What You Need To Know Before Attempting the (Legal) Haiku Stairway Hike
If you’ve dreamed of climbing to the top of the famed ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ the Haiku Stairs, in Oahu, Hawaii, but were bummed to realize that it’s actually illegal to climb the stairs, themselves, then I’ve got some good news! There’s actually a perfectly legal hike - the Moanalua Valley Trail - that brings you to the exact same viewpoint you would get to if you were to climb the actual stairs, and bonus points for not being fined hundreds of dollars!
In this blog post, I’ve compiled what I believe to be the top five essential things to know about the Moanalua Valley Trail to help you decide if it’s something you would like to attempt. It should also be noted that setting foot on the Haiku Stairs in any way is illegal, and you are subject to fines if caught!
Alright, so with that out of the way, let’s get on with the list!
Bring Plenty of Water and Snacks
I’m super guilty of forgetting to bring enough water, and when I ran out halfway through this trek, you bet I was kicking myself the whole way down. You are going to be sweating buckets, especially going up as there are several climbing sections, and you gain elevation very quickly, so don’t underestimate how much water you need!
It’s also nice to take a good, long lunch at the radio tower at the top of the stairs. You’ll want to re-fuel after expending so much energy getting to the peak. I recommend something high in protein, like trail mix, jerky, etc. I opted for one of those convenient tuna salad boxes, and boy did I need it.
Crampons Are Going to Be a Life-Saver
This, for me, was the most difficult section of the trail. I was so glad to have crampons, especially on the way down
Take a clumsy girl’s advice, here: tennis shoes are not going to cut it. Near the top of the climb, the route is covered in a near-constant cover of fog and mist, which means mud, and lots of it. I got to the first rope section before putting my crampons on, but I honestly could have used them before that point. Even though I had proper hiking boots on that normally keep me upright on most types of terrain, the mud just made gripping the rock surfaces nearly impossible.
You don’t need anything too expensive. I bought my crampons on amazon for just $20, and while they’re certainly not going to last forever, they did their job on the Haiku Stairway hike, and I firmly believe I wouldn’t have made it up to the top of the stairs without them.
Check the Weather!
The trail was super muddy in sections, despite not getting much rain during my hike
On that same note, be sure to watch the weather forecast religiously! Any amount of rain will make the Moanalua Valley Trail near-impossible and incredibly dangerous. It’s never worth risking your health or your safety for a view. Only attempt this trek if there’s been no significant rainfall in the last 24 hours. You will always get another chance to see the stairs, but you won’t get another life.
When you are on the trail, it’s possible for the weather to change quite quickly, and you may get caught in a few very short showers. It’s a good idea to have a rain coat or poncho with you, as well as waterproof footwear, and, if you’re carrying a bag, you’ll want to make sure that’s waterproof as well.
This is a Long and Difficult Day Hike
View of how narrow and steep the trail gets toward the top
This may go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: this is not a hike for beginners. If you plan on attempting the Moanalua Valley Trail, you should be an experienced and confident hiker. Anyone attempting this trek should be in relatively good shape with good stamina and strength, especially for the climbing sections. It takes a good 8-10 hours to complete, and there were honestly moments when I felt like the trail was going to go on forever, and hikers should be prepared for a very long day!
I recommend taking a look at the reviews and description of the trail on the AllTrails app. It helped me get a good idea of what I should expect as far as difficulty, and I also found a lot of useful advice in the reviews from people who had completed the trek.
Take It Slowly and Be Careful!
This is kind of a general tip that can be applied to most hikes, but I can’t stress enough how important it is for this one, in particular. There are several stretches of the trail that are no more than 3ft wide, with a sheer drop into the valley on either side. On top of that, the wind near the highest point was strong enough to throw me off balance a couple of times.
There’s no race to the top, so take your time and enjoy the absolutely stunning views and scenery on the way up and down the mountain. And with all that said, happy hiking and have fun!