Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. An absolutely amazing experience. Monalua Ridge offers legal access to the top of the Haiku Stairs (note: they are illegal to go down). Disappointed that I didnt have a chance to make that trek. If you do choose to continue on past the legal boundary and to the illegal area of the radio tower and reach the Haiku Stairs, this is what you can expect. There should be more information about this soon. Although extremely tempting, the hike down the Haiku Stairs is highly illegal and subject to fine, etc. 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. The middle ridge in Moanalua is home to many native species not found anywhere else in the world, and being at the top of the ridge, the effects of illegal hikers and illegal tours ripples down into the valley. However, we wouldnt recommend running. There are many more to check out! Hike the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs Peak Have some light. 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. Did this hike last week started at 6 AM. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Do not leave trash at the summit or on the trail. HONOLULU (KITV4) Honolulu Fire received an emergency 911 call about hikers in distress on the Moanalua Valley Trail on Friday evening. Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. We explored a few hundred meters down an abandoned set of stairs, quite sketchy and not recommended before turning back and returning towards the radio tower. 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. Loving all your content and guidance! 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. Do NOT take this route. Make sure you bring snacks and lots of water. Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve (Moanalua section). The views are incredible and worth every minute and mile of this trail. 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. Most of the time it will be muddy, so be prepared to get dirty. Be prepared. The Moanalua Valley Trail begins at the end of the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park. Moanalua Valley Trail - Moanalua Valley Trail - Tripadvisor Step 4 Park at the Moanalua Valley Park parking lot at 1849 Ala. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. Similar to the Angles Landing Hike in Zion National Park. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your He was previously stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. It is only accessible by hiking approximately 2.5 miles up the Kamananui Valley Road Trail, where a marked sign on the left designates the trailhead. However, dont be confused by people who tell you this is the legal way to visit the Haiku Stairs. 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. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. The only death Im aware of was caused by a heart attack in a middle aged hiker (that steep ascent to platform one can be strenuous). The Moanalua Valley Trail is mostly flat and ventures through tropical forest but kind of stops in the middle of nothing. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Army officials have released new details surrounding the death of an Airman assigned to the 15th Wing. These people are mad and will make increasing trouble for hikers as time goes by. But is the solution to shut everything down? There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. Please tag along! Anthony Polizzi, Col. Dan Dobbels, commander of the 15th Wing, said in the statement. 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 a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. Word to the wise: count the crossings, but don't take them as gospel. Microspikes are good to have to make it up/for traction. It was intense & very rewarding. Mahalo! This is classic government stupidity for you tax people to build them, tax more to fix them, then tax to take them out because they are dangerous when actually they are much safer than no stairs. If you look closely, you can see the winding stairway. Did this exact hike. Kamananui Valley Road | Outdoor Project Aloha, for those that think this trail is legal and open to the public with no repercussions, you are wrong. For a complete list of LEGAL State Trails, please visit hawaiitrails.hawaii.gov/trails Lastly, guided hikes and other commercial activity being conducted inside Moanalua valley are illegal. Once you get through the initial flat part, there is a really difficult part - but I promise it gets better after about 20 minutes. A coworker identified the victim as Nathan Stowell, 24. The steepest section of stairs is actually near the start of the hike, right before you reach the first platform. Translation: Its going to be a long day. Well kept trail for the island, but still challenging. There is a little sign right before accession, go to the left and instead of keeping left, take the middle right path up. 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. a pic? In 2015, a man from Florida man died after falling about 200 feet from the trail. 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 No more news yet. All Rights Reserved. Easy hike through the lush forest of Kamananui Valley. Oahu Hike of the Month: Moanalua Valley Trail Hiking Moanalua Middle Ridge on Oahu, an All-Day, Experts-Only I was wondering what hike is the one you took the first picture in!! 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. Past Week. Choose wisely! 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Additionally, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. Theres a tree branch that has Middle Ridge carved into it as a reference point. Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. Moanalua Valley Trail the legal back way for the Stairway To Heaven. Loved every minute of it! This is a small playground area for children and at the back of the grass area, the paved trail begins. More advanced hike along the ridge line. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. These restaurants and cafs hold themselves to a higher eco-standard that make deciding where to eat for ocean-minded people an easy decision. