ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. 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. Heed no trespassing and other warning signs. 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. The trail is quite easy to follow for the first few miles with a wide path, winding you through lush forest and warming up your legs. 12. no reports have been added for Moanalua Valley Trail yet, add a trail report. The trail becomes quite steep from this point on with lots of tree roots to scramble up, boulders to clamber over and small rope sections to navigate. The Stairway to Heavenhike on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is possibly the greatest attraction on the entire island. No such facilities are available within the valley itself. Nowadays, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply owns the Hawaii Haiku Stairs, and theyve repeatedly talked about the idea of tearing them down for political (liability) reasons. Moanalua/Kamananui Valley Trail Hard 4.7 (4054) Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve Photos (5,132) Directions Print/PDF map Length 9.2 miElevation gain 2,998 ftRoute type Out & back Enjoy this 9.2-mile out-and-back trail near Honolulu, Oahu. The Olomana Trail is strenuous a 4.5-mile rocky path spread across three different mountainous peaks, according toSummitPost.org. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. -2L water MINIMUM. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. 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. (Google Maps calls it Moanalua Valley Trail Start.) Bummer, this trail is closed. The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. At the beginning, a large monkeypod tree leads to the Douglas Damon house site. Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. If you have all trails just follow that! At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, you will catch your first glimpse of the radio tower/satellite. 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Our group did good timing but it was Still LONGGGG I believe I did it in 7 Hrs 45 mins (started about 5:30am - about 4 hrs or less to Get to top 9:15am, 30mins enjoying view / pics / eating 9:45am descend , arrived at my car by 1:20pm to get back took 3hr 35mins) I was beyond exhausted tho, my body was in survival mode at that point & just want to not be hiking anymore lol! 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. However, if you cross over and set foot on the platform of the satellite or venture onto the stairs you are now in an illegal area. Thank you for sharing your experience and pics. Toa Luau at Waimea Valley. Do NOT take this route. It was gorgeous & worth all the aches later lol. Dont attempt this hike when its raining or for a couple of days after heavy rain. Its here, you should remind yourself, as you make your initial descent, not to rush. Ask bognarofsydney about Moanalua Valley Trail. Additionally, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. Staying on the trail greatly reduces your chances of getting injured or lost. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. 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? a pic? and news flash, every part of Hawaii is sacred! Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. . People claim the stairs are dangerous but they are a lot safer than climbing the mountains without stairs which is what people are doing to avoid breaking the law (but then they get on the stairs at the top for photos). Ive done both hikes many times over the years, and I have to say there is really no comparison in terms of difficulty. The seemingly level elevation from point A to point B can be misleading and the giddy nature of being so close can come with a lack of focus. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Park in the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park parking lot at 1857 Ala Aolani St. As you walk up the dirt road, you will reach a chain link gate leading to the dirt road. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. 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. There is no legal way to the stairs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. Moanalua is still a pretty epic hike in its own right, and the views are amazing, so Id recommend doing it if you enjoy hard hikes! Recommended. Dont sue the state. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. While holding back any visions of being on the verge of setting foot on an old Dharma station (LOST fans, you'll understand once you're there), the 20-30 minute hike to the radio tower is full of its own challenges. It may never be surpassed! I hope my travels give you the motivation to set off on an epic adventure of your own. Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. However, it is not the most dangerous hike on Oahu. Non-potable stream water can be found through out the valley. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. It was beautiful! Daylenn "Moke" Pua, 17, vanished five days ago while heading to the Haiku Stairs. I'm David, an American with a passion for adventure, the outdoors, and all things travel. The group is part of the 15th Wing. To begin the Moanalua Valley Trail you will first need to drive to the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park and park in the streets nearby. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. I think even not super experienced hikers can complete as long as they take at their own pace. Not willing to change her identity to be part of the industry, Mahina Florence is at the height of her career because of her flawless Hawaiian complexion, strong athletic build, and friendly aloha spirit. The final major rope section was a steep gravel wall at an aggressive angle that required you to pull yourself up with the rope. From plantation towns to planned communities, Central Oahu has its share of secret spots, a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats. 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. About 200 yards from the radio tower, the trail eases up and you begin to see the sweeping panoramic views over Honolulu and southern Oahu. The fine is reportedly $1000 if you are ticketed at the summit or on the stairs. There should be more information about this soon. A helpful tool I used was to count the 4 wheel drive road crossings (ie concrete slabs) over the river bed. He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. So long as you make the right turn in The Valley you can easily find your way up, assuming youre up to the effort. