Your selfish Instagram post is at the expense of destroying the island's fragile eco-diversity. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Views are worth it. The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. Loved every minute of it! Too many litterbugs on the island sadly. Moanalua Valley Trail (Honolulu) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. Finiahed in 10 hours. It's not easy to find. No experience and with a 8 year old. Theres a nature trail by the Botanic Library that takes you to a lake. 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. The road eventually turns to an unimproved road and later a narrow trail. To remember: You came this far. The first part of the trail is fairly flat and easy consisting of 17 riverbed crossings. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. This will lead you to an open grassy valley that gives you spectacular views of the valley. This trail in Oahu, also known as the Haiku Stairs, takes you to the top of the Koolau mountains via 3,922 metal stairs of pure adrenaline and doom. If you don't want to do the illegal way, this way is worth it. The weather today is just as my friend hoped for; hes been monitoring it daily since a week out to ensure the trail will be dry and moderately windless, opportune conditions for a hike that has us teetering across razor-thin sections with steep drops on either side. There were plans to remove the stairs, but theres also been a lot of pushback from Hawaii locals wanting to keep the stairs. This is known as the back way for the Stairway To Heaven. The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. 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. Air Force captain who died during Hawaii hike remembered as 'leader Thank for your continued support. My issue is with the erosion scar that's been exacerbated ten-fold on the middle ridge allowing invasive species to spread further and further to the summit. The trail is a legal hike and you should have no issues on the route towards the summit. Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. Thanks Billie! There is danger involved with traversing a mountain's ridgeback, an absurdly obvious fact that's 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, we wouldnt recommend running. A helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. The Moanalua Valley Trail begins at the end of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park. (Damon was the son of Bernice Pauahi Bishops husbands business partner. However, it is infrequent and often there is no one up there and you can explore if you choose to. Its actually one of the safest parts of the hike IMO. I first discovered the Stairway To Heaven Oahu hike on the internet in 2015 and knew I had to try it. After that, it should be pretty straightforward. Otherwise, as with many other Hawaiian hikes, closed means be prepared, respectful, and most of all, not stupid, Is anyone interested in doing the hike Tues 11/13 or Wed 11/14? There are shorter hikes on this island with better views and less risk. Hiking Moanalua Middle Ridge on Oahu, an All-Day, Experts-Only The left goes to the valley. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail | Map, Guide - Oahu, Hawaii | AllTrails Dinner and Show Tickets. 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. Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. 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. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Begin walking the trail and after about 2.5 miles you'll see the sign on the left for "Kulana'ahane Trail". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. Anyone who hikes the 10 miles round trip is obviously going to go to the top of the stairs, or beyond. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. Follow a small path in the grass, or walk to the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is on my list of the top ten most beautiful nature places you can drive to. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. So long as you make the right turn in The Valley you can easily find your way up, assuming youre up to the effort. Wind and rain can make it much harder and more risky. Dont forget to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my complete list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii! I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! Hawaii Camping Reservation - Reservations Moanalua Valley Trail - Yelp Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Copyright 2023 Journey Era | Mediavine Trellis Child - Journey Era on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. The Kamananui Valley Road is a perfect hike for all ages and offers access to many other hiking trails in the Moanalua Valley. Keep in mind, the adventurers MUST be respectful to neighbourhood residents living in this area. Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. Officials said he collapsed while hiking the Moanalua Valley trail, and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Tripler Army Medical Center Tuesday. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. Personally I think hikers should decide for themselves what kind of risks theyre comfortable with, but bear the responsibility themselves if they have an accident. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. The time should be posted on the gate. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! Start hiking along the road/trail just past the bathrooms. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. Moanalua Valley Trail 4 0 ftHiking Trails Pearl Harbor National Memorial 13,695 2.7 miHistoric Sites Military Bases & Facilities USS Arizona Memorial 27,032 Historic Sites Cemeteries See all See what other travelers are saying JacksonJones 24 contributions Amazing Ridge Hike to the Top of the Haiku Stairs Most accidents happen when hikers leave the established trail and disregard warning signs. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. There is an entry along the fence that will go through. 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. There is a security guard at the beginning. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Do NOT take this route. The trail starts as a road barred by a green gate. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . 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. Hold tight and watch your footing. 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. 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. 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. Trudging up the slope, it takes about half an hour to scale the first hump. In total the hike is 5.2 miles with 2585 ft in elevation gain (basically all of this is condensed into the final 2 miles). These people are mad and will make increasing trouble for hikers as time goes by. It's not about the rules and laws I've cited. However, it is not the most dangerous hike on Oahu. Someone needs to find a better means of access that bypasses the neighborhood totally. This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. Access to the public is restricted. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. 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". My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. Hawaii, like any other state, has property laws. 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). The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. A Mariposa County sheriff's deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead . per adult. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. The Kulana'ahane Trail offers unparalleled hiking through native Hawaiian forest to a scenic overlook. I didnt need spikes but some good traction helps. Amazing! I was lucky enough to have climbed on a windless morning, but any wind will add to the complexity and risk to the hike. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. This is quite the work out and worth the view. 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. Try hike the Lanikai pill box brah. 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 hike sounds like something I would love to do. Easy hike through the lush forest of Kamananui Valley. Its Definitely challenging get rest water food. We celebrated National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17), with a round up of our top picks for the best hikes on the Island. Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday,Dec. Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. If you have further questions about the legality of this hike, you can contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. 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. There was also a hiker named Daylenn Pua who disappeared on the Moanalua Valley trail (the backside route that intersects with the Stairway To Heaven) and was never seen again. I wont share the location and exact directions to the stairway here publicly, but I understand there are at least three different main ways to reach the stairs from the neighborhood below, and Ive used two of them in the past. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". If you think about it there is a large number of people on 24/7 neighborhood watch and some are very angry and extreme. Create a password that only you will remember. The victim plunged off Mount Olomana's third peak, near Kailua, around 10:50 a.m.,Hawaii News Now reported, citing the Honolulu Fire Department. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. Bummer, this trail is closed. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the hiking trail, where he was pronounced dead. 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 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. Hiker, 24, plunges to his death from dangerous Hawaii trail Hiking can be dangerous, and not every trail is a good idea for every person. Well worth that investment of time sweat & tears! Climbing Haiku Stairs on Oahu - realhawaii.co Please be prepared! JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). "I am so proud of the leader you became and the passion with which you tackled your maintenance profession. Please explore responsibly! Generally considered a challenging route. 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. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th. 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. Watch out for roots as this is the largest risk as you climb. ; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana..