Haʻikū Stairs facts for kids
The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, is a very steep set of metal steps. It was built on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. The stairs provided a way for people to reach former U.S. Navy communication buildings. There are more than 3,000 steps winding up O‘ahu's Ko'olau mountain range.
People have used the pathway as a hiking trail at different times. However, it was closed to the public in 1987. In 2021, the city council decided to remove the stairs. Officials announced on April 10, 2024, that the removal would start by the end of that month.
Building the Haʻikū Stairs
In 1942, the U.S. Navy began building the Haʻikū Radio Station. This was a top-secret facility. Its purpose was to send radio signals to Navy ships in the Pacific Ocean. To get the antennae high enough, the Navy stretched them across Haʻikū Valley. This valley is a natural bowl shape. You can still see some parts of the original wooden ladder next to the metal steps.
The radio station started working in 1943. To send such strong signals, the Navy needed a very powerful transmitter. They chose a huge device called an Alexanderson alternator. This machine could create strong low-frequency radio signals. It also needed a very large antenna.
In the 1950s, the Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay became Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard then used the Haiku Radio Station site. They used it for an Omega Navigation System station. Around the mid-1950s, the wooden stairs were replaced. New sections of metal steps and ramps were put in. There were about 3,922 steps. The Coast Guard allowed people to visit in the 1970s. But they stopped after a TV show called Magnum P.I. made the stairs very popular. The station and the trail were closed to everyone in 1987.
The Stairs in the 21st Century
In 2003, the city spent $875,000 to repair the stairs. The plan was to open them to the public again. However, the stairs were never officially opened. People living nearby had problems with trespassing and litter on their land. In early 2018, the City and County of Honolulu said there were no plans to open the stairs. They were worried about being responsible if someone got hurt. Some hikers ignored the "no trespassing" signs. They kept climbing, which made local residents even more concerned.
In 2020, the Board of Water Supply looked at different options for the stairs. They gathered opinions from many groups and people. They estimated that removing the stairs could cost up to $1 million. On April 27, 2020, the board voted to give the Haʻikū Stairs to the city. They felt the stairs were a risk that did not fit their work. The city had 18 months to take over, or the stairs would be torn down. The city thought about making the trail a paid attraction.
The city officially took control of the stairs on July 1, 2020. City leaders considered the high costs and risks for the city. They also thought about how the stairs affected the lives of nearby residents. In September 2021, the city council voted to remove the stairs. The cost to remove them grew to $1.3 million. A group called Friends of Haiku Stairs wanted to save the trail. They said they had a plan to manage safe public access without using taxpayer money. The mayor said the removal would go ahead. He felt a busy tourist attraction was not right for a quiet neighborhood.
In April 2024, the city announced that the removal process would begin. The cost was nearly $2.6 million. Nakoa Companies, Inc. was chosen to remove the stairs. On April 16, 2024, it was confirmed the stairs would be taken down. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi stated, "I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision." As workers started taking apart the stairs, police gave tickets to people trying to climb. These people were entering a construction area.
On June 12, 2025, the non-profit group Friends of Haʻikū Stairs filed a lawsuit. They asked to stop the decision to demolish the stairs.
Safety and Rules
In August 2012, a singer named Fritz Hasenpusch passed away from a heart attack. This happened while he was climbing the Haʻikū Stairs. However, there have been no serious injuries or deaths caused by accidents on the stairs themselves.
Over the years, there have been some minor injuries. Between 2021 and 2022, more hikers needed rescue. These hikers were trying to reach the top of the stairs using the Moanalua ridge trail. This trail is longer and harder. Many rescues happened near the Haʻikū Stairs, but not on the stairs themselves.
In 2014, six people were arrested for climbing the stairs. Another 135 people received tickets. The City Prosecutors Office said that illegally entering the area could lead to a $1000 fine.
In late August and early September 2024, fourteen people were arrested for going onto the stairs. Everyone arrested was charged with criminal trespassing. This is a minor offense that can result in up to 30 days in jail. Eight of these fourteen people were arrested on September 3.
