The Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, is a steep hiking trail on the island of Oʻahu. Haiku Stairs is a series of galvanized-steel ship ladders that allow access for hikers to the top of Puu Keahiakahoe. At an altitude of more than 2800 feet, the top of the Stairs is some 2200 feet above the main building of the now decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard OMEGA Station and about 2,300 feet above the bottom step.

This is a very dangerous hike. If you are not athletic & currently do not work out, I don’t recommend doing this hike. This stairs are slippery, metal, and there are parts where it is pretty much straight drop off on either side. This is similar to climbing a ladder- that never ends.

The ladders are 18 inches wide and altogether about 4000 feet long. The average slope is about 30 degrees. Each section of the ladder contains seven steps, and the sections are numbered consecutively to the top.

There are other steps apart from the ladders themselves, however, which complicates the counting. Various counts have been made, but the most widely accepted is 3,922—the number on the Friends of Haiku Stairs T-shirts.

The plants you encounter while climbing Haiku Stairs include a good cross section of native species. As you ascend, you pass through several micro-environments, where differences in slope, soil, exposure to the wind, rainfall, and clouds combine to favor different plant communities.

This hike is really wonderful. Overall amazing hike, amazing view, amazing times with friends, amazing experience. At the top you’ll see hikers sitting on the roof of the building. Beautiful views and beautiful sunrise! DO IT!




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