, so proceed with caution. A group we ran into also mentioned that there is a trail from the community college to the stairs, but we never had a chance to confirm. Good luck!

Hier ein Beitrag für die deutsch sprachigen und abenteuerlustigen Leute. Ich habe die Wanderung heute morgen, dem 21. Mai 2015, bewältigt.
Angefahren mit dem Auto zum Moanalua Valley Park (1857 Ala Aolani St) und um 6 Uhr morgens gestartet. Einfach dem Pfad folgen (ca. 3 km) bis ihr ein Schild erreicht auf dem Kulana’ahane trail steht. Geht noch 15 m weiter und dann erst links über das Flussbett und schon seit ihr auf dem Pfad nach oben.
Sucht euch einen trockenen Tag aus, ansonsten wirds né ganz schöné Rutschpartie.
Folgt dem Pfad bis gaaaaaanz nach oben zu einem Schild auf dem Middle Ridge (to valley road) steht. Bei guter Sicht könnt ihr den alten Funkturm jetzt schon sehen. Geht weiter um Ihn zu erreichen und schon steht ihr an der obersten Stufe der Haiku Stairs :).
Es ist illegal diese eiserne Treppe zu benutzen, aber da ich keine Lust hatte den selben Weg zurück zu gehen (und neugierig war) machte ich mich auf den Weg nach unten.
Durch Geländer und Stufen kommt man recht schnell voran (plus Pausen für Fotos) und kurz vor dem Ende sieht man schon den Wachmann mit seinem roten Auto unten stehen:).
Als ich bei Ihm war hat er nur gemeint, dass ich Glück hatte und kurz vor mir 5 Jungs von der Polizei erwischt wurden. Er hat auch noch irgendwas von Gefängis und Geldstrafe gelabert, aber ob das stimmt weiß ich nicht.
Ich bin dann nach rechts gelaufen und hab mich nach 150 m links ins Gebüsch geschlagen (um einer eventuellen Begegnung mit der Polizei aus dem Weg zu gehen) um einem kleinen Pfad zu folgen, der irgendwann endete.
Laut google maps war ich oberhalb einer Siedlung. Also weiter durchs Gebüsch bis zu einem Grundstück, kurz geschaut dann rein gehüpft, übers Gartentor rüber und erst mal die Straße runter gerannt. Né halbe Stunde später, dank google maps, an ein Einkaufszentrum gekommen. Nach Toilette, Essen und Trinken das Taxi vor der Mall genommen (Kostenpunkt knapp 60 $) und zurück zu meinem Auto fahren lassen.
Fazit und Tipps:
— Wetter beachten
— Wasser und kleines Vesper mitnehmen
— Wanderschuhe sind von Vorteil
— Handschuhe wer will
— Smartphone für atemberaubende Fotos
— regendichte Jacke auch wegen dem Wind
Ich bin während meiner Tage auf O’ahu auch andere trails gewandert, aber der hier ist mit Abstand der geilste und anspruchsvollste.
Mit eisernem Willen und den oben genannten Tipps auf jedenfall zu schaffen. Und die Sache mit den Haiku Stairs :), wem es reicht von oben Bilder zu machen und nicht die Bekanntschaft von Wärter und eventuell der Polizei zu machen, der muss wieder zurück gehen oder sehr früh morgens los um nicht gesehen zu werden.
Es war mein geilstes Erlebnis auf der Insel und den ganzen Schlamm, die Kratzer, die Anstrengungen, den Schweiß, die teure Taxifahrt und den Kick wert!!!
Wer Lust hat sich das rein zu ziehen. Tut es!!!
#haikustairs#stairwaytoheaven

