An Epic Hiking Adventure to Stairway To Heaven

Last Updated on Jul 16 2023 by Sama

Nestled amidst the lush landscapes of Oahu, Hawaii, The Stairway to Heaven hike stands as a testament to natural beauty. Also known as “Haiku Stairs”, This exhilarating trail offers adventurous hikers a chance to ascend to the heavens, (not literally :P). This iconic trail continues to captivate the imagination of hiking enthusiasts worldwide. In this article, we will take you to the virtual journey, unveiling the wonders and allure of the Stairway to Heaven hike in Oahu, Hawaii.

The Stairway to Heaven is on the east side of the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The Haiku stairs were built on the Ko’olau mountains. It’s a strenuous hike, but the view from the top is worth it. The summit of the trail provides a stunning panorama of the island and the sea. You will often see the top of the mountain covered with clouds (perhaps the stairways do lead to the heaven?)

Is hike on Haiku Stairs illegal?

This hike is illegal and can come with a $1000 ticket if you are caught. The stairs have to be accessed after trespassing behind Haiku neighborhood. You are also able to access the stairs by hiking from the Moanalua Saddle. This post includes a guide to hiking the Stairway to Heaven legally and illegally, both!

Hiking to the top of Stairway to heaven – Illegal way

To reach the start point of the hike, you will start by parking near Kuneki Place. Many people choose to break in as early as 4am in the morning to avoid the guard and the neighbors. After parking, Hop over the fence to get into water drainage. Keep walking toward the forest, keep following the pink markers. Stay with the markers till you reach the secret government road which is under freeway. Cross the fence and get out of the woods. Before crossing the road, look around for the guards patrolling the site and cross the road if the site is clear. Otherwise wait for the guards to pass and cross the road. Keep following the pink markers after sometime you will reach the end of the trail and eventually you will run into the bottom of the Haiku Stairs. Once you reach the stairs- it’s time to start climbing! The steepest part of the hike is at the beginning, so once you get through that it does get a little easier. After hiking up for 2-3 hours you will finally reach the summit. 

Hiking to the top of Stairway to heaven – Legal way

 What to expect: 1 hour of flat walking, then 1/2 hour uphill through brush, then the ridge and great views of mist or the valley behind you, multiple steep areas with ropes installed, steps, and finally the stairway at the end. It will be muddy – wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and/or a a light jacket over your shirt. Hiking/trekker shoes with grip help, though they might get caked. Good footwork, possibly a hiking pole, and grabbing onto trees to help go up/down will be important. 

The hike starts at the Moanalua Valley Road trail and proceeds to shoot off to the left at about 2.5 miles. This valley is accessed off of the H1 at the Moanalua Valley Exit 19B.  Once off the highway follow the signs up Moanalua Valley on Ala Aolani St. to where the road ends at the Community Park To get to the trailhead, park outside the Moanalua Valley Park and the trail begins just after the green gate. Keep in mind that the park opens at 7AM and closes at 7PM.  

The Moanalua Valley Trail will lead you through diverse terrain, from a creek bed up through a steep, muddy hillside, and through rainforest-like tree canopies. The hike is strenuous, but you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable views of Oahu’s rugged mountains and Kaneohe Bay from the summit.

The first 2.9 miles of the trail are straightforward and only have approximately 100-foot elevation gain each mile. The path is wide and consists of many forks in the road, which all lead back to the same point. This first portion of the trail is the Moanalua Valley Trail, which eventually leads to the Middle Ridge Trail.

While the trail is easy to follow at first, you’ll need to pay attention to a sign which says “Kulana’ Ahane.”

From the red sign below, you need to cross the creek bed to the trail that eventually leads you up to the ridge. The trail is known for being muddy, so it’s a good idea to wear shoes with spikes. Wearing spikes also helps with the final stretch of the Moanalua Trail, which requires scrambling up a narrow crevasse.

Once you reach the end of this trail (the peak of the Haiku Valley), you’ll reach a very steep ridge with no railing. Exercise extreme caution

What to Keep in Mind Before Visiting Stairway to Heaven

Oahu’s Stairway to Heaven can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but we recommend considering your trip carefully. Here are a few factors that may affect the outlook of your trip:
Weather: It should go without saying, but do not embark on this hike if the weather is stormy. Wind, rain, and, of course, thunderstorms can present extremely dangerous conditions. You are hiking along a ridge and high winds will 
Food and Water: Be sure to bring plenty of water and nutritious snacks (like nuts and energy bars) to keep you active.
Time of Day: The best time of day to hike the Haiku Stairs is early morning before daylight. The hike is long and you need to get back before sunset.
First aid kit. Pack a small medical kit, such as bandaids, gauze and tape. There are plenty of opportunities to slip and fall or cut yourself on a limb or rock on this trail.

Food options after hike:

After the hike there are plenty of options available for food. Some of the options are listed here:

1. THE DAILY BEAN – 514 route 515 (1.9 miles away) (Coffee shop, Restaurant, Café)
2. Milanos Italian Restaurant – 3673 State RT 94 (2.3 miles away) (Italian restaurant)
3. The Crystal Café – 4 Church St (2.1 miles away) (Restaurant, Coffee shop)
4. Dairy Swirl – 71 State RT 94 (1.3 miles away) (Ice cream shop, Café, Restaurant)
5. Mixing Bowl Deli – 9 State Rt 94 (0.4 miles away) (American)

Conclusion:

Stairway to Heaven via Moanalua Valley is an intense, full-day trip. You also want to be prepared for muddy trails since Hawaii’s mountains get quite a bit of rain all year-round. Make sure you have good shoes and dress in layers for the unpredictable weather. The trail becomes quite adventurous with many sections becoming quite narrow and requiring a rope to pull yourself up the slippery, gravel surface. The terrain can be quite crumbly, with steep drop-offs so you do need to keep your focus throughout this hike. The great part about this trail is that you have incredible views along the way and not just at the summit. Every time you turned around to look back towards the city, the view just kept getting better and better.