Such an exhilarating trail that really puts your body and mind to the ultimate test. 00:00 01:00 Only In Your State Step 3 Take the Red Hill/Moanalua Valley exit (exit 2) and turn right on Ala Aolani Street. Not a must, but its often raining, and windy. Ethical? This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. The government in Oahu has a habit of closing any hike they consider slightly risky, because it might attract lawsuits. No more news yet. I was extremely surprised at the amount of people who I crossed when I hiked it. Also, more so than the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the peak to the radio station is far muddier and much more slippery. In this section, I will explain a little bit about each area and share with you the details for exploring this summit area. 2 Thank bognarofsydney . As we continue on for the next few hours theres something encouraging about being able to zero in on where we started at Moanalua Valley Park and the remote summit before us, to visually track our progress. 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 dangerous trail since 2011. The Moanalua Valley Trail isnt as popular as the Haiku Stairs themselves but it is growing in popularity and the trail can get quite busy. However, it is not the most dangerous hike on Oahu. I wouldnt recommend this trek if you have a big fear of heights, but most people who do the hike will agree its not nearly as bad as they expected. One of my favorite trails, with tons of side trails, pools, and ruins to explore. from around the world. Don't hike with this Mike guy on here , he reaches out and tries to rip you off and doesn't even hike it with you . Friends also took to social media Thursday to share their memories of Polizzi. An off-duty firefighter died in 2014 and a social worker died in 2011, both from falling off the trail. Hawaii, like any other state, has property laws. My husband and I are planning on doing this hike. The Kullana'ahane is a better marker. This is a fun hike in central Oahu that leads to multiple water falls! Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. Be careful with the wind and rain on the ridge. The path is quite wide and at many points there are forks in the road which come back to the same point after about 20 yards. One way to reach the off-limits Stairway to Heaven is to start on a different trail from Moanalua Valley. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. In terms of cardio its definitely a workout. At the peak of the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail, the view of the abandoned Radio Tower comes into view. I'll save you some time and note that it goes nowhere :). Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. UPDATE 02/2023: Theres still hope that the Stairway To Heaven Hawaii trail may be saved after all. The main reason to take the back way is just to stay legal and rule out any possible fines. Thanks Billie! The trail is a little over 9 miles roundtrip and took us about 7 hours (we hung out at the top for 30 minutes or so). She was . Generally considered a challenging route. If you receive a citation you will be required to appear in court. No experience and with a 8 year old. It may never be surpassed! The trail quietly opens up and were greeted with an elevated view of the valleys treetops sprawling out beneath us. it's not. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes which people have tied tied to help with the hike. Please explore other trails nearby. It is for this reason that it is NOT recommended to hike this trail in heavy rains due to flash flooding. Bring a cell phone, which can be a lifesaver during an emergency. Its here, you should remind yourself, as you make your initial descent, not to rush. If you look closely, you can see the winding stairway. You walk an easy trail for 3 miles before you start ascending to the summit, which is nearly 2 miles up. 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. However, if you cross over and set foot on the platform of the satellite or venture onto the stairs you are now in an illegal area. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We make our initial ascent. Check out their website and consider donating if youre a fan. Mahalo! For more information, visit: Moanalua Valley and Tripler Ridge Trail Loop, Kalihi Ice Ponds [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY]. Ive lived here for 33 years and yes its fricken ridiculous WHEREVER YOU GO. If you decide to bring Fido, keep him leashed. Keep in mind, the adventurers MUST be respectful to neighbourhood residents living in this area. Keep in mind, to stay 100 percent legal on this hike you will have to go back the same way you came. Mahalo for reading this. To put it another way, THIS HIKE IS ILLEGAL. Alone with some of the best views in the world. Overall, AMAZING trail with the BEST views of the island!!! Theres a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish. Please explore responsibly! Some of the original cobblestone road remains intact, and leads to a large, petroglyph-covered boulder. The walk would be a little longer but easy on the flat road. Don't. Being inside the boundaries of the TMK parcel that the stairs is built on is a finable offense for having broken property and trespass laws. Finiahed in 10 hours. 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Keep in mind climbing begins over 2 miles from start point. Once you pass the sign and creek crossing go to the right, the trail behind the foliage, not the obvious one on the left. Moanalua Valley is a Forest Reserve. I'm also attempting to educate people about how this place is being overrun by people who want to experience nature but are doing so at the cost of nature and for what? Instead, retrace the Moanalua Ridge route to get back to your original destination. As soon as you veer from top of the middle ridge, roughly 2000ft from the top of the stairs, you are trespassing and can be fined for doing so. 