Stairway to Heaven Ha'iku Valley Ladder Puu Keahiakahoe Koolau Mountain Range

Haiku Stairs
"Stairway to Heaven"
Trailhead

This set of stairs, tucked into the cliffs above Haiku Valley, reaches for the crest of the Koolaus. Its frequent disappearance into the clouds has earned it the name "Stairway to Heaven". And what cherubic windward vistas await, heavenly views privy to birds and angels alike.

KANEOHE, Hawaii — In a state known for spectacular views, the mountain peak known as Puu Keahiakahoe may provide the most magnificent.
It also presents two problems:

• Despite the city of Honolulu spending nearly a million dollars five years ago to replace the steps that lead to this breathtaking view of the windward side of Oahu, the peak remains off-limits to both tourists and residents.

• That prohibition doesn't stop hikers from around the world from trudging through a rain forest and eluding private security guards to climb what's known as the "Stairway to Heaven" in order to get to the top of the misty, cloud-covered Koolau Mountain Range.

David Dieterle, who runs a website spotlighting Hawaii attractions — hawaiiweb.com — says the "Stairway to Heaven" page is one of the site's most visited.

Stairway to Heaven
"It gets a crazy amount of traffic," Dieterle said. "We have really big feedback about it and a lot of negative feedback from the Kaneohe people who get very upset about it. They say, 'Remove it. It's closed. Why are you doing this?' Tourists e-mail us asking for directions to get there. Everyone wants to know how to get there."

Neighbors at the base of the hike complain of being bombarded by trespassing tourists, trash and noise. They say city officials should have torn down the rusted stairs five years ago instead of replacing them with an attractive nuisance that has bogged down the city in land negotiations and made it vulnerable to lawsuits if someone gets hurt.

"They should have just torn down the stairs — end of liability, end of problems," resident John Sabas said. "It hasn't worked so far."

The Stairway to Heaven — also known as the Haiku Stairs — originally was built out of wood during World War II in 1942 for the U.S. Navy's Haiku radio station. Constant rain and mist wore out the wooden stairs, which were replaced with metal ones 10 years later.

By the 1980s, the metal steps were rusted, broken or missing. Large gaps in the stairway were replaced with makeshift ropes that allowed hikers to shimmy up the slippery mountainside. In 1987, the city officially closed it, making the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii's most popular outlaw hike.

As word of the climb continued to spread on the Internet, city officials feared they were exposed to liability because of the stairs' condition. They had the 3,922 steps replaced at a cost of $875,000 and hoped to reopen the trail.

The plan to reopen has been complicated because the handful of access points to the stairs lie on land owned by different entities, including the city, state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii's largest private landowner, Kamehameha Schools.

Today, the prospect of public access to the trail remains uncertain, said Jeff Coelho, director of Honolulu's Customer Services department. "The complexity of issues include everything from liability and risk to access and maintenance," Coelho said in an e-mail.

Stairway to Heaven Ha'iku Valley Ladder Puu Keahiakahoe Koolau Mountain Range
In the meantime, Honolulu officials spend nearly $50,000 annually for private security to guard the Haiku Stairs 12 hours a day, seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Coelho said.

Even so, hikers still make the climb.

Dave Roselle, 38, of Alpine, Utah, said he read about the stairway on the Internet and decided to make the hike during a trip to Oahu in February.

"While researching this hike, I came across several sources that claimed that the stairs were open while other sources stated the stairs were closed," Roselle said. "The available sources of hike information seem to contradict one another. I even asked a local, who stated that the stairs are not closed — just certain trailhead access points."

Roselle was concerned about upsetting nearby residents, so he had his wife, Lynda, drop him off near the mouth of the trail rather than leave the car in front of someone's house. "I didn't want to disturb folks in the neighborhood. I know it's a sensitive subject."

