Save Hawaiʻi's
"Stairway to Heaven"
In August 2021, the Honolulu City Council voted to demolish the iconic Haʻikū Stairs. The vote came despite an overwhelming public outcry to save the Stairs. In the preceding two years, over 5,000 public comments were submitted with more than 90% favoring preservation. A professional public opinion poll in April 2022 confirmed that a clear majority of O‘ahu residents want to save the Stairs not destroy them. The Stairs are a historic World War II monument eligible for the National Historic Register. They offer a unique, world-class hiking experience, treasured for generations. It would be tragic to lose them.
The Friends of Haʻikū Stairs are spearheading the fight to save the Stairs. We filed a lawsuit against the City & County of Honolulu in August 2023 and are pushing to block the demolition on multiple fronts. With your help we will convince City leaders to heed the public will.
Please donate to support our efforts.
Meet the Team
FHS is governed by a board of directors with members from hiking organizations, community groups, conservation organizations, and individuals who are passionate about preserving the history, ecology, cultural integrity, and recreational opportunities in Ha'ikū Valley on Windward O'ahu. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an incredible team of staff and wonderful volunteers. If you'd like to get more involved, we would love to welcome you to our team!
Staff Members
President
Sean Pager
Director of Community Engagement & Philanthropy
Ellie Ramirez
Secretary
Carol Fontanive
Consultant
Jessica Wooley
Treasurer
Ernest Shih
Public Relations
Lynn Kenton
Board Members
Gary Bloom
Aaron Erickson
Randy Kennedy
Adriel Lam
Bill Ridgway, PhD
Jay Silberman
Emeritus
Vernon Ansdell, MD
John Flanigan