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. no reports have been added for Moanalua Valley Trail yet, add a trail report. If you fall at dusk you might very well spend the night in the jungle. 29, 2020 while hiking in Hawaii as Capt. A guide to those volcanic terms: Pele's hair, caldera, volcanic ash -- learn what they mean, Suspect in deadly Kapiolani hit-and-run crash released from jail, Beware of counterfeit products this holiday shopping season, Homeland Security Investigations warns, Maui County residents asked to report property damage caused by massive weekend ocean swells, Thanksgiving travel should be less chaotic than summer, Sunday Morning Weather - Light Trade Winds Continue. To watch your footing. We hit the stairs and then disappeared into the jungle before we could find out. You just keep heading straight up and you will eventually reach the satellite dish at the summit. ", James Keener, of Hawaii Fresh Farms where Stowell worked, according to his Facebook page, wrote that the 24-year-oldwas like a son to himand "died the way he lived, taking chances, and living everyday to its fullest.". Stowell's body was found roughly 400 feet below the third peak of Mount Olomana's hiking trail, officials said. The small section damaged by the storm is not steep. Usually trail run in the valley or hike up the ridge a couple times a week. Hold tight and watch your footing. There's also a ton of street parking near by in the neighborhood. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The key in the first part of the hike is to be cognizant of the distance you are covering as the ridge trail is somewhat hidden and can be easily missed. Pack a long sleeve tee for the top (its chilly). So windy with no microspikes, gloces. Our biggest priority is taking care of his family and supporting his fellow Wingmen. Wear spikes if you have them, makes most of the trail up the ridge line easier. That hasnt stopped locals, hikers, and tourists sneaking past a guard who is posted at the bottom of the stairs to experience the thrilling 4000ft long climb along an 18-inch wide staircase reaching heights of above 2000ft. I'd recommend doing this hike early as possible to avoid the potential crowds. Moanalua Valley has a rich cultural history that is important to the people of Hawaii. After Kahahana's death, a plot was laid to kill all the chiefs of Maui on the same . Know yourself and what you need, and bring more than that. Ill add a note about that in the article. However, its possible to take some great pictures on the stairs and then leave via Moanalua without hiking the entire stairway from top to bottom, that way you get to experience some of both hikes. Anthony Polizzi, said Col. Dan Dobbels, 15th Wing commander. Highly recommend, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done. Distress hikers rescued off Moanalua Valley Trail Friday evening. For safety. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Eventually you will crest on a peak with a sign pointing the way you've come, the first indication of the trails actual name of "Middle Ridge". Cool ridge hike, 4hrs at 28 mins moving time. age 94, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the St. John of God Retirement Center in Los Angeles, CA. A City and County park provides bathrooms, potable water and garbage cans at the trail head. "Novices have no business being on that hike. Make the risks known to people, but dont close all the hikes. Every trail I hike on this island and other islands is overrun, regulate yes, shut down no and certainly dont be a condescending dick about something you have zero authority over. Have some light. Moanalua is still a pretty epic hike in its own right, and the views are amazing, so Id recommend doing it if you enjoy hard hikes! It was intense & very rewarding. Nathan Stowell, 25, died on Sunday after falling 400 feet off a hiking trail of Hawaii's Mount Olomana. The trail will cross the stream 28 more times before the last 1/4 mile of trail. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. This was one of my favorite sections of the hike and the backdrop over the shoulder gave great views of the ridge we had just hiked up. He was a freelance writer and journalism teacher in China from 2006-2009. Amazing! Although small and unmarked its an obvious trail. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! You'll enjoy sweeping views of southern Oahu on this 10.4-mile roundtrip hike. At the beginning, a large monkeypod tree leads to the Douglas Damon house site. Bring water & food. Otherwise, as with many other Hawaiian hikes, closed means be prepared, respectful, and most of all, not stupid, Is anyone interested in doing the hike Tues 11/13 or Wed 11/14? This hike was so challenging and worthwhile, probably one of my favorite hikes I have ever done. 0 rides ; 6 Months. Now that you have made it onto the Moanalua Middle Ridge, the trail is quite easy to follow as it basically follows the ridgeline all the way up to the summit. adventures and follow local regulations. The stairs are hiked by thousands of people every year, but the status of the trail is still in limbo because the state of Hawaii is afraid of liability and cant decide what to do with the stairs. 