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. listen to flash flood warnings. -2L water MINIMUM. Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. From plantation towns to planned communities, Central Oahu has its share of secret spots, a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats. The group is part of the 15th Wing. Wonderful read! -Rain jacket/windbreaker . Anthony J. Polizzi. Test first before committing your weight on it. It may sound dramatic but at times that is the situation. This is incorrect. I did this hike solo about a month ago. Not runners, not tennis, etc. Love this hike! Continue on the main trail up and up and up. As the years have gone by and patience thinned then disappeared completely, hikers have tried to be more stealthy but its a little too late I dont know about you but if all that was happening on a near daily basis to my neighborhood, Id be pretty upset too! 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. Hold tight and watch your footing. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, you will catch your first glimpse of the radio tower/satellite. 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. Many people come unprepared for hiking on Oahu and thats why there are so many rescues. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Three units, staffed with nine personnel arrived on scene at 7:58 p.m. 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. This Trail is ILLEGAL. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100ft of elevation each mile. After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. 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. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. A Mariposa County sheriff's deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead . 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. The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. It was actually easier to me than Mount Olympus , just a LOTTTTTT longer. It's not about the rules and laws I've cited. 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. I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! To stay safe on this hike, just wear shoes with good grip and remember to keep three points of contact at all times. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. It is open 7A-7P but I started my hike at 6:15A and the gate was open. The trail will cross the stream 28 more times before the last 1/4 mile of trail. Dinner and Show Tickets. If you want to go hike, I'm not stopping you. Yes the steepest parts have metal railings to hold. All rights reserved. adventures and follow local regulations. At the beginning, a large monkeypod tree leads to the Douglas Damon house site. Wear proper foot ware, including hiking boots, spikes, and gloves. Even with all the information there is floating around online to help hikers prepare for it, I prefer to have a guide, someone in the flesh whos done this before, to lead the way to the finale peak, Puu Keahi a Kahoe, at the back of Moanalua Valley. One of my favorite trails, with tons of side trails, pools, and ruins to explore. I didnt need spikes but some good traction helps. This breathtaking gem was built in 1982 by the US Army Corps of Engineering to prevent flooding. Ensure that your battery is full prior to your hike. If people cared more about the "nature" that they so desperately enjoy in this valley, then I wouldn't even be on here. 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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. 30 BEST HIKES ON OAHU, HAWAII - Journey Era Army: Airman assigned to 15th wing died after collapsing while hiking, Furnishings, appliances from Shirokiya Japan Village Walk up for auction, Former Mililani High athletic director indicted, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Start at the parking lot at the end of Moanalua Valley Road. Ive lived here for 33 years and yes its fricken ridiculous WHEREVER YOU GO. At a few points I need to brace myself against the bark of an ohia tree to keep from losing my balance. 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! Los Angeles Obituaries | Local Obits for Los Angeles, CA - Legacy.com Ive done the Hawaii Haiku Stairs hike several times now, and even after traveling in many countries, its still probably my favorite trek in the world. It was a beautiful day, not too muddy to complete this hike. Polizzi graduated from Miami University, Ohio, from which he was commissioned through ROTC and entered the Air Force June 7, 2011. The exposed ridges have more space on the sides than the pictures seem. Its here, you should remind yourself, as you make your initial descent, not to rush. Not only are the views out of this world, but the whole experience is just beyond awesome and unique. We did this trail in about 6.5 hours (both of us experienced hikers) with stoping for many photos and breaks. More recently, Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi has publicly stated he may be willing to consider new options to save the Haiku Stairs, and Hawaii Senator Schatz has pitched the idea of handing it over to the federal government to renovate and operate, with a different entrance so all parties are happy. 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. Ill keep this blog post updated. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. absolutely not! Ive done both hikes many times over the years, and I have to say there is really no comparison in terms of difficulty. Speaking of which, please be respectful of the local neighborhood and dont make noise or throw trash, and definitely dont jump any fences or go into anyones yard. After you reach the first platform, the hike flattens out quite a bit and things get much easier. Can be very muddy like lots of the ridges out here on island. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! Be prepared for lots of mud! These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! All rights reserved. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. 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