Haiku Valley facts for kids
Haʻikū Valley is a special valley shaped like an amphitheater, which means it's wide and open like a natural theater. It's located on the windy side of the Koʻolau Range mountains, right behind Kāneʻohe on the island of Oʻahu in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
This valley is famous for a few reasons. It used to be home to a United States Navy radio station, which later became a Coast Guard station. Today, part of Hawaii's Interstate H-3 highway also runs through the valley.
The most exciting feature of Haʻikū Valley is the recently fixed-up Haʻikū Stairs, often called the "Stairway to Heaven."
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The Famous Haʻikū Stairs
The Haʻikū Stairs are a long trail made of 3,922 metal steps! They climb all the way up to a peak called Puʻu Keahiakahoe, which is about 853 meters (2,800 feet) high above the valley.
Why Were the Stairs Built?
These stairs were first built a long time ago. Their main purpose was to help people reach the very high points on the mountain ridges where radio antennas were attached. Imagine climbing all those steps just to check on giant antennas!
The trail starts at an elevation of about 146 meters (480 feet) and stretches out horizontally for about 1,372 meters (4,500 feet). This means it's quite steep, with an average slope of about 30 degrees. Some parts are even almost straight up!
Current Status of the Stairs
Right now, the Haʻikū Stairs are officially closed to everyone. Even though they are closed, some adventurous people still try to climb them. The climb usually takes about two hours to complete.
The Secret Radio Station
After the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, a special radio facility was built in Haʻikū Valley. Its job was to communicate with U.S. Navy ships that were as far away as Tokyo Bay.
How the Antenna System Worked
This facility had a huge antenna system. It used five massive cable antennas that stretched from the top of one mountain ridge, all the way across the valley, to the top of another ridge. The mountains around the valley formed a horseshoe shape, which was perfect for holding up these giant antennas. The natural height of the mountain ridges made it easy to have a very tall antenna system.
When it was first built and used, this entire facility was a secret military project.
The Strong Building
The main building at the radio station was built to be incredibly strong. Its walls were more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) thick and made of solid concrete. This strong design meant that the building could survive if a very heavy bomb (like a 500-pound bomb) was dropped directly on top of it, keeping the people inside safe.