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). Thank you for sharing your experience and pics. ", "You need to have a certain amount of physical conditioning, because you are climbing almost the entire time," Griggs told Hawaii News Now. Thanks for looking! There are notable repeat offenders that continue to make 4 or 5-digit profits in a single week, none of which benefits the environment which they are degrading. About 200 yards from the radio tower, the trail eases up and you begin to see the sweeping panoramic views over Honolulu and southern Oahu. My issue is with the degradation of the endangered Elepaio habitat that exists in that valley. It has been a long perpetuated myth that simply being on the stairs is what gets you fined. After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. 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. Gallantry: Biden presents Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. Paris Davis for his heroics in Vietnam, US to send bridge-launching vehicles for tank deployments to Ukraine in new $400M aid package, Japan complains to US over Utah senators remarks on imprisoned Navy officer, Military, VA provide troops, vets more gun safety options to help reduce suicides, Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. 6 rides; 11 miles avg distance; All. Definitely dont pay a guide for this hike like some people seem to. Family of hikers found dead on remote Sierra trail likely killed by heat, dehydration. This is a review for hiking the Moanalua Valley to Middle Ridge to Tripler Ridge (AKA the legal back way to the Stairway to Heaven) and then down the stairs. -Food. 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. 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. The left goes to the valley. The cool, breezy path goes through a lush forest and contains seven bridges with stream fords. It's not easy to find. Firefighters hiked up the trail and made contact with the woman at 10:12 p.m., and determined both hikers were uninjured so, it was decided to escort the hikers on foot. olson.wyatt@stripes.com Twitter: @WyattWOlson. There is an entry along the fence that will go through. Despite the drop-offs, the trail is quite well protected and unless it is a very windy day you should be fine unless you have little experience on ridges or with heights. Im chicken little when it comes to doing anything that is deemed illegal. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide for the Stairway to Heaven Hawaii hike. (Google Maps calls it Moanalua Valley Trail Start.) $125.33. Be careful. If someone is offering to take you on a hike for a fee, you should report them to the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. Foster Botanical Garden is a loop trail that is used for walking and nature trips located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Copyright 2020 Hawaii News Now. Moanalua Middle Ridge is a challenging, 11- to 12-mile, out-and-back hike in Central Oahu, a journey that, more or less, takes eight hours to complete. Ive done both hikes many times over the years, and I have to say there is really no comparison in terms of difficulty. The police sometimes send an officer to hike up to the summit to give out fines and one time a police helicopter even landed up there. Relish in the moment and enjoy the views. There is parking outside the gate, which we recommend using in case you don't get back before they close the gates in the evening. When she willed the entire ahupuaa of Moanalua to Damons father in 1884, the luxurious valley home was built.) He was Stars and Stripes roving Pacific reporter from 2011-2013 while based in Tokyo. The trailhead area below the stairs is patrolled by a security guard around the clock, and sometimes the Honolulu police are called. -2L water MINIMUM. Fair enough. The cause of the airmans death is under investigation. Hiking sandals are ok IF you're experienced hiking in muddy slippery conditions in them. After you reach the first platform, the hike flattens out quite a bit and things get much easier. Wyatt Olson is based in the Honolulu bureau, where he has reported on military and security issues in the Indo-Pacific since 2014. Parking was easy, street parking next to the park and it was very easy to find the green gate. Part of being outside and in nature is the lack of rules and the BS! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Loved every minute of it! With alternate trails and surrounding hunting grounds, its easy for dogs to get lost. Good hike, perfectly legal way. If you'd like to help even more, be sure to check out my Patreon as well. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Please be prepared! I was wondering 10.4 miles is it a round trip? Drone shot of the mountain. All anyone posts on here is about hiking the "legal" way, its not. "I am so proud of the leader you became and the passion with which you tackled your maintenance profession. I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Moanalua Valley Trail (backway to Stairway to Heaven) and have good luck and good weather on your journey! Anthony J. Polizzi, 31. The trail starts as a road barred by a green gate. 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. This trail is a national and state treasure, with amazing scenery and a cool bit of history behind it. A short walk . I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. If its handled right, this solution could resolve many of the issues associated with the Stairway To Heaven. Pass the little sign and stream and itll be on your right. From a timing perspective it took me 3hrs and 5 minutes but that was solo. -Good shoes. Continue on the main trail up and up and up. If the weather goes bad on you, you could get stuck for a while. Assuming you are doing the middle ridge hike, very enjoyable. The back way to the ever popular and still somewhat illegal Haiku Stairs, the Moanalua Middle Ridge hike brings plenty of beauty and even more challenges than the path down the Haiku Stairs. In total the hike is 5.2 miles with 2585 ft in elevation gain (basically all of this is condensed into the final 2 miles).