If you see this, you are headed in the right direction. Pro Tip This is where the headlights we mentioned above come in handy. Once you finally reach the metal steps after wandering around the Hawaiian jungle for what seems like forever, pat yourself on the back because the hardest part is behind you. You have finally reached the trail start for the Haiku Stairs. Now all you have to do is start the hike up the 3, steps and discover exactly why they call this trail the Stairway To Heaven!
How long does it take to climb the stairway to heaven? It takes 2 hours to climb to the top of the Haiku Stairs. However, this is counterintuitive because on a majority of days, the summit is so cloudy it completely blocks out the sunrise altogether. Instead, I recommend staying at the second or third platform for a better sunrise view.
You can hike up the rest of the stairs once you see the sunrise! Unless you are actually living in Hawaii, how many times are you actually going to get the chance to hike the Stairway To Heaven in your lifetime? Seriously, think about it.
You went through the effort of waking up at 3 in the morning, ducking and dodging the police like a wanted felon, wandering around a pitch-black, sketchy bamboo forest for at least an hour before finally hiking those ridiculously exhausting Haiku Stairs all for what? To see a bunch of clouds and hope for better weather the next time?
Or wait it out for a moment and witness views like this…. Pro Tip Seriously though, wait it out for a couple of hours and give the clouds a chance to clear. It only takes about one to two hours to complete The Stairway to Heaven hike back down. A majority of those arrested or dealt a fine for completing The Stairway To Heaven hike are not arrested on the way up, but actually on the way down.
The reason for this is because unlike on the way down, you are no longer cloaked by the shade of night. Instead, you are in plain sight of the security guard waiting at the bottom, who has more than enough time to alert police. They can spot you climbing down the Haiku Stairs about 30 minutes before you actually get to the bottom. You will meet plenty of people atop the mountain who say you will be fine just going back down the Haiku Stairs but truth be told… There is no bulletproof exfiltration route.
So the choice is yours…. Truth be told, I had no clue this option even existed until we were already on top of the Stairway To Heaven.
It is called Moanalua Valley Trail and yes, it is completely legal! In fact, the trail brings a plethora of spectacular valley views and more daring encounters than the Haiku Stairs hike. The Moanalua Valley Road Trail itself is about a 3 to 5-hour hike down and has some pretty daunting parts along the way that may leave you wondering if the risk of a thousand-dollar ticket was worth it after all.
We recommend taking an Uber instead of driving your car for a few reasons…. Firstly, the locals living in that neighborhood are furious with the hikers passing through their streets to complete an illegal hike, so if they see your car and suspect anything, they will have your car towed! Of course, you can always park in the next neighborhood and walk to the entrance to start your hike, however, this brings me to my next reason as to why you should Uber there instead.
Stupid, I know. Therefore just take an Uber! Most people make it all the way to the top of the Haiku Stairs to watch the sunrise. Along with your victory beer, you might want to eat a victory sandwich too. And wear a warmer jacket underneath that too. Hiking through a bamboo forest in the dark with no footpath to guide you is the hardest part of the journey to the Haiku Stairs. We began to contemplate when we should head down and which way we should go. The Moanalua Trail , is a 6-mile route down that would help you avoid the guards but you would also miss the views of the stairway on the way down and it would take times as long.
We decided to follow the crowd and headed down the stairs, only one old man remained at the summit when we left. It is amazing to walk up in the dark and then see where you hiked as you descend down in the daylight. It took us less than two hours to make it to the beginning of the stairs. It was his response that made us feel better about the whole situation. Even the guard knows it is a bunch of politics stopping adventurers from hiking this trail.
Winding our way in and out of bamboo shoots we emerged from the forest inside an elementary school to the dismay of a worker, who had clearly seen it all before.
We apologized and put our heads down and followed his orders to take the gate out. We were almost free. Making our way towards the final gate, we spilled into the neighborhood and saw no signs of any police or angry neighbors. We knew we were now literally out of the woods. This is truly one of the wonders of the world and makes you feel incredibly small, almost like an ant climbing a hill.
The atmosphere of the hike is dreamy, eerie, and feels like Jurassic Park. It is definitely something you should attempt when visiting Honolulu if you are up for the challenge. I recommend that if you do this hike, try as hard as possible to attempt it with someone who has been before.
