Consider the Alternatives
In April of 2022 the Kāneʻohe Neighborhood Board unanimously supported a resolution calling for a halt on demolition of the historic Haʻikū Stairs. This is to allow the City and County of Honolulu time to account for spiraling demolition costs and also time to properly consider alternatives to destroying a world-famous monument in its 80th anniversary year.
We have been holding collaborative conversations with community stakeholders and recognize the value in a collective vision for Haʻikū Valley. While the details of our Managed Access proposal are still being developed, we want to share with you some key points of our proposal:
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Managed Access would be a zero cost, zero risk proposition for the City & County. All costs associated with reopening the Haʻikū Stairs, including operational management, repair, would be covered by non-government funds (e.g., private and non-profit). All liability would similarly be assumed by private entities.
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Managed Access would bring jobs & investment to our community. A core commitment would be to hire locally, to invest in remediation projects for the neighborhood, and potentially to provide direct compensation to homeowners adversely impacted by the Stairs.
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Access to the Stairs would be curated by paid guides, drawn from Native Hawaiian experts and cultural practitioners in the community in order to ensure a safe, culturally sensitive, and environmentally sustainable experience steeped in local tradition and respect for the ʻāina.
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24/7 surveillance of Stairs access to end trespassing and unauthorized access once and for all.
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Public access and parking that bypasses residential neighborhoods. Capacity controls and hours restrictions to further minimize disturbances.
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Partnership with stakeholders in Haʻikū Valley and He'eia ahupua'a to realize synergies and develop a shared vision and stewardship (e.g. re: native plants, cultural & historical sites).
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Priority and zero cost access for Native Hawaiian gatherers & other cultural practitioners
We have a chance to create something truly special in Haʻikū Valley. The Stairs are of World Heritage caliber and could become a Federal, State, and/or City and County Monument that would serve as a focal point of pride, jobs, and investment for Windward O‘ahu while affording access to the mesmerizing beauty of this place for countless generations to enjoy.
** Please Note: The stairs are currently closed and illegal to access, no matter how you access them. We do not provide information that will aid people in breaking the law
#SaveTheStairs
Friends of Haʻikū Stairs advocate reopening the Haʻikū Stairs under managed access.
If you would like to help us in our mission to save Haʻikū Stairs, please consider donating to our fundraiser. All proceeds directly support FHS in its mission to halt destruction.
Imagery ©2015, DigitalGlobe, Public Laboratory
Haʻikū Stairs: IN THE NEWS
As we work hard to save the Haʻikū Stairs from imminent destruction, see how our message in support of a managed access solution is making news. Click on each image to link to the original article.
Over the years, when a public attraction has resulted in trespassing or other problems as a means of entrance, we have not solved the problem by simply destroying the attraction. Instead, we have worked out a suitable access. We see this in our rights of way to get to beaches, suitable routes to trailheads, even planned rerouting of a North Shore highway in order to view turtles. But for the Haiku Stairs, we spend a million to destroy it?
I happen to be a resident of the neighborhood adjacent to the Stairs. We are not all opposed to the Stairs, as the media might lead one to think. Indeed, it is a very limited number of residents who have had their properties trespassed upon by hikers. Nevertheless, no one at all should have to endure trespassing, and for that reason, none of us who want to save the Stairs envisions a hiking route through a residential neighborhood. This is not even an issue.
Years ago, a task force of the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board worked out an access to the Stairs that did not pass through any residential area. Starting with parking in Kaneohe’s District Park, it proceeded through state-owned and unused wooded areas to the H-3 Freeway service road and then to the Stairs.
In the meantime, however, the terms of both our mayor and our City Council member, both of whom had solidly supported the Stairs, expired — and their successors were less interested. Other routes have been suggested as well. Currently the Friends of Haiku Stairs has proposed a route that would also include managed access. This, too, has been ignored.
Other objections to the Stairs are very questionable. First of all, the Stairs are not unsafe for the public; to the contrary, they have the best safety record among our island trails. (Contrast this to the frequent fatalities at our beaches.)
