Ha'ik Stairs: Hawaii's Stairway To Heaven

“At one point it’s just rope,” the locals will say, deterring or challenging those showing interest in facing Oahu’s famous “Stairway to Heaven”. This is probably for the best, though, as travelers need some serious mental resolve to take on this climb.

No trespassing

Like many other hikes in Hawaii, heading up before dawn is the norm. For this particular trek, however, adventurers will have to wake up much earlier. The site, located in the Kaneohe area of Oahu, is completely off-limits to the public. It’s illegal to climb and a trespassing fee could cost upwards of $500. The trick is to start the climb well before the guards start their shifts. This never used to be an issue when guard cars would routinely show up around 5am. Now, with so many people wanting to take in the view from the top, guards are posted up as early as 3am, making access just a bit tougher, but not impossible.

Tackle 3,922 steps

The climb

Those who have already done it will tell you that the hike is absolutely worth it, taking about five hours up and back. It’s perfect for catching the sunrise on a morning without clouds. Thrillseekers will have to climb over a marked fence in the dark and pass through a bamboo forest to find their way to the foot of the stairs.

From there, it’s almost completely a vertical climb, so those with fear of heights may want to give it a good think before deciding to attempt it. The stairs become so narrow at times, those heading upwards need to climb over the railing to let others pass by. It’s not a completely torturous climb, though. There are breaks between sets of stairs, allowing for photo ops and catching your breath. For those who dare it, every few steps of the narrow ridgeline offer their own spectacular view.

Understanding it’s popularity, The Friends of Haiku organization was created to collect money in order to revitalize the slowly deteriorating staircase.

Their goal is to repair and replace the faulty stairs in order to open them to the public, which is a mission easy to support. After all, they call it “Stairway to Heaven” for a reason. The view from the top is nothing less than breathtaking and should be available to everyone.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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