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Keep in mind, the adventurers MUST be respectful to neighbourhood residents living in this area. To put it another way, THIS HIKE IS ILLEGAL. We put on our microspikes at the riverbed and they were handy all the way to the summit. Looking to hike this any day in next week .if anybody's down, msg me in insta @allispichkooo:), Anyone want to do this on 11/24 or 11/25? Stick to the main trailfollow a tributary path, and you may wind up in Waimano Valley. Amazing! There is a bathroom and water at the park only. Lastly, you could also be billed for emergency services if youre somehow injured and need to be rescued while doing this hike. The Moanalua Valley Trail takes you up a steep, strenuous dirt path with ropes and no stairs. Try hike the Lanikai pill box brah. Plan accordingly. Thanks Billie! Moanalua Valley Trail to the Haiku Stairs is the only legal trail, and it is recommended for very experienced hikers. Being inside the boundaries of the TMK parcel that the stairs is built on is a finable offense for having broken property and trespass laws. Polizzi was on the hike with a group of friends. I wouldnt recommend this trek if you have a big fear of heights, but most people who do the hike will agree its not nearly as bad as they expected. These people are mad and will make increasing trouble for hikers as time goes by. Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. At minimum please wear proper hiking footwear and be prepared. JT, do think anyone cares about the rules and laws you cite? I was lucky enough to have climbed on a windless morning, but any wind will add to the complexity and risk to the hike. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. If you are interested in climbing the back (legal) way up to the summit you can contact @mike.karas on Instagram and chat with him about when his next tour is running as he hikes the trail most weeks. Youll encounter a couple more ropes (as you did during the Moanalua hike) which will be instrumental in getting down some of the slopes. IG: @ lis.aloha. Oh my! The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Once you are inside the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park, you will find the trail at the back of the park. Its absolutely gorgeous. If you are inside a Forest reserve outside of those times and without a camping permit, you are in violation of the HRS chapter 104 rules and can be cited. Relax, its not as scary as it looks here. Someone needs to find a better means of access that bypasses the neighborhood totally. There is parking outside the gate, which we recommend using in case you don't get back before they close the gates in the evening. The hike is four miles each way, making it just 0.15 miles shorter than the Great Aloha Run. All water should be . In this web series,we bring you our favorite Oahu trails once a month. It all goes back to a history of lawsuits from people getting injured while hiking in Oahu and then suing the state. Moanalua Valley Trail is the back route and legal access to the Haiku Stairs, which is illegal to access from the front stairway. This breathtaking gem was built in 1982 by the US Army Corps of Engineering to prevent flooding. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. The Air Force has identified the airman who died Tuesday,Dec. The trailhead begins at Moanalua Valley Park. 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. If someone is offering to take you on a hike for a fee, you should report them to the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. "Novices have no business being on that hike. Moanalua Valley. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. I really hope they dont do that. 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. After that, it should be pretty straightforward. I hope it will be repaired and preserved for people to enjoy forever. As someone who grew up in a nearby neighborhood in the 80s and still has a good family friend that lives IN the Haiku stairs neighborhood Ill tell you one thing hiking blogs and social media posts dont seem to mention the history of bad behavior from young, disrespectful hikers who arrive at 4am, dont even try to keep their noise levels down, cut through the backyards of residents, and use residents hoses to rinse off after hiking the stairway. The Stairway To Heaven also has much more epic views than Koko Head in my opinion, but Koko Head is still a great hike in its own way, and its completely legal, so its a good choice if you want another challenging hike with some fantastic island views. I appreciate the outpouring of support from our ohana.. Winds were rough as gusts reached up to 40 mph but not once did we feel our lives were threatened. I would have liked to investigate an entry from the south if time permitted. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. There are notable repeat offenders that continue to make 4 or 5-digit profits in a single week, none of which benefits the environment which they are degrading. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Start at the parking lot at the end of Moanalua Valley Road. The last crossing is allll the way at the end, and immediately after that last crossing, it's dense 12ft tall grass and the trail disappears. One of the best experiences I had on Oahu was swimming with the beautiful spinner dolphins on this exact tour. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. Are there hand-holds on the places that were sheer drop off on both sides? Keep in mind, to stay 100 percent legal on this hike you will have to go back the same way you came. 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. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. At some points, the stairs of death are almost vertical, clinging to the side of the steep mountain. 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". He was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, where he was pronounced dead, the Air Force said. This Trail is ILLEGAL. He served as the 15th Maintenance Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. listen to flash flood warnings. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. Check out their website and consider donating if youre a fan. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Wind and rain can make it much harder and more risky. The view is wonderful worth the hike. HONOLULU (KITV4) Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on the Moanalua Valley Trail on Friday evening. You can read about it in this SFGate article. 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. 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. Hoomaluhia means "to make a place of peace and tranquility." These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Easy hike through the lush forest of Kamananui Valley. Finiahed in 10 hours. Continue on the main trail up and up and up. shoes meant for hiking. These are extremely helpful and if the trail is the least bit muddy they are a full-fledged necessity. A man who was hiking Hawaii's Olomana Trail reportedly plummeted hundreds of feet to his death on Sunday after he reportedly tried to grab his hat, marking the fourth death linked to the dangerous trail since 2011. This hike is just one trail located in the Ewa Forest Preserve. A day after announcing his death, officials identified him as New York native and U.S. Air Force Capt. Bring a cell phone, which can be a lifesaver during an emergency. Know your physical abilities and limitations; select trails that can be enjoyed safely. Have some light. Your selfish Instagram post is at the expense of destroying the island's fragile eco-diversity. Alone with some of the best views in the world. