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.
Upper Hoist House
A concrete block building on the main ridge (the “upper hoist house”) was the upper terminus of a cable car (see below) that was the primary means of moving men and equipment up and down the mountain. In the building one can see the rusted remains of an engine that powered a secondary (smaller) cable system used to transport materials from the upper hoist house to the CCL building (the Communications Control Link Station) at the top.
Until the roof was removed, the upper hoist house was a welcome refuge from quickly moving showers so common on the slopes. The only roofed shelter now available is the CCL building at the very top.
After the roof was removed the upper hoist house fell into disrepair. Graffiti and vandalism took their toll on the historic structure
The upper hoist house affords views of Kāne'ohe Bay
The rusted remains of the winch in the Upper Hoist House
Contemporary photos taken by Holly Sevier on an authorized workday