Aloha! Bring water & food. A coworker identified the victim as Nathan Stowell, 24. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. Don't hike with this Mike guy on here , he reaches out and tries to rip you off and doesn't even hike it with you . 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. Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. Its not quite the same experience as climbing the stairs from the bottom up, but you can still reach the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven trail at the top and go back down in either direction when youre done. Ask bognarofsydney about Moanalua Valley Trail. ", Barney Griggs, a spokesperson for the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, said anyone who wants to hike the Olomana Trail "should be an experienced hiker. My wife Intan and I are usually in our second home Bali, but our journeys take us to destinations all over the world. Judd Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Every trail I hike on this island and other islands is overrun, regulate yes, shut down no and certainly dont be a condescending dick about something you have zero authority over. Alone with some of the best views in the world. From plantation towns to planned communities, Central Oahu has its share of secret spots, a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats. Be sure youre alright with heights, narrow ridges, and some minor climbing/scrambling. This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, you will catch your first glimpse of the radio tower/satellite. In this blog post, I will share with you all of the details about the Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs including distance, elevation, legalities, what to bring, and how to avoid trouble on this route. Moanalua Valley has a rich cultural history that is important to the people of Hawaii. Recommended. Mahalo! Criminal penalties and EMS fees are charged as well due to the illegal nature of the hike. This is known as the back way for the Stairway To Heaven. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. There is a security guard at the beginning. To begin the Moanalua Valley Trail you will first need to drive to the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and park in the streets nearby. Loving all your content and guidance! The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Lots of people sliding down on the trail or ripping out plants because they dont have traction damages the trail and makes it worse for everyone else. 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. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. 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. Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. Firefighters had to comb through a wooded area and ask a hiker to shake a tree before they found the body just after noon, Fire Captain KevinMokulehua said. The Stairway To Heaven trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Many people come unprepared for hiking on Oahu and thats why there are so many rescues. When I did the Haiku Stairs Oahu trek for the first time on my birthday in 2016, the weather started out clear but then some clouds came in. The stairs start in the Haiku Valley, under the H3 highway (John A. Burns Freeway) and they wind up the side of a mountain near Kaneohe, called Puukeahiakahoe. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! There are shorter hikes on this island with better views and less risk. "One couldnt help but be in a good mood when you were around.". The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. You can go all the way up and assess the situation and make your decisions from there but even if you dont want to venture onto the illegal area you will have great views so it is still worth the journey either way. 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. Being inside the Forest Reserve is completely legal, as is being on Kamananui Trail. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. This was one of my favorite sections of the hike and the backdrop over the shoulder gave great views of the ridge we had just hiked up. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. Someone needs to find a better means of access that bypasses the neighborhood totally. 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. Ive lived here for 33 years and yes its fricken ridiculous WHEREVER YOU GO. For safety. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. The Stairway To Heaven hike is much longer, steeper, harder, and scarier than the Koko Stairs. Once up on the ridge, the view is absolutely incredible! (Google Maps calls it Moanalua Valley Trail Start.) Please do not bring your babies, this hike is far too dangerous for young children. I'm David, an American with a passion for adventure, the outdoors, and all things travel. We did this trail in about 6.5 hours (both of us experienced hikers) with stoping for many photos and breaks. We were SO excited to find a legal way to hike the Haiku Stairs. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. You can also reach out for info/if you have other questions about the hike or other hikes here. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. Thanks Billie! You can read more here: https://www.haikustairs.org/. At another, I cut up my knuckles clawing for exposed roots to keep from tumbling down the rugged spine. If its handled right, this solution could resolve many of the issues associated with the Stairway To Heaven. I lived for a few years in Kaneohe (graduated James B Castle HS) some 50 years ago and NEVER knew about the Haiku stairway. Do NOT take this route. 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. Trailhead Coordinates - Latitude: 21.37409 | Longitude: -157.880509. Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. Preview trail Dogs on leash Hiking Walking Bird watching River Views Waterfall Wildflowers Over grown Scramble Description Parking is at the Moanalua Valley Park (open from 7am - 7pm) at the end of Ala Aolani Street. As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers. The area escorts us into a network of trails here, where the middle ridge opens up upon crossing a streambed found just after the marker for the Kulanaahane Trail. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @mike.karas or email me at mikekarasphotography@gmail.com if youd like to join or like gear for the hike I have plenty of microspikes and gloves. a view? Every time I turned around to look back towards the city, the view just kept getting better and better. age 94, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the St. John of God Retirement Center in Los Angeles, CA. Furthermore, Hawaii State Forest Reserves have other rules, such as what time they open and close, yes you read that correctly, Forest Reserves are only legal to hike in 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset. Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. Translation: Its going to be a long day. While you cant legally step foot on the stairs or satellite summit area, you can make it all the way up to that area so this route is a great alternative to the controversial and heavily regulated Haiku Stairs (the front way). Bring a cell phone, which can be a lifesaver during an emergency. 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). 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. Whenever you buy something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. Anthony J. Polizzi. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. Yes the steepest parts have metal railings to hold. Create a password that only you will remember. ", Hikerstold KHONthe trail was muddy from rain this past weekend. 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. ; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 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. Pass all the crossings and continue to follow the trail. We won't share it with anyone else. To remember: You came this far. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. Its been a wild ride. Legal Statement. This hike sounds like something I would love to do. I really hope they dont do that. 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? These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. I'm also attempting to educate people about how this place is being overrun by people who want to experience nature but are doing so at the cost of nature and for what? Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. (Damon was the son of Bernice Pauahi Bishops husbands business partner. I hope my travels give you the motivation to set off on an epic adventure of your own. Hunters frequent the surrounding area, so, when in doubt, follow the stream! If you decide to bring Fido, keep him leashed. 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. Moanalua Valley Trail the legal back way for the Stairway To Heaven. I also didnt get enough sleep dont be like me. Firefighters said that the rivers crossing the trail were at a dangerously high level. If you hike up the Moanalua trail and then down the stairs, youre still risking a fine, because the stairway is not legal. That wouldnt be cheap. Bring some shoes that you don't care about because the trail is muddy and you will definitely get dirty. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. There were 2 other parties of 2 hiking that day, plus a group at the top who came from the other trail that made them muddy and take much longer. Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak. The valley itself is historical, with the earliest human inhabitants dating back to the 1500s. 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.