Starting this month, one of Hawaii's most dangerous and controversial hikes will be permanently removed.
Oahu's Stairway to Heaven consists of 3,922 smooth steel steps up a narrow ridge in the Koolau Mountains, and has been illegal to hike since 1987. He fines hikers $1,000 for trespassing, but thousands still attempt the trek for the island's Garden of Eden-like views. . Thanks to social media, this trail, also known as the Haiku Stairs, has grown in popularity.
The demolition process for the “aging, narrow metal stair structure” will begin with the removal of more than 600 stair modules, according to a press release from the City and County of Honolulu. The entire project is expected to take him six months.
In an announcement Wednesday, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the removal was “long overdue.”
“This decision was premised on respect for the stairway entrance and the people who live around it, respect for the aina (land), and respect for the history of our culture, both future and past.” The haiku community. he added.
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The City and County of Honolulu unanimously passed Resolution 21-154 in 2021 to remove the stairs in an effort to enhance the quality of life for nearby residents, improve public safety, and protect the natural beauty of the lush Haiku Valley. It was approved.
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Honolulu City Council Vice President Esther Chiaina, who introduced the resolution, called the project “a new chapter for Haiku Valley” at a press conference, and said the collective decision to eradicate the stairs was a “new chapter for Haiku Valley,” according to Hawaii New. It said it was “for the benefit of the community.” now.
“After decades of communities seeking relief from government, we had a duty to make a decision that we knew would offend some people, but ultimately… We had to take into account many variables,” says Chiaina. She told USA TODAY she has been involved in land management discussions for Haiku Stairs for more than 20 years. She called it a “difficult decision.”
For decades, residents who live near the steps have complained of nuisance by hikers who jump fences and trespass onto private property at night to watch the sunrise. Some hikers blocked people's driveways, vandalized people's property and urinated on them, according to the resolution.
According to the resolution, between August 2017 and March 2020, police officers turned away 11,427 people who tried to climb the stairs through surrounding neighborhoods.
This path is extremely dangerous due to steep cliffs and unpredictable weather conditions. There have been no recorded deaths, but a mistake could require a helicopter rescue. Between 2010 and 2022, more than 188 people were rescued from the hike, and their costs were paid for by taxpayers. Helicopter rescues cost thousands of dollars, so a bill was introduced last year that would have made people pay for their own rescues, but it has not passed.
In addition to demolishing the stairs, the project also includes restoring native vegetation in the affected areas. The project will also preserve portions of the structure to honor the staircase's historical significance as a World War II military access route.
“The wonders remain, and that is the natural beauty of Mauna and Haiku Valley,” Kiaina said. “The stairs themselves served a purpose, U.S. national security, and that purpose has ended. Despite what people think, I feel that part of the healing is for the mauna and valley itself. .”
The city stressed that the stairs will become even more dangerous during construction and pose an “immediate safety threat” to anyone trying to sneak out on a final hike.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. Please contact kwong@usatoday.com..
