2024-04-27 10:20:45
Traveling to Hawaii? Here’s what to know as Maui rebuilds.
Hawaii residents are dealing with the followingmath of historic wildfires in Maui. If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, here’s what you need to know.
Ryan Ross and Claire Hardwick, USA TODAY
People are probably flocking to Hawaii most infamous – and illegal – hike, the Stairway to Heaven, before being removed for good. Arrests and dozens of citations immediately followed.
Just two weeks following announcing the notoriously dangerous Oahu hike’s permanent removal, the Honolulu Police Department reported Thursday that seven hikers had been arrested for trespassing and 56 cited. Over the weekend, approx 60 warnings has been issued.
Second-degree trespassing is considered a misdemeanor and requires a court appearance, HPD said.
The hike, also known as Haiku Stairs, has been illegal since 1987. Nevertheless, hopeful hikers have continually trespassed—while causing disruptions—through neighborhoods and private property to climb the nearly 4,000 World War II-era steel steps for a panoramic view regarding Oahu. Due to the inclement weather and steepness of the hike, it is not uncommon for people to have to be rescued, often by helicopter.
Be a better traveler to Hawaii: Try volunteering on your next trip to the islands
The City and County of Honolulu announced April 10 that the aging stairs will be removed forever in a project Honolulu Major Rick Blangiardi called “long overdue.”
Residents who live near the hike said more people than ever before are trespassing on their property to access the hike since the announcement, according to KHON2.
“Be good people and understand it’s not regarding you and don’t be selfish,” said District Four Commander Maj. Randall Platt said in a press conference Monday, according to KHON2. “Think regarding what you’re doing to the workers, the environment, that’s all, finding invasive species and putting the workers at risk on top of putting yourself at risk, it’s really not necessary (justice) is really what I want to say, it’s not right.”
Ian Schuering, spokesman for the City and County of Honolulu, told USA TODAY that the entire staircase is considered an active work site and extremely dangerous for anyone attempting the hike.
HPD reminds the public that it is “illegal and unsafe to access Haiku Stairs.”
As crews are currently preparing the stairs for removal, the first set of stair modules will be flown off the mountain within the next few weeks, Schuering said.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
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