Stairway to Heaven for the Full Moonrise (June 15, 2011)

Many Hawaii hikers have watched the sunrise from Stairway to Heaven (also known as Haiku Stairs), and those who haven’t definitely want to. I have done this too many times, and have opted to watching “full moonrises” from the stairway. I often come down when other hikers are frantically climbing up, trying to make it for the sunrise. It is very difficult to time this climatic event, as the windward side of the island is typically overcast on a given day. The consistent NE trade-winds blow moisture evaporating from the warm ocean towards the steep Koolau palis (cliffs), which gets deflected upward and condenses into clouds…

Thus, making any type of timing for sun/moonrise difficult to witness. However, I have tackled these odds quite a few times… usually by myself, since no one is usually available to do the stairs on a moments notice… on the rare nights where the Koolaus are completely absent of clouds “during a full moonrise”.

Unfortunately, the stairs have been closed to the public for many years now, with the most recent months being the most strictly enforced that I can ever remember. Security guards arrive extra early (<430am) to ensure no early-bird hikers attempt the trek to heaven. If some lucky hikers get a chance to do the trail, local law enforcement will often ticket/fine hikers that have completed the trail on the way back to their cars. Supposedly, the combination of hiker safety on the stairs, as well as many complaints from residents near the trail head has made this trail fairly difficult to even get to try. I can't fully disagree with authority in this instance... this hike is definitely not for everyone. It requires good cardio on the way up, and definitely a lot of upper body strength on the way down. In addition, some hikers who have completed this trail have been disrespectful to the residents in this neighborhood and their property (e.g., using garden hoses to wash off, wiping mud off their shoes on retaining walls and driveway curbs, etc).

There are a few different routes to get to the trailhead, however, the bamboo forest route is a big “NO-NO”. The hole in the gate at the end is now sealed with recycled, rusty barbed-wire, and there is human excrement all over the fence near the area (to deter climbing over/under it). Despite the EXCELLENT means to deter us… seriously, I was definitely deterred, haha (good job Laredo!!! I kept wondering if you made it fresh!). So yeah, if you decide to trespass… seriously, avoid the shit (go another route).

Anyhow… despite the night being overcast, there was still optimism by our crew; Joshua Serrano (808Goonies), David Chatsuthiphan (UnrealHawaii) and Jennifer