Laszlo Podor/Moment RF/Getty Images
Tourists hiking the Haiku Stairs in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii.
CNN —
The melodrama surrounding Hike Stairs, a disused staircase in a remote area of East Oahu, has become popular on social media, even as local officials begin removing the famous landmark.
The staircase was built by the U.S. Navy during World War II and remains a tourist attraction, although it has been officially closed to visitors since 1987.
According to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now, five people were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespass on April 23.
Additionally, police said they issued 60 citations to hikers, eight citations for second-degree trespassing, and 25 parking enforcement stops over the weekend of April 20th and 21st. Second-degree criminal trespass is a misdemeanor.
Travelers who manage to reach this spot, nicknamed the “Stairway to Heaven” because of the staircase that sometimes appears to disappear into the mist, perched atop a mountain 800 meters above sea level, are rewarded with an amazing view of the island. You can enjoy the view.
But with no official trail, many thrill-seekers have had to cross private property to get there. Some people post guides on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to drive even more visitors there.
This increase in tourists and the associated bad behavior was one of the reasons cited by the Honolulu City Council when it voted to remove the stairs in 2021.
Earlier this month, local authorities announced that demolition would begin on April 22nd, and hikers have been flocking to the site in recent days for a “last chance.”
“(Access) is illegal and this is an active work site,” Honolulu Police District Major Randall Pratt told Hawaii News Now. “There’s heavy equipment. Helicopters are coming and going, so it’s dangerous for people to be there in the first place. It’s a closed site. It’s a working environment.”
“Too many people appear to have recklessly ignored clear warnings that the Haiku Stair Removal Project has begun, putting themselves and, in some cases, first responders at risk,” the Honolulu City Government said in a statement. “We are disappointed and disappointed to learn of this,” the Honolulu City Government said. a spokesperson said in a statement.
Removal would require helicopters to remove sections 700 feet at a time, a process that would cost the city $2.5 million.
It has not yet been decided where the stairs will go once they are removed. Kualoa Ranch, one of the local tourist attractions, has expressed interest in purchasing and housing them.