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. from. Watch out for roots as this is the largest risk as you climb. Good luck and enjoy! Still interested? Legal Statement. Hiking sandals are ok IF you're experienced hiking in muddy slippery conditions in them. Now that you have made it onto the Moanalua Middle Ridge, the trail is quite easy to follow as it basically follows the ridgeline all the way up to the summit. Theres something really special about this hike, and I still consider it one of the highlights of my life. It definitely is not legal to set foot on the Haiku Stairs or the satellite area at the summit. Keep your personal fitness and skill levelin mind, and always take proper precautions when venturing off road. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. It was actually easier to me than Mount Olympus , just a LOTTTTTT longer. 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 hike is four miles each way . 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. 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. 0 rides ; 6 Months. Legal? 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. Be advised that if you need emergency services you will be billed for the rescue equipment usage and personnel time. Looking to hike this this week if anybody wants to go .msg insta @allispichkooo :), Aloha! This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. I also didnt get enough sleep dont be like me. The 31-year-old native of New York was assigned to the 15th. The police sometimes send an officer to hike up to the summit to give out fines and one time a police helicopter even landed up there. This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. A short walk . Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. The trail begins at the end of Moanalua Valley at Moanalua Valley Park. 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. The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. Please find another hike. Affiliate Disclosures Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Really bites that we struggled through mud for miles and never found the trail. I hope to do it again someday. 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. The Oahu Stairway To Heaven was built by the US Navy in 1942, along with a radio station and giant antenna at the top of the mountain that were used to communicate with ships in the Pacific during World War II. Hunters frequent the surrounding area, so, when in doubt, follow the stream! This blog post will explain some of the details and history of the Hawaii Stairway To Heaven hike, and then Ill discuss some of the politics behind the stairs and plans for their future. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. Posted on Last updated: February 22, 2022. The first part of the hike takes you through a bamboo forest. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Ive done most of the hikes on the island before. Once finally at the peak youll see the Haiku Stairs Radio Tower comes into view. 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. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. Definitely not a short one. Make the risks known to people, but dont close all the hikes. Charges usually start at about $10,000 and go up from there. Basically, when you reach the top of the Moanalua Middle Ridge trail you will have great views and are within a stones throw of the satellite at the summit. Ill also share my full experience and all of my photos including some epic shots from the summit so you can get an idea of why this was one of my favorite hikes on Oahu, Hawaii. Unfortunately, in September 2021, the city administration randomly reversed this decision and decided they would rather spend $1.3 million to remove the stairs, which could happen as soon as 2023. As we continue on for the next few hours theres something encouraging about being able to zero in on where we started at Moanalua Valley Park and the remote summit before us, to visually track our progress. Do not attempt this hike. Its Definitely challenging get rest water food. Date of experience: June 2019. The Kulana'ahane Trail offers unparalleled hiking through native Hawaiian forest to a scenic overlook. Dinner and Show Tickets. So if you're going to be later than that park outside on the street so as not to get towed. The sounds of the cars on the H3 highway below you gradually disappear, and everything starts to get quiet. The steepest section of stairs is actually near the start of the hike, right before you reach the first platform. Id allow a good 4hrs to hike if with a group and more time if the conditions are windy or muddy. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. The view from the tower is the most spectacular although there will be lookouts before which are gorgeous as well. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. The stairs are priceless to many of us, and we all hope the staircase hike can be saved. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Not the one all the way to the left. My issue isn't with people hiking to the stairs, its with people using Moanalua to hike to the stairs and not caring about the impact they are leaving while doing so. The exposed ridges have more space on the sides than the pictures seem. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! Gallantry: Biden presents Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. Paris Davis for his heroics in Vietnam, US to send bridge-launching vehicles for tank deployments to Ukraine in new $400M aid package, Japan complains to US over Utah senators remarks on imprisoned Navy officer, Military, VA provide troops, vets more gun safety options to help reduce suicides, Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. It gave the mountains and everything a surreal touch that made us feel like we were walking up into the heavens. The Haiku Stairs Hawaii trail was officially closed in the 1980s, and its been damaged a little (and repaired) on and off in the years since then. Moanalua (Kamananui) Valley Trail on Oahu. Just because you don't see or understand the damage you are causing doesn't make it right. 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. With alternate trails and surrounding hunting grounds, its easy for dogs to get lost. Basically, politics and money got in the way of this epic hike. We did not have spikes or gloves and it was 100% fine, but it would have been a help especially if there has been recent rain.