A group called the Friends of Haiku Stairs insists the climb can still be properly managed, if and when the land issues are resolved. The group gets frequent queries about the status of the stairs and always responds that they are closed, said John Goody, president of the Friends of Haiku Stairs.
Stairway to Heaven Ha'iku Valley Ladder Puu Keahiakahoe Koolau Mountain Range
But one day, Goody hopes to see the Stairway to Heaven reopened.

"We believe the stairs will be open because it's a public resource and a few people shouldn't have a right to prevent the public from making responsible use of the stairs," Goody said.

Stairway To Heaven
Ha'iku Valley Ladder

This site is listed to provide accurate information. In the past, this hike was very popular, however, the Stairway was Closed to public access for many years and was DANGEROUS due to the deteriorating condition of the steps and hand rails. Since then, the stairs have been reconstructed and opened back up to the public.

Built in 1942 by the U.S. Navy as the site for a VFL antenna, 3,992 wooden steps were constructed to hoist the equipment into place. In 1955 a metal ladder was installed for better access to the antenna. In 1957 the antenna was decommissioned and in 1971 the site was turned over the U.S. Coast Guard.

Thousands of hikers have made the arduous journey to the top for the fantastic view of both sides of the island. However, on September 20, 1997 the Stairway was closed due to vandalism and costs to maintain the safety of the trail.

This is a picture of the trail head.

The bottom of the stairs are just steps away.

The beginning of the metal stairway.

This picture is to show the poor conditions of the stairway.

If you decide to climb, Please take extreme caution.
Ha'iku Valley Ladder

Stairway to Heaven Ha'iku Valley Ladder Puu Keahiakahoe Koolau Mountain Range

Stairway to Heaven (Hawaii) Stairway to Heaven (Oahu) Stairway To Heaven (song and TV show)

Falling from the Stairway to Heaven
After spending three years in Hawaii, I am often asked what was the most difficult and challenging hike I completed. My response normally entails a narrowing of the eyes, followed by a far off look with my voice becoming extremely grave. On occasion, I’ve even been told I look like a Vietnam veteran going through some kind of horrendous flashback.

The hike was the “Haiku Stairway,” as the locals tend to call it. Everyone else on the face of the planet simply refers to it as the Stairway to Heaven.

On my first attempt, I was unable to finish the hike and it almost killed me.

Interesting factoid, the stairs were featured in an old episode of the classic Magnum P.I. TV show staring Tom Selleck.

And since so many unusual events took place around the time I first attempted to climb Stairway to Heaven in April of 2005, I think it’s only fair to recount the experience using a chronological format:

Thursday 10am-4pm: Waste away at beach
Thursday 5-8pm: Cook salmon dinner for friends in celebration of best friend’s fiancé whom has just flown over from Utah. Decide to go hiking at 2am in morning.
Thursday 8-10pm: Quickly finish up senseless internet work. Chew out boss yet again. Contemplate quitting for millionth time since already have two jobs.
Thursday-Friday 10pm-2am: Decide sleeping till 2am would be pointless. Instead play video games on XBox. Hope my friend Ben back in Kansas would be proud. Begin feeling sick with extreme cold symptoms. Gulp down two tablespoons of Dayquil.
Friday 2am-3:30am: Depart for Kaneohe in back of truck — hillbilly style. Destination: The Stairway to Heaven. 2,800 rickety metal stairs leading up the side of a sheer cliff.
Friday 3:45am: Hop first two fences. Am told by friends hike is technically “illegal.” Am told locals hate hikers and endeavor to make life difficult for us. Discover shortly thereafter locals have trucked in a butt-load of bamboo shucks to make jumping tallest fence next to impossible.
Friday 3:48am: Laugh at the local’s stupidly. Get to top of fence within 3 minutes in spite of bamboo.
Friday 3:49am: Jump fence only to discover hidden barb wire on the other side. Barb wire tears my favorite hiking pants in two places, makes a huge gash in my kneecap. Say silent prayer hoping chicks really do like guys with scars as I have just added my 5th one.
Friday 3:59am: Assure friends wound isn’t bad given amount of blood lost – feel very fortunate to have had a tetanus shot within last 8 months. Finally get to base of stairs. Begin hike.
Friday 4:15am: Discover hike is a lot like a supercharged version of the Stairmaster — only this one forces you to go for 1.5 hours before you’re done.
Friday 4:25am: Feel sick. Really sick. Nausea sets in. Become really dizzy.
Friday 4:30am: Stop climbing altogether. Hang onto mountain side for dear life.
Friday 4:31am: Begin puking.
Friday 4:36am: Still puking.
Friday 4:42am: You guessed it, puking continues
Friday 4:45am: Friend says that it might be smart if I stopped hiking. I call him an ass and send him on his way.
Friday 4:48am: Stomach settles to the point where I feel safe drinking water. Alone. Desolate on the side of a jagged mountain.
Friday 4:50am: Discover stomach was not as strong as I thought it was. Resume vomiting.
Friday at 5:00am: Other friend comes down off of cliff. Due to his rather unusual Arthurian name, I give him the nickname of the Wizard. The Wizard has done every hike a million times. Has work at 8am. Says he’s here to make sure I get down ok. Wants to use my sickness as an excuse to get some sleep in back of truck. I say fine.
Friday at 5:15am: Get completely down the stairs in 15 minutes. Going down is so much easier than up.
Friday at 5:17am: Realize there’s no bloody way in hell we’re getting over the bamboo/barbwire fence from this side. Begin trek to find alternate route.
Friday at 5:45am: After about 2 miles, find abandoned shack with hole cut in fence behind it. Stumble around in the darkness for another half hour in the woods trying to find way back to civilization.
Friday at 6:15am: Sun rises. The wizard is back in his truck sleeping. I lay down on grass next to sidewalk like crazed homeless man — pants ripped and all. Locals begin going on jogs/going to work. They pass my mangled, bloody body by and scoff. I make quasi-vulgar comments in response.
Friday at 7:00am: Rest of friends return from hike. Another van full of BYUH dorks pulls up ready to hike. Local woman suddenly storms out of house. Say they have called cops, taken down license plate names and curse at us. One friend politely informs them at they can “burn in hell.”
Friday at 7:05am: Drive away from scene like bat out of hell after hearing sirens in the distance.
Friday at 8:30am: Get back to Laie. Girls inform us they require food for breakfast. Best friend tells fiancé he’ll get her food and for all the girls to go cleanup while the guys go to Ted’s Bakery for apple turnovers.
Friday at 8:31 am: Best friend gets several threatening glares from all males present.
Friday at 9:05 am: Arrive at Ted’s Bakery next to Sunset Beach. Discover bakery is out of turnovers. Buy apple strudels instead, causing best friend to ask, “What the hell is a strudel?” Many funny remarks follow in response.
Friday at 9:40 am: Get back to girls, give them their strudels. Leave to shower and go into work. Finish off first bottle of Dayquil. Begin second. Pray my stamina lasts.
Friday at 10:05 am: At work, I learn my student boss is also taking Foreign Service Entrance Examination with me tomorrow. I agree to give her and friends a ride in my fearless red Ford Focus.
Friday at 10:06am-2:00pm: Do stupid internet job. (I work two jobs. One on campus, the other I work remotely for a company on mainland) Moan and complain. A lot.
Friday at 2:00pm-7:00pm: Get call from roommate saying that Math lab have been commandeered and turned into a giant computer gaming party. Snap out of coma and race to play Counter-Strike and other games promoting gratuitous violence.
Friday at 7:01pm: Best friend shows up and demands I entertain fiancé best female friends by going with them to movies in Kailua. I inform him I’m about to die of some horrible disease causing me to be sick and have to take a 6 hour standardized test in the morning to boot. He calls me a wuss. I tell him to go to hell and send him on his way.
Friday at 8:00pm: Fall asleep.
Saturday at 5:00am: Alarm wakes me up. I curse at it and silently wish I hadn’t signed up to take the bloody Foreign Service Entrance Exam. Decide maybe traveling around the world and managing embassies isn’t for me. Then remember I promised to take friends to the test. I curse again.
Saturday at 5:30am: Pick up friends. Begin journey to Honolulu.
Saturday at 7:30 am: Get to University of Hawaii 30 minutes early. Eat breakfast consisting of a chocolate milk and doughnut. One friend admits the test scares her after looking at example questions. I concur and say if it’s really craptacular we’ll dig out and leave after the first break.
Saturday at 9:30 am: Discover test is ridiculously easy. Confirm fact with friends. Decide to stay for the entirety. Ponder why everyone and their grandmothers aren’t Foreign Service Officers.
Saturday at 3:00pm: Finish test. Drive home. Begin thinking about what country I want my first assignment to be when State Department decides to hire me.
Saturday at 3:30pm: Best friend just called and wants my “assistance” to entertain finance’s friends again while he goes to make out with her….stupid Utah girls.
Saturday at 3:31pm: Finish second bottle of Dayquil.