Stunning hike but unfortunately I think it is going to be much harder for people to complete as they are seemingly getting stricter about the legality of being in the area.
We also completed the hike on 5÷1÷2015 following the Moanalua Park Middle Ridge Hike. Our GPS watch clocked the hike at just about 6 miles total (I think 4.5 to the tower) and an elevation gain of 2300 ft. We started at 8:15 am and finished it is just under 5 hours and then cabbed back.
First, thanks fellow Unilocalers for all the tips! I followed the directions from the 2÷8÷2015 and 3÷18÷2015 and we didn’t have any problem finding the trail. Just don’t veer off the main 4×4 looking track and pass the signed trail head and you should be fine.
****Second and IMPORTANT!!!****
Many previous posts claim the Middle Ridge Trail down the stairs is legal which may have been the case but it appears now that this is no longer true. The guard at the bottom informed us that both ways on the stairs is now illegal and they have posted signs on the other side (we did not see any trespassing signs except at the bottom). He claimed he called the police on us but they were too busy to come in time and we were just «warned». He threw out a lot of numbers in the thousands as fines and up to 5 years imprisonment.
From talking to locals later on it seems that aside from the young boy who went missing, there have also been hikers that needed rescued during flash floods so they are really cracking down on the area. We noticed seeing as everyone said lots of people do the hike but we didn’t see a soul the whole day.
Regarding the ridge hike:
–gloves were super helpful for the roped areas and the muddy bits and just gripping the stair rails
–hiking boots for sure needed on the trail, it is very slippery and very narrow at times
–we each packed about 2L of water and just about finished it all
–check the weather! we went a little risky and went even though it had rained the night before and there were scattered showers and wind in the forecast. We were lucky to not get rained on but the wind was definitely scary on the open ridges. Be prepared and take it slow. A windbreaker at the top was nice
–I wouldn’t say this hike is super strenuous physically, but the height and narrow paths can be mentally challenging, especially if you have any fear of heights
–The last section after you finally have the tower in your sights is extremely muddy. Be prepared to get super dirty
–If you want to cab back it may be a good idea to bring a trash bag to sit on in the car
Regarding the stairs:
–the damaged area is simple to navigate
–some sections are steep but hand railings make it not scary
–after completing the open ridge sections this will be cake!
–the guard can see you from ages away
A note about the end as I haven’t seen many people comment on this:
After the guard warned us, we asked him the best route out. We wanted to turn right down the road he drives in on, but he said that would put us in the neighborhood and the residents would heckle us. He said to go through the hole in the fence just to the left of where he parks.
We took his advice and did the short climb down the bamboo patch and out past the big «No Trepassing» sign. This put us out on a road and we checked to see if any ubers were available (yay one was 10 minutes away!). What we didn’t know was that we were in another, separate, no trespassing area that was gated. You will want to take a right down that road and get passed the gate as soon as you can. Some locals called the police on us there and we saw them arriving just as we were leaving in our cab. It was a super close call.
I hope that at some point they are able to save the stairs and open them to the public. IMO they are a lot safer than the back ridge hikes to get to them and the people who go missing and get stuck are not on the stairs when it happens. I’m glad we were able to do this while it is here!

We just did this on Thursday 2÷26÷15 taking the girl’s legal route on here. (Same day Daylenn Pua went missing :*()
Epic and extremely long taking the back middle ridge trail. My GPS said 7 miles start to finish but it felt way longer with the rain. Be careful not to miss the trail entrance. It is very subtle and the pink/​orange ribbons are tiny and tied to the top of a tree branch.
The entire trail is all up hill, be warned. Ropes in some steep portions. Go one at a time for best results. The views are beyond epic and amazing being in the valley and seeing the city, and more of it as you climb higher. Lots of «fake summits» only to be fooled by a higher peak and more rope.
It is very muddy and slippery the last third going up, be careful. We were drenched in water and mud. Make sure you hike with a friend, don’t do this alone!
It took 3.5 hours to get up and 1 – 1.5 hours to climb down the stairs.
Guards didn’t care on the way down since we did it legally and there’s no trespassing signs up top.
Unfortunately reaching the summit there was zero visibility, but it cleared up on the way down.
The area ruined by the storm is a piece of cake.