Show respect for the neighbors as much as possible and know that you are likely trespassing and breaking the law. As I mentioned earlier in the blog post, there is an alternate route down and therefore, also an alternate route up. You can completely avoid the guards and security at the start of the trailhead if you follow the Moanalua Trail.
The hike begins at the Moanalua Valley road trail and is a 9. You will get muddy and it is not easy. Although it is legal, it is still a tough hike. There are multiple sections with rope climbs and very steep, muddy ascents.
Once you reach the top you can walk down the stairs and get some cool photos. In fact, you can go quite a far way down the stairs because the guards and police usually only wait at the bottom.
I think they are too lazy to chase people up the stairs every morning. So, for the photographers out there, you can get all of the angles and shots you have dreamed about… legally. This route also does a good job of not waking up the neighbors as you jump fences and sneak around at 3 am.
Keep in mind, according to the rules, if you step foot on the summit you are breaking the law. I highly advise you guys to hike Stairway to heaven this way. You will still get the same shots of the stairs as you would going the other way just with a bit more effort.
You also get to hike Moanalua Trail, which is an awesome hike too! If you are interested in climbing the back legal way up to the summit you can contact mike. There have been several possible solutions thrown around about the future of Stairway to Heaven on Oahu, Hawaii. How could it be possible to make the hike open to the public and also respect the neighbors right to privacy and safety in their own yard?
Here are the options that have been discussed so far in the media, forums and by the state. The money can be spent on creating a small parking lot, maintaining the trail and creating a safe entrance and exit points. This paper would need to be shown at the entrance to the stairs or checked at any time during the hike. This would take the liability away from the state and is similar to the rules and regulations for camping grounds. Paid tours with guides could remove the liability from the state and put the responsibility on tour companies who would need to act responsibly and safely with their clients.
Close the hike, pull down the stairs and the liability is then gone. Use a lottery system similar to other national parks, which allow only a small number of lucky lottery winners into the park each month. What do you think the best solution could be?
We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Pack the basics. The main two things to pack that are make-or-break for your experience are the headlamp and the dry clothes for the summit.
Rain Jacket — Never hike in Hawaii without a rain jacket, no matter how sunny it is in Honolulu. Spare T-shirt — To change into at the top to be dry and warm as you will sweat through your original shirt while hiking: Dry fit hiking shirt I use: IceBreaker Merino Lite. Headlamp — So you can keep your hands free instead of holding a torch. Snacks — Make sure you pack some granola bars as you will need to replenish your energy at the summit.
Camera — This is a once-in-a-lifetime view so whether it is your phone, GoPro or camera make sure you can grab a snap as a memory. This map below shows the pin location of the satellite at the top of the stairway to heaven on Oahu. From here you will have to decide on whether you trespass and jump fences or attempt the Stairway to Heaven trail from the back entrance.
I highly encourage the latter. Pin it! What to pack for Hawaii? Luxury rooms overlooking the beach, a private lagoon and a free fireworks and dance performance show.
Hilton is easily the most recognizable hotel on the Island. Why I recommend this hotel: It has its own private lagoon. While lots of people love the beach it is perfect for families. Kids can kayak, swim and snorkel with no worries. There are no currents, waves or sea creatures to worry about. Sheraton Waikiki Luxury : A luxury resort with the most amazing infinity pool on the island, which overlooks the beach. The bar and nightclub at the Sheraton is a great place to relax after a long day of island adventures.
Why I recommend this hotel: The Sheraton is always exceptional no matter the location but imagine you are leaning over the edge of an infinity pool, the ocean is below you and you turn to your left and watch Diamond Head crater in the distance. Later on, in the evening Rumfire is a great bar venue, which is actually part of the Sheraton.
It is open to the public and is one of the best high-end venues on Oahu. It has a small dance floor but is mostly standing and seating areas for drinks, chats and good times. Luckily, there is an accommodation option on the edge of Waikiki that is excellent value. If you are like me, I never swim in the hotel pool anyway. Waikiki Beachside Hostel Budget Choice : A budget alternative, which is still in an amazing location. Walking distance to Waikiki beach and a central location to base yourself for a week of adventures.
Why I recommend this hostel: Unfortunately Waikiki and Honolulu, in general, are not cheap. This location really is great.
You are near a lot of attractions and can take public transport to a lot of great east coast beaches and hikes. It honestly feels like a theme park at times with just how many pools and activities are available.