Secondly, if invasive species are a problem, as the mayor cited, then we’d need to close every trail on the island as well. Also, it was mentioned that the primary landowner at the Stair’s base is not interested in providing access — however, it is only state government agencies that sit on land in the valley, not private entities.
Finally, it is not just a matter of tourists being attracted to the Stairs; a great many of our local people have climbed the Stairs or hope to do so. From the summit, there is a new appreciation of the sheer glory and beauty of this island upon which we live. For those who have made the climb, there are almost none who would have it destroyed for others. And those who would destroy the Stairs, for the most part, have never climbed them.
It was under federal administration that many of us got to legally climb the Stairs. Ironically, once the property passed to local control, the entrance gate to the valley was locked, high fences built, guards hired and police utilized — and locals kept out.
Every day from my home I can see the Stairs, and long for the day when I and my children can legally climb them again. In the past, local government, to its credit, has devised suitable access to popular attractions. But this time, the choice is destruction? Sad. Costly. And unnecessary.
Bill Cunningham is retired as a teacher in public secondary schools here, and has served as a member and vice chairman of the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board.
29th September 2021
**Please Note: The stairs are currently closed and illegal to access, no matter how you access them. We do not provide information that will aid people in breaking the law**
Why Save the Stairs?
Here are some key reasons:
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As per the findings of the BWS's DEIS: “The Haʻikū Stairs was built in the 1940s, is defined as a historic property per §6E-2, HRS, and retains its historic integrity.” (Vol 2, p. 701). Why would you destroy a historic structure, especially if you could repair it for less?
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The Haʻikū Stairs represent one of the safest hiking trails in Hawaii. There having been no documented serious injuries or deaths resulting from accidents on the Stairs
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Reopening the Stairs under managed access would provide unique, internationally recognized, educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities and save one of the world’s top 10 best hikes on the National Geographic Endangered Trails list.
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The Kāneʻohe Neighborhood Board resolved in May 17, 2017 to support reopening the stairs under a controlled and managed access plan that respects the privacy rights of residents of the Haʻikū Village neighborhood
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We have read the DEIS report and we agree that managed access (conveyance alternative) is by far the best alternative with a total score of 7 good as compared to removal with a score of only 4.
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FHS has a managed access plan in place that is in alignment with the recommended Poʻokela Street access route and can be adjusted to meet all the listed concerns.
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FHS has years of experience leading people on legal maintenance climbs on the stairs, carrying out repairs to individual modules, controlling invasive species, and mitigating run-off concerns.
What We Do
PETITION the Board of Water Supply & the Mayor
We started a petition on Change.org in 2015 in order to garner support for Saving the Stairs. By July 2nd 2019 when we delivered our petition to the Board of Water Supply, and handed a second copy to the Mayor's office, our petition included 11,650 signatures of support, as well as 171 pages of comments from supporters. Mahalo to all of you who contributed towards this effort.
REACH OUT to the community and to local representatives
Our board members sit on community groups and liaise with local representatives to promote managed access as a sensible alternative to destruction. We make presentations at conservation group meetings and discuss our vision for the future of the Stairs and Ha'ikū Valley with local community groups with with the goal of Saving the Stairs and its environment for current and future generations.
RALLY FOR SUPPORT
We hold rallies and events in order to raise awareness for the plight of the Stairs. Through sign-waving and public events such as the Save the Stairs rally at Hawaiian Brian's in 2019, we show that there is widespread support for saving this historic and much-treasured monument.
How We Do It
THROUGH THE SALE of Merchandise
Friends of Ha'ikū Stairs is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization. All proceeds go directly to our mission to protect the Ha'ikū Stairs and its environment for current and future generations. Your purchases are tax-deductible. Prices include shipping and packaging to all US locations. Please contact us for international orders.
Contact Us
Fill our the form below to send us a message. Mahalo.