Since my intrepid friends couldn’t figure out how to work my Canon EOS 10D digital SLR camera, I had to resort to borrowing a couple images of the hike from Backyard Oahu:

These were, obviously, taken at day and not night.

On a closing note, the moral of the story is you shouldn’t hike while sick. If you ever attempt this technically “forbidden” trail it would be most wise of you do so while in good shape.

If 90 minutes working the Stairmaster on a difficult setting kills you, find another hike.

Stairway to Heaven or Stairway from Hell?

This hike is probably the most popular of Oahu's "forbidden" trails. Superb panoramic views are the cause for the fervent attraction to this trail! And well-deserved it is! As one makes the 2,120-foot ascent, the gorgeous views develop: first of the lush Haiku Valley, then past Ahuimanu and Puu Maelieli toward Kualoa, and finally the spectacular windward panorama from Puu Piei (Kahana Valley) to Makapuu Point (past Waimanalo). The trail terminus is Puu Keahi a Kahoe: a peak high atop a portion of the Koolau crest which juts out into Kaneohe.

Originally built for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to allow maintenance personnel access to the LORAN radio antenna high above Haiku Valley, the trail is entirely a metal stairway which ascends the cliffs along the southern rim. Unforunately, the USCG's termination of Omega Station operations also spelled the cessation of stair maintenance. As a result, portions of the stairs fell into a dangerous state of disrepair. Thus, the state (who "inherited" the valley from the USCG) officially closed the stairs to the public in 1987.

In 2002, construction of the stairs was completed having removed and replaced the old structure with new stair sections. This renovation cost the city $875,000.

For additional "description" info, More Info.

For archived news articles, Trail News.

What to Expect:
The stairs are comprised of approximately eight-foot-high segments which are interlinked by hooks and anchored by spikes driven into the mountain side. A pair of hollow steel-tube railings, an average of 18 - 24 inches apart, are bolted to each segment. The step spacing is very manageable, but one should realize this is equivalent to about a 60 - 90 minute continuous work-out on a "stair-climber" machine.

The grade of the ascent ranges from completely flat to nearly vertical. However, the majority remains above a 45-degree gradient. The ascent pauses at six flat spots along the spur with these highlights:

The first "step" has a metal ammo box (with logbooks) attached to the right-side railing.

The third "step" (elev. 2,480 ft) has an abandoned concrete structure which houses the antenna's winching equipment.

The sixth "step" is the peak called Puu Keahi a Kahoe (elev. 2,720 ft). On it is an abandoned concrete structure on which is mounted a pair of parabolic-dish antennae. To the right (West) of the building and immediately down is the Koolau crest toward Moanalua Valley and points north. The peak to the left (South) of and not far from the shack is the terminus of the Moanalua Middle Ridge (part of the Keahi a Kahoe Trail).

Update: As of 2003, the stairs have been completely repaired after the city spent $875,000 to renovate it - new ladder/steps have been installed along the entire trail. Unfortunately, legal access is still currently on hold.

This is what the stairs used to look like:
There are two sections in the first half of the stairway, about 200-feet from each other, which contain missing segments. These are, by far, the most treacherous portions of the Haiku Stairs for they traverse the most vertical sections. The lower 8-foot section is a completely exposed rock face.