If you can afford it, this is the 1 place to stay for families on Oahu. Why I recommend this hotel: Disney Aulani Resort combines luxury accommodation with family fun. The kids club and massage center are just among a few of the many activities included in your stay. Attend ukelele lessons, free fire-pit story-telling at night and more and more!
Your kids will never be bored and the quality of entertainment and facilities is just beyond amazing. I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls!
These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip! We have all the advance travel packages like shimla kullu Manali honeymoon tour package, Maldives packages from Delhi. This sense of identification also means we value and promote seamless interaction with customer and ensure the best value is obtained from their budget.
Make your holidays super exciting with our adventure holiday packages. I like reading through a post that can make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment! To all interested in doing Haiku I will warn you…this is not just a fine but a criminal trespassing charge added to it, that stays on your record forever. I spoke to the county clerk about what had happened. My husbands grandfather helped build it and we would be devastated to see it go.
All in favor for petition? Say I!! Went up the stairs last week with wife and baby. 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. People claim the stairs are dangerous but they are a lot safer than climbing the mountains without stairs.
We made a false start up a precarious slope and had to go back down and restart closer to the stairs. The main problem is going through the neighborhood.
A guy yelled and cussed at us and sprayed us with water with blue dye. These people are mad and will make increasing trouble for hikers as time goes by. 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.
Someone needs to find a better means of access that bypasses the neighborhood totally. I would have liked to investigate an entry from the south if time permitted. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. Thanks for this great article and the terrific photos. I lived in Hawaii about 20 years ago and have been back frequently since. Have been up the Haiku Stairs probably 20 times used it to train for climbing Mt. Rainier when I lived out there but it sounds like the security is a bit more serious now.
Article definitely makes me want to do it again — but maybe by the back way this time. Funny thing, if you look at the google satellite image of the summit and follow it down, you can see at least 3 people on the stairway, as of 17 JAN Wow, this blog is wonderful i love reading your articles.
Keep up the good work! You know, lots of people are hunting around for this information, you can help them greatly. Your pictures are amazing and so is the write-up. Had gone to Hawaii 30 years back, now I think its time to go again. This article seems to care more about avoiding fines than respecting the population and land of Hawaii. Leave Hawaii alone. Why should rich businessman and politicians decide who can explore a hike that has been an integral part of hiking history on Oahu.
Ask yourself why they are there in the first place. Cause and effect…. Illegal hike. It is illegal yes. The question as to why it is illegal is a little bit less straight forward and involves money and liability. It is all discussed at the bottom of this blog post.
Not ideal for residents, not ideal for hikers either! It costs a lot and like all decisions regarding the stairway, money talks. It is illegal that is a fact. The area in between those two facts is quite grey. Article is a little deceptive. You were still on the stairs which is illegal. There is no legal way. Hi Steve.
Therefore your comment is deceptive for any readers who might pass by it. Hope you have a good day and enjoy the hike whether it is legal or not… it should be open if not for money-hungry corporates who have lost their sense of adventure many, many years ago. Hi, How exactly did you arrive to the start point of the hike? Did you drive? Rob Towne. Aj Bearden.
November 4, Spencer Gospe. November 3, Trent Ryals. October 31, October 28, Wer doing it tomorrow.. Chandra Robison. October 23, Love nature here beautiful views. Van tran. October 20, The legal way to see the stairway. The valley is beautiful but muddy. Kazumi Hwami Mugen. October 19, Xi Wang. Loved it. Would do again. Fun and the views were great. Kelsi Hendrix. October 17, Carter Peck. October 15, David Smith. October 11, Casey Smith. Kristen Lammie. October 9, Mahdi Hemmat.
October 5, Lets do this hike morning of 15th October! Insta is Persiaboi :. Bernardita Ferrer Barros. Jake Vicini. October 4, The Wildlings. October 2, Doing this Saturday 0ct 2nd! Who want to join? Lauren Pinchbeck. October 1, Hiking Muddy Private property Scramble.
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Donavan Delossantos. Daniel Carson. Larz Thompson. November 9, Orion Satori. Robert Booth. November 7, Gabriel Lopez. Carter Provost. Tom Phan. November 6, Kat G. Jason Lokko.
Camille Honda. Kelly Tynan. November 2, Tomasa P. Terry Ng. Travis Hood. November 1, Sarah Mazzatenta. Kathryn Cornelius. Kristin Brandt. Margo Kelm. Katia Perreira.
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