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unanimously passed by the city council in
September 2021. The budgeted cost to remove the stairs grew to $ 1.3 million. Friends of Haiku Stairs, a volunteer group aimed at preserving the trail, objected to the decision, saying they have a plan managing safe public access and trespassing at no taxpayer cost. The mayor said that removal will proceed as a high-use tourist attraction is inappropriate with an entrance through a residential neighborhood that lacks the room for necessary facilities such as parking. The city announced in April 2024 that the nearly $ 2.6 million removal process would begin by the end of the month. The contract to remove the stairs was awarded to Nakoa Companies, Inc. As of April 16, 2024, it has been announced that it will be demolished. In his own words, Mayor Rick says “I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision,” in a statement. As crews began the dismantling process to prepare the stair sections to be flown out by helicopter, the police gave out citations to people attempting to ascend trail by entering a construction area.
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that evaluated alternatives. The process collected comments through small-group and public meetings with various agencies, landowners, community organizations, and individuals. It estimated that removal of the stairs could cost as much as $ 1 million. The board voted unanimously on April 27, 2020 to
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In late August to early
September 2024, fourteen people were arrested for accessing the stairs. All the people arrested have been charged with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor that can result in up to 30 days in jail. Eight of the 14 were arrested on September 3, although not clear if they hiked
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The city took possession on July 1, 2020. After consideration of the significant liability and maintenance expense for the city along with the impacts to the quality of life for nearby residents, the City
Manager was urged to remove the Haʻikū Stairs by non-binding Resolution 21-154, which was
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began construction of the Haʻikū Radio
Station, a top secret facility that was to be used to transmit radio signals to Navy ships that were then operating throughout the Pacific. In order to obtain the necessary height for the antennae, the Navy stretched them across
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transfer the Haʻikū Stairs over to the city since the stairs were a liability that did not align with the agency’s mission. The city had 18 months to take over or the stairs would be torn down. The city anticipated operating the trail as a paid attraction.
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had stated that there was no plan to open the stairs for public use, citing liability concerns. Some hikers ignored the "no trespassing" signs and continued to climb, contributing to the local community's misgivings about reopening the structure.
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In 2003 with plans to reopen the stairs to the public, they were repaired at a cost to the city of $ 875,000. With no public access available, nearby residents experienced trespassing and litter on their property. In early 2018, the
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The radio station was commissioned in 1943. To transmit such a powerful signal, the Navy needed a transmitter of greater capability than possible with vacuum tube technology at the time. They therefore decided upon an
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at various times but is not open to the public. The city council voted to remove the stairs in 2021. On April 10, 2024, city officials announced that the removal of the stairs was to begin at the end of that month.
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station. In the mid-1950s, the wooden stairs were replaced by sections of metal steps and ramps — by one count, 3,922 steps. The Coast Guard allowed access in the 1970s but stopped after an appearance on
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There have been several other minor injuries over the years, between 2021 and 2022, there have been more injuries and rescues of hikers trying to access the top of the stairs through the hiking trail via the
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In August 2012, Don Tiki show singer and comedian Fritz
Hasenpusch died of a heart attack during his Haʻikū Stair climb. There have never been any serious injuries or deaths due to an accident on the stairs.
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ridge, which is longer and more difficult, resulting in many hikers being rescued “near the Haʻikū Stairs” and not on the stairs themselves.
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In 2014, six people were arrested and 135 were cited for climbing the stairs. The City
Prosecutors Office said that
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850:"'Someone is going to get hurt or killed': 14 people arrested for illegal hiking in Hawaii"
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601:"After decades of debate, city announces start of $ 2.6M Haiku Stairs removal project"
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497:"Decision to remove Haiku Stairs now in Mayor's hands after council's unanimous vote"
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627:"The Nakoa Companies Inc. | The Nakoa Companies Inc. - A Native Hawaiian Company"
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increased visitation. The station and trail were closed to the public in 1987.