Typical stair disrepair is in the form of upper section railings punctured by rust and surface corrosion on bolts, hooks, and other steel parts. However, though the corrosion poses a potential structural failure, the steps are more than adequate to support the hiker. A few sections in the upper 25% of the segments contain one or both railings which have been severely rust-eaten, but not in areas requiring hand-holds.

Views from the top:
Coastline from Ahuimanu to Kualoa
Haiku Valley to Mokapu & Ulupau Head Kaneohe, Oneawa, Lanikai, Kailua, Keolu
Hoomaluhia Reservoir
Coastline from Kaiwa Ridge to Waimanalo
Koolau cliffs from Konahuanui to Makapuu
Moanalua Valley trail terminus
Halawa Ridge trail terminus

Prominent peaks: Ohulehule, Piei, Manamana, Kanehoalani, Maelieli, Olomana, Lanipo, O'Kona

Benchmarks: none

Trailhead Location:
The stairs begin in a forested area about 25 yards mauka (South) of a point about 200 yards in along the H-3 access road. This restricted-access, gated, asphalt road is beneath the H-3 Highway and contours along the base of the cliffs. It was built to allow construction crews access to the completion of the windward side of H-3 in 1996.

Accessing the Trail:
At present, there is no legal entrance to Haiku Stairs. Expect to be turned away or cited by Honolulu Police. Hikers who have been illegally accessing the trail have been using the H-3 access road via a gated entrance along Puuoni Place (past Haiku Gardens). Hikers have been parking in the residential area which is limited and frowned upon by residents.

Beware: some of the residents of Haiku are extremely hostile toward hikers attempting Haiku Stairs. In their irritation over these hikers utilizing Puuoni Pl, they have managed to get hikers' cars cited or towed. Some have already vented anger toward this website demanding to ban trailhead information from you.

Note: Repairs to the stairs for public use is complete and the land swap from Federal lease back to the state is complete. However, legal and liability issues are still being debated. As a result, access is positively prohibited (and guarded) until the official opening by the city.

Be warned: security guards have turned away hikers and there have been occurences when Honolulu Police were called to issue citations trespassing hikers.

Property/Access:
Government-owned, restricted (closed) access.
Stairs owner: City & County of Honolulu
Access road owner: State of Hawaii (Dept. of Transportation)

Dangers/Other Considerations:
This may be the stairway to heaven, but a false step could make it the fall to...! The stairs traverse a cliff spur, sections of which even the craziest of rock-climbers would think twice about (if there were no stairs)! The steps (when dry) eliminate the footing problem, but the railings tend to envelope the hiker with a false sense of security. Though seemingly sturdy, the railings are held on by only a few rusty bolts per segement. Use them for assurance, but don't rely on them to completely eliminate the dangers.

Beware of angle of some of the steps. A handful of them are not completely flat, but angled downward. If you proceed without watching your footing, you may overlook one of these sloped steps.

Do not attract attention to yourself! Because of the trail's popularity and its high visibility to H-3 drivers and Kaneohe/Haiku residents, arm-waving may be construed as a hiker in distress. An incident of this type resulted an embarressing situation for the hikers and a costly waste of time for the HFD-Rescue Unit in 1999.

This trail is sometimes referred to as the "Haiku Ladder" or "Keahi a Kahoe Iki".

