KANEOHE, Hawaii -- Hikers illegally accessing Haiku Stairs or the Stairway to Heaven trail are taking steps in the wrong direction for preserving the site for others.
The stairs are currently closed to the public, and the trail has been illegal to hike since 1987. A Honolulu city task force is in the process of creating a proposal by Oct. 6 to re-open the trail for general access in the future, but public access is still closed. Several hikers still daily attempt to get onto the trail at odd hours to avoid Honolulu city government security guards who monitor potential access points.
“Going up at night or in the dark is definitely more dangerous than going during the day,” said Vernon Ansdell, president of the Friends of Haiku Stairs volunteer group. “I believe managed access is important, and I think people who go up should have a little education about the trail too.”
The Friends of Haiku Stairs group formed after the public closure in the 1980s to assist in restoring recreational access. The stairs were initially used to help with the maintenance and construction of a U.S. Naval radio station in the 1940s. Later the structure was used by the U.S. Coast Guard as part of their experimental Omega radio transmitting station until 1997.
Renovations to the steps were completed 12 years ago during a previous attempt to re-open the site, Ansdell said. However, no one from the Friends of Haiku Stairs has been able to maintain the trail in the last year due to difficulties finding an insurer for volunteers.
Once the group secures an insurer, Ansdell said, volunteers would resume regular maintenance trips to the trail. Anyone interested in helping to preserve the site or to help restore public access are welcome to join the volunteer group’s wait list.
Due to the landmark’s complex history, Lance Rice, a Marine Corps Base Hawaii safety specialist, specifically mentions the area during safety talks about hiking around Hawaii.
“Do your research before going on any hike,” he said. “Haiku Stairs is off limits and a government-protected area. You can be fined or arrested if you try.”
Rice, who hikes with his children, said it’s important for any hiker to plan ahead to avoid restricted and unmarked areas. When he hikes, he refers to several local hiking clubs that can help in exploring the accessible trails around the state. Rice often checks in with the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club and Na Ala Hele websites because they are among the longest running sites offering current trail conditions and legal access information.
During his talks, he also encourages hikers to practice basic safety precautions in case of trouble.
"Use the buddy system and never hike alone,” he said. “Make sure you tell someone, (who’s not going on the hike), your route. Let someone know exactly where you are going.”
In addition to staying away from restricted areas, Rice recommends hikers should dress appropriately for weather conditions and reduce their gear load to the essentials. He advises having at least water, sustainable food, a fully charged cell phone and a first aid kit with bandages, gauze and waterproof tape. An emergency blanket and a reflective mirror are also good to carry, since they are lightweight and can help in a crisis.
Both Rice and Ansdell said keeping areas clean and being respectful while hiking goes a long way, including respecting that Haiku Stairs is still closed.
“We have three options,” Ansdell said. “We can continue with the status quo, which everyone agrees is not acceptable. The second option is to remove the stairs, but it’s very expensive and not a viable option. The third option is to provide managed access.”
For more information about restoring public access to Haiku Stairs, visit: http://haikustairs.org/.