Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Trail)

What we now know as the “Stairway to Heaven” was originally constructed to allow access to a U.S. Naval Radio Station that could communicate with submarines. When the station was decommissioned in the 1950’s, they left behind a trail made of 3,922 steps. Even though the City spent $875,000 on restoration, there appears to be no intention of re-opening access to the public due to liability concerns. Fortunately, the relatively recent repairs made to the stairway provide a safer path to all those hikers who disregard the ‘No Trespassing’ signs (myself included).

When planning your hike, the Haiku trail might seem like more effort than it’s worth, but no matter what you go through to beat the security at 3 am (yes, he comes that early now!) you won’t regret it once you’re there. Physically, the climb is equal to an hour & a half on a StairMaster, but mentally you’ll want to prepare for the adrenaline rush. Since you’re getting there long before sunrise, the hike begins in the dark. This part of Kaneohe is always misty, so the rails you depend on for stability are slippery and the fear of falling is overwhelming. I suggest bringing some kind of (fingerless) gloves with grip. Many flights of stairs are as steep as ladders, so you’re view of the ground (and the H3) is directly below you. Each plateau you’ll reach has its own unique view and even though the climb is dark, you’ll want to stop on your way down to take photos! The bag you carry shouldn’t be too heavy, but it’s best to have a small backpack with water, snacks (i.e. protein bar), flashlight, and a camera! When deciding what to wear, try to be prepared for both cold & hot extremes. As you climb higher, the weather is less predictable. It rains on and off and you’ll be hot from the workout. As far as directions and parking, we Google mapped “Haiku trail entrance to stairway” and the gate showed up. We parked on a residential side street right by the gate called Loli’i, and had no problems with the neighborhood. BUT I’ve heard a lot of stories about cars being towed, neighborhood complaints and even cops being called, so if you do choose to park in the neighborhood, be extremely quiet! After you’ve passed the gate, there’s a 10-15 minute walk before you reach the bottom of the stairs (where the security sets up) so leave early enough to make it past that point before 3 am.  

When you return from the hike the security will probably stop you and ask how your hike was. Even though he has no problem turning people away when they arrive, he’s really friendly towards those who are already exiting. (If it’s the security we’ve met) He knows the trail better than most people, so don’t hesitate to ask him questions.

There’s now a Facebook page for the stairs! Get updates and find out when other hikers plant to go! https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_94101736644

For more information about the history of the stairs & naval station visit http://web.archive.org/web/20080420111816/http://friendsofhaikustairs.org/