Initial Climb
(First missing section)

Stairway to Heaven
(Less than halfway up)

Looking Back
(Almost to the ridgeline)

What the books say...
Hawaiian Hiking Trails
Craig Chisholm Not listed
Hawaii's Best Hiking Trails
Robert Smith Not listed
The Hikers Guide to O'ahu
Stuart Ball Closed
Oahu Trails
Kathy Morey

Stairway to Heaven (Hawaii) Stairway to Heaven (Oahu) Stairway To Heaven (song and TV show)

Haiku Stairs / "Stairway to Heaven"
More Info
Select a trailAiea Loop (Keaiwa Heiau)Aiea Loop BisectionalAiea RidgeAihualamaCastleDiamond Head (Leahi)Dupont (De Ponte / Mt. Kaala)Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven)Halawa RidgeHauula LoopHawaii Loa RidgeJudd Memorial (Jackass Ginger)Kaaawa Valley (Kualoa Ranch)Kaala, Mount (information)Kaau Crater (Waiomao Stream)Kahana Valley: Stream / NakoaKahana Valley: Koa & KiloKaena Point (via Keawaula)Kahekili (Makaua / Hidden Valley)Kaiwa RidgeKaluanui (Mariners) RidgeKaluwaa LoopKamaileunu RidgeKamiloiki RidgeKanealole (Makiki Valley)Kanehoa-Hapapa SummitKapalama LoopKaua (Puu)KaunalaKawaiiki StreamKawainui StreamKeahi a Kahoe (Puu) / TriplerKeaiwa Heiau (Aiea) LoopKealiaKoko Crater (Puu Mai)Koko Head RimKoloa GulchKoloa RidgeKolowaluKonahuanui (Puu)Koolau SummitKuaokala RidgeKuliouou RidgeKuliouou ValleyLaie RidgeLikeke (via Old Pali Road)Lulumahu FallsMaakua RidgeMaelieli (Puu)Makapuu Lighthouse RoadMakapuu TidepoolsMakapuu / Tom-TomMakiki ValleyMakiki Valley LoopMakua Rim East (Three Corners)Malaekahana RidgeManamana (Puu) / GraveyardManamana (Puu) / Crouching LionManana RidgeManoa CliffManoa FallsMariners (Kaluanui) RidgeMaunalaha (Makiki Valley)Maunawili (Demo)Maunawili FallsMauumae Ridge (Puu Lanipo)Mokolii IslandNuuanuOhia (Puu)OlomanaOpaeula StreamPalikea SummitPauoa FlatsPia (Puu)Piei (Puu)Poamoho RidgeReef RunwaySacred Falls (Kaliuwaa)Schofield-WaikaneSunset (Camp Timberline)Three Corners (Makua Rim)Waahila Ridge (Mt. Olympus)Waiahole DitchWaianae-KaalaWaiau RidgeWaikane SaddleWaimalu Ditch (McCandless)Waimano RidgeWiliwilinui Ridge

Current Access Problems
It is important to remember there are two major entities involved in this dispute: the city and the state. To understand the situation it may help to boil it down to this supposition: the state is supporting the Haiku Valley residents (by blocking Haiku Stairs) while the city is supporting the Haiku Stairs hikers (by renovating and attempting to open Haiku Stairs). Here is what has happened.

On August 18, 2003, Representative Ken Ito (D-Kaneohe) responded to his constituents' complaints by holding a public, informational meeting with officials from the DLNR, HDOT, and DHHL present. Scores of Haiku Valley residents testified against hikers. Only two hikers were given the opportunity to speak. Also, about 150 Haiku Valley residents offered a signed petition seeking a solution, including permanent closure and/or dismantling of the Stairway to Heaven.

Ito attempted to condemn the stairs with HB1748 in January 21, 2004 which would have forced its dismantlement if passed. Enough opposition in the House prevailed forcing him to withdraw the bill as quickly as it emerged in committee.

Barely two months later, Ito was back with a new approach - if he couldn't destroy the stairs, he could try some legal (aka "trespassing") tactics to block hikers by shutting down the access between the road and the trailhead. Thus, HCR199 & SCR213 were introduced on March 24, 2004 demanding a much needed land swap (necessary for the opening of the Stairs) be halted until several issues are reviewed and worked out. Worded this way, both bills passed the House and Senate. It prevented that small sliver of state-owned land between the Haiku Stairs neighborhood and the stairs' trailhead from being passed from the state agency that controls it (DHHL) to the city. Thus, it effectively made it a trespassing issue if one crosses that sliver of land to get to the bottom of the stairs. Currently, the argument over that very strip of state land is what is keeping the stairs from the public.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE STAIRS
With the loss of the planned Hope Chapel access point in 2002, the solution is still to open the H-3 Access Road (which is already there!) and its entry points near the state hospital and on Likelike Hwy. All that needs to be done is expand the access road to accomodate traffic and parking right at the trailhead!