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472:"Haiku Stairs gets reprieve from demolition, but now city needs to take action"
648:"Haiku Stairs: Hawaii attraction to be removed following bad tourist behavior"
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When the Naval Air
Station Kaneohe Bay was transferred to the Marine Corps as
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689:"Haiku Stairs hike victim is identified as Don Tiki singer Fritz Hasenpusch"
446:"Final environmental impact statement renews call to dismantle Haiku Stairs"
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523:"Approved City Council budget includes funding to tear down Haiku Stairs"
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793:"Haiku Stairs: A look back at its history and forward into its future"
362:"Injured hiker: 'Booby trap' set up to deter Haiku Stairs trespassers"
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715:"Hawaii to remove forbidden staircase due to 'rampant trespassing'"
550:"Hawaii to remove forbidden staircase due to 'rampant trespassing'"
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387:"Hawaii's infamous Haiku Stairs are one step closer to removal"
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Video segment on the history & future of the Haiku Stairs
663:"Multiple hikers arrested on Hawaii's 'Stairway to Heaven'"
576:"The Famed ʻStairway to Heaven' on Oʻahu Will Soon Be Gone"
767:"HFD rescues lost hiker near the Stairway to Heaven trail"
415:"City to make Hawaii's 'Haiku Stairs' a public attraction"
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Former access to U.S. Navy radio station on Oahu, Hawaii
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741:"Hawaii's famous Haiku Stairs will likely be removed"
311:"Bill Proposes Funding The Removal of Ha'iku Stairs"
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In 2020, the Board of Water Supply released a final
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81:The view from the top of the stairway overlooks
791:Broder Van Dyke, Michelle (January 23, 2022).
285:"Stairway to Heaven Could Be Removed By 2022"
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182:in the second degree carries a $ 1000 fine.
574:Fox, Catherine Toth (September 15, 2021).
206:. Friendsofhaikustairs.org. Archived from
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121:used the Haiku Radio Station site for an
60:with more than 3,000 steps along O‘ahu's
765:Schaefers, Allison (January 15, 2023).
444:Pang, Gordon Y. K. (January 25, 2020).
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819:"Crackdown on hikers at Haiku Stairs"
713:Anguiano, Dani (September 22, 2021).
548:Anguiano, Dani (September 22, 2021).
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739:Marcus, Lilit (September 16, 2021).
360:Davis, Chelsea (February 28, 2018).
115:Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay
929:Climbing areas of the United States
848:Marcus, Lilit (September 9, 2024).
817:Cruz, Catherine (March 15, 2016).
687:Kubota, Gary T. (August 7, 2012).
661:Hitt, Christine (April 24, 2024).
283:Jedra, Christina (June 23, 2019).
230:"Surviving the Stairway to Heaven"
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470:Davis, Chelsea (April 28, 2020).
385:Lee, Fiona (September 10, 2021).
64:. The pathway has been used as a
949:Stairways in the United States
421:. July 3, 2020. Archived from
236:. Alysha mendez. July 13, 2012
151:environmental impact statement
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954:1942 establishments in Hawaii
259:"History of the haiku stairs"
204:"The Friends of Haiku Stairs"
93:In 1942, contractors for the
143:City and County of Honolulu
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336:"Stairway to Heaven, Oahu"
309:Dym, Zoe (May 12, 2021).
771:Honolulu Star-Advertiser
693:Honolulu Star-Advertiser
450:Honolulu Star-Advertiser
944:Protected areas of Oahu
939:Hiking trails in Hawaii
315:www.Hawaii Public Radio
123:Omega Navigation System
108:Alexanderson alternator
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62:Ko'olau mountain range
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905:21.3957°N 157.8241°W
44:, also known as the
934:Landmarks in Hawaii
901: /
503:. September 8, 2021
289:Honolulu Civil Beat
36:Haʻikū Stairs, 2007
910:21.3957; -157.8241
234:untappedcities.com
117:in the 1950s, the
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46:Stairway to Heaven
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18:Ha'ikū Stairs
880:, Spectrum News 1
829:on March 24, 2017
210:on April 20, 2008
180:criminal trespass
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100:Haʻikū Valley
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73:Early history
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50:Haʻikū Ladder
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42:Haʻikū Stairs
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859:September 9,
857:. Retrieved
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831:. Retrieved
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136:21st century
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66:hiking trail
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29:
908: /
896:157°49′27″W
802:January 24,
776:January 24,
724:January 24,
533:January 24,
186:together.
129:Magnum P.I.
87:Kaneohe Bay
85:as well as
923:Categories
893:21°23′45″N
345:August 23,
268:January 8,
240:January 8,
190:References
833:March 23,
672:April 24,
632:April 16,
611:April 11,
481:April 28,
162:Incidents
95:U.S. Navy
367:July 21,
173:Moanalua
698:July 4,
455:June 7,
429:July 4,
320:May 14,
294:May 14,
83:Kaneohe
667:SFGATE
391:SFGATE
58:Hawaii
54:Oʻahu
861:2024
835:2017
823:KITV
804:2023
778:2023
752:2021
726:2023
700:2020
674:2024
634:2024
613:2024
587:2021
561:2021
535:2023
509:2021
483:2020
457:2021
431:2020
419:KITV
398:2021
369:2018
347:2010
322:2021
296:2021
270:2015
242:2015
216:2010
40:The
854:CNN
745:CNN
48:or
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