Stairway to Heaven (or also known as Haiku Stairs) is maybe the most notorious hike on the island. Most have heard or seen pictures of these stairs and are naturally drawn here because there isn’t any other hike quite like it....as far as they know. This hike is illegal so we OBVIOUSLY don't suggest you do this hike. If you do choose to hike the Haiku Stairs, be aware of the legal risks involved. As of now (2024), there are pretty consistent talks and attempts at removing the stairs, with actual legislation currently passed to potentially remove them, so if this one is on your hit list.....who knows how much time ya got.
There are two ways to hike it. You can go up the front which is extremely risky as the penalty for getting caught is pricey. You're very likely dropping over 1k in fines and even worse, you will have to fly back to Oahu since it's a mandatory court appearance. However, you can also go up the back using Moanalua Middle Ridge (which we recommend). This will take you right to the top of the stairs. Walking on the stairs is still prohibited, so act at your own discretion.This way gets more and more crowded every time we do it so we strongly recommend getting on the trail as early as you are willing to go. We typically head up for sunrise starting at 3am and on our way back, the crowd gets a bit insane. There are stretches where only one person can pass and things can move really slow during more crowded periods.
Most every epic hike in Oahu is steep as hell. Stairway to Heaven is no exception. If you're going during the warmer half of the year, be sure to get to the top by at least 9am. Hiking up steep terrain with little to no tree coverage is brutal. So like we mentioned before, the best way to do this one is before the sun rises when it's nice and cool on the hike up. You also get way cooler cloud formations in the morning which typically burn off as the sun rises. You'll get the stairs all to yourself for about 2 hrs before you run into the first hikers. You'll then get to hike past all the hikers that slept in, sucking wind hiking up while you are cruising back down. The trail isn't the most obvious so if you aren't a super experienced hiker, we recommend reaching out to our buddy who has hiked pretty much every ridge line on the island and has probably done middle ridge 100 times by now (no BS). He can get you wherever you want to go.
Also, for really tracked out or slippery parts of the trail, the bushes off to the side have deep roots and can be used as hand holds.
The stairs were originally built in 1942 by the U.S. Navy to serve as a means of reaching a radio tower on the summit of the Koolau Mountain Range. The tower was used to relay radio communications during World War II, and the stairs were part of the infrastructure. Eventually after the war, the stairs were abandoned and only recently have become more widely known as unique hiking route. There are about 3,922 steps in total, and it covers a distance of just under 2 miles. This means if you go up the steps, the climb is extremely quick and steep.
Stairway to Heaven is one of the most unique hikes on the planet. It's also illegal and at risk of being completely dismantled. If you want to hike this one, time is of the essence. Don't be a dummy and go up the front unless you want to make the most expensive return trip to Oahu for court. Hit middle ridge, start before sunrise, pack plenty of water, and watch out for the wild boars.