WHAT TO DO?
Here are two effective things you, your friends, and your family can do if you want to see public access and use of the Stairs returned to the community:

1) Voice your support to your own state representatives, senators, the mayor, and the governor! It's best to put it in writing and "snail-mail" it in. The links below will point to e-mail forms and addresses.

Find your legislative district's
Senator or Representative. Mayor Jeremy Harris
City & County of Honolulu Governor Linda Lingle
State of Hawaii

Area History
Haiku Valley & the U.S. Coast Guard

Haiku Valley, a bowl-shaped valley along the central windward section of the Koolaus, was the home of the USCG's "Omega" Station. The station operated as Hawaii's transmitting facility for the Loran-C nautical navigational system. This was virtually a radio "homing beacon" which, for decades, mariners extensively to aid trans-Pacific voyages.

However, the advent of the highly accurate satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) presented maritime operators with a far more reliable means of navigation. As such, the slow loss of popularity, first among military and commercial fleets followed by civilian flotillas, pushed the station into obsoletion. The USCG began shutting down its national network of Loran stations.

Another factor in the shut down of the Haiku Valley Omega Station was the H-3 Highway. Project engineers and state planners were afraid of the potential hazard caused by the intense electromagnetic field (EMF). The antenna was using the bowl-shape of the valley as a large "dish" to focus the station's signal across the Pacific. As such, would the drivers utilizing H-3 be exposed to harmful doses of EMF with every drive through Haiku Valley?

Prior to the completion of the highway, the station was shut down. The mile-long length of antenna wire and related mounts were disconnected and removed. The control and operations structures on the valley floor as well as several concrete emplacements along the crest were stripped and abandoned.

Trail Map

The Area & Ancient Hawaiian Culture
Puu Keahi a Kahoe is a legendary story in Hawaiian folklore. Keahiakahoe is Hawaiian for "Kahoe's fire".

Stairway to Heaven (Hawaii) Stairway to Heaven (Oahu) Stairway To Heaven (song and TV show)

Haiku Stairs / "Stairway to Heaven"
Trail News & Status Reports

Select a trailAiea Loop (Keaiwa Heiau)Aiea Loop BisectionalAiea RidgeAihualamaCastleDiamond Head (Leahi)Dupont (De Ponte / Mt. Kaala)Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven)Halawa RidgeHauula LoopHawaii Loa RidgeJudd Memorial (Jackass Ginger)Kaaawa Valley (Kualoa Ranch)Kaala, Mount (information)Kaau Crater (Waiomao Stream)Kahana Valley: Stream / NakoaKahana Valley: Koa & KiloKaena Point (via Keawaula)Kahekili (Makaua / Hidden Valley)Kaiwa RidgeKaluanui (Mariners) RidgeKaluwaa LoopKamaileunu RidgeKamiloiki RidgeKanealole (Makiki Valley)Kanehoa-Hapapa SummitKapalama LoopKaua (Puu)KaunalaKawaiiki StreamKawainui StreamKeahi a Kahoe (Puu) / TriplerKeaiwa Heiau (Aiea) LoopKealiaKoko Crater (Puu Mai)Koko Head RimKoloa GulchKoloa RidgeKolowaluKonahuanui (Puu)Koolau SummitKuaokala RidgeKuliouou RidgeKuliouou ValleyLaie RidgeLikeke (via Old Pali Road)Lulumahu FallsMaakua RidgeMaelieli (Puu)Makapuu Lighthouse RoadMakapuu TidepoolsMakapuu / Tom-TomMakiki ValleyMakiki Valley LoopMakua Rim East (Three Corners)Malaekahana RidgeManamana (Puu) / GraveyardManamana (Puu) / Crouching LionManana RidgeManoa CliffManoa FallsMariners (Kaluanui) RidgeMaunalaha (Makiki Valley)Maunawili (Demo)Maunawili FallsMauumae Ridge (Puu Lanipo)Mokolii IslandNuuanuOhia (Puu)OlomanaOpaeula StreamPalikea SummitPauoa FlatsPia (Puu)Piei (Puu)Poamoho RidgeReef RunwaySacred Falls (Kaliuwaa)Schofield-WaikaneSunset (Camp Timberline)Three Corners (Makua Rim)Waahila Ridge (Mt. Olympus)Waiahole DitchWaianae-KaalaWaiau RidgeWaikane SaddleWaimalu Ditch (McCandless)Waimano RidgeWiliwilinui Ridge

Legislation

For:
HCR131 & HR90: Supports Haiku Stairs, encourages use of H-3 Access Road

Against:
HB1748: Directs AG and DLNR to condemn property and remove metal stairway permanently
HCR199 & SCR213: Forces DHHL, DOT, DLNR, OHA to stop access to Haiku Valley

City offers Haiku Stairs to state (SB: 5/04/05)

Ha'iku Stairs plan calls for hiker donations (Adv: 10/08/04)
Ha'iku Stairs plan is shelved (Adv: 9/30/04)
Ha'iku Stairs deal reached (Adv: 8/27/04)
Ha'iku Stairs legal complications persist (Adv: 5/25/04)

Capitol meeting discusses Ha'iku Stairs plan (Adv: 12/03/03)
Battle over stairs set to escalate (Adv: 11/03/03)
Transfer of Ha'iku Stairs land on hold (SB: 10/24/03)
City to get Ha'iku Stairs land (Adv: 10/23/03)
Residents unfairly scorned for Haiku Stairs concerns (editorial)
Don’t let complainers ruin Haiku Stairs for everyone (editorial)
Parking issue halts ‘Stairway’ reopening (SB: 8/18/03)
Gatekeepers deny 'Stairway to Heaven' (Adv: 8/14/03)
'Stairway to Heaven' still closed as city ponders signs (Adv: 5/13/03)

Reopening of Haiku Stairs delayed by lawsuit worries (Adv: 10/10/02)
Access issues delay Haiku Stairs opening (SB: 9/7/02)

Hikers ignore warnings on Stairway to Heaven (Adv: 7/5/01)

The city wants Haiku Stairs saved and the hiking spot reopened (SB: 5/15/97)

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Stairway to Heaven at a Glance

Put on your hiking boots and get on a very special adventure that you can only experience on Oahu. Touch the clouds and get the greatest views on top of the Koolau Range. To get there you’ll have to climb stairs, a lot of them. With every step on the 2,120 foot long trail, you’ll not only wish that you had not eaten this chocolate muffin for breakfast, but you’ll be in awe by the emerging range of view.

The trail is narrow and at times the stairs will remind you more of a ladder. It can get steep, so if you have any anxieties when it comes to heights, you might reconsider this trip.

The climb up the Haiku Stairs, what is the official name, is a popular excursion for visitors and local residents alike. Some go for the view and to take the photo of their lifetime, others see it as a challenge and a test of fitness and of spirit and some come for the workout. It is strenuous and fun; you’ll be sweating and will most likely be sore for a while, but you will be proud of yourself and will have seen something that not many are lucky enough to see.

Once you made it to the last step you will feel like on top of the world. Sometimes the very end of the stairs is covered by clouds, therefore the name Stairway to Heaven.
So, do clouds taste like cotton candy?

The stairs, originally the maintenance access to a radio antenna high on the mountain, were completely renovated in 2002. The state of Hawaii spent nearly $ 900,000 to keep this landmark and attraction on Oahu safe and open to the public.

I have climbed Hawaii's Stairway to Heaven (3,922 steps one way up this stair and back down again.) in Hawaii, their favorite hike. Plus, the Koko Crater Stairs (1020 steps) on Oahu