Stairway To Heaven: Oahu’s Infamous Ha’ikū Stairs To Be Demolished

The Ha’ikū Stairs on Oahu, Hawaii have been slated for demolition for many years. Also known as the “Stairway to Heaven,” officials have announced that the time has come to remove the dangerous attraction. According to officials in Honolulu, preparatory work started last week to demolish the 600-stair attraction. Meanwhile, it had officially been slated for demolition in 2021.

Ha’ikū Stairs on Oahu slated for demolition

Speaking of the demolition of the Stairway to Heaven, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement:

This was a decision, when we came into office, that was long overdue. Over the course of many months, in meeting with the people involved and the discovery that we put into it, I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision.

This decision that was made was predicated upon our respect for the people who live in and around the entrance to the stairs  and our respect for both the future and the past history of the culture of the Haʻikū community.

The history of Oahu’s Stairway to Heaven

Meanwhile, according to Fox 59, the Ha’ikū Stairs were originally built in the 1940s by the US Navy. However, they have officially been closed to the public since 1987. However, this hasn’t stopped hikers on Oahu from climbing them. Moreover, people are often seen wandering through private property to access them.

While the stairs are already known to be dangerous, officials have now warned would-be hikers that the Ha’ikū Stairs are now part of an active work site. Moreover, they stressed that the stairs “present an immediate safety threat for anyone trespassing along the trail.”

However, removing the stairs is no easy task and officials say they will work section by section. Moreover, they will work with a biologist to evaluate each section of the stairs before it gets demolished. According to the officials, this is being done to protect native species and to prevent erosion. Moreover, they will need to revegetate impacted areas with native plants wherever necessary.

Reportedly, the total cost to remove Ha’ikū Stairs is just over $2.5 million and the project is expected to take six months.

Other great hikes on Oahu

While hikers will no doubt be disappointed that the stairs are being removed, there are plenty of other great hikes to be had on the island of Oahu, also with epic views over the ocean. One great hike is from the Diamond Head Summit trail to the easy Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse trail. Moreover, hikers can also enjoy the stunning Mānoa Falls trail, with scenes used in the Jurassic Park moves and the hit TV show, Lost, and many more.

Readers, have you ever hiked the Ha’ikū Stairs on Oahu in Hawaii? Did you enjoy a journey on the Stairway to Heaven? If yes, are you disappointed that Hawaii now has to remove the stairs? Let us know by dropping a comment below.