Regarded by many visitors and residents as a dream hike or climb, Haiku Stairs is a nightmare for the city’s Board of Water Supply, which owns most of the watershed land under the steel-step structure that stretches through a portion of the Waiahole Forest Reserve.
The 3,922-step ascent, situated along the Koolau ridgeline above Haiku Valley, delivers spectacular views, along with glimpses of micro-climates, geological layers and bits of Hawaii history. It has been officially closed to the public for various reasons for
32 years now — but the BWS is spending $250,000 a year trying to deter a steady flow of trespassers, many of whom are prompted by social media posts showcasing the stairs as an off-limits adventure.
Three years ago, the BWS had to hire a contractor to remove a dangerous swing installed by trespassers. Hikers had posted online videos of thrill-seekers soaring out over a cloud-shrouded cliff, more than 2,750 feet high.
Decades ago and recently, the semi-autonomous city agency has expressed openness to transferring the land to another city or state government department. So far, there are no takers. Consequently, the BWS is rightly pushing forward with a draft environmental impact statement that could lead to the dismantling of either the first 1,000 feet of the stairs or the full staircase.
That appears to be the regrettable but sensible course of action, unless the city quickly pieces together a feasible transfer plan. Inaction is not an option — not when, despite the threat of trespassing fines of up to $1,000, the hike is growing in popularity.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell said this week he’d like the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation to take possession, and is looking at private proposals to manage access, such as that being offered up by Friends of Haiku Stairs.
The nonprofit group envisions a cost-neutral operation, possibly limiting daily access to some
80 fee-paying permit-holders who would be shuttled in or walk for about a mile to the stairs. Also, permittees would get an educational overview highlighting environmental issues, such as native plants along the stairs’ path, plus cultural and historic matters.
Such elements would help preserve the unique attraction, as well better protect the residential neighborhood that has long endured trespassing-related headaches near the stairs, which has no designated parking or facilities.
However, making good on a cost-neutral price tag could be an insurmountable challenge. In addition to operations, the city would have to tend to security, maintenance and liability concerns. Honolulu Hale spent $875,000 on refurbishment of the stairs in the early 2000s. But now, according to the BWS, the lower half of the staircase is in poor condition due to corrosion and lack of maintenance.
Built by the U.S. Navy in the early 1940s as an access route to cable communications sites, in the mid-1970s the stairs were turned over to the Coast Guard, which operated its Omega navigation station in the valley, and allowed public use of the stairs. In 1987, after portions were destroyed by vandals, it cut off public use.
A decade later, when the Haiku facilities were decommissioned, city and state officials expressed interest in picking up the hiker magnet as a public resource. The BWS was saddled with it even though the agency didn’t need the property for water source development.
Since the BWS is financially self-sufficient, ratepayers are footing the bill for Haiku Stairs security. And since this funding has nothing to do with the agency’s mission — providing drinking water service to residential, commercial and industrial customers — clearly, the agency should unload the stairs, either through transfer or demolition.
