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. 

* 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.

* 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.

* 24/7 surveillance of Stairs access to end trespassing and unauthorized access once and for all.

* Public access and parking that bypasses residential neighborhoods.  Capacity controls and hours restrictions to further minimize disturbances.

* 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).

* 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.

#SaveTheStairs
Friends of Haʻikū Stairs advocate reopening the Haʻikū Stairs under managed access. 

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?

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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.

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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.

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Why Save the Stairs? 

Here are some key reasons:

1. 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?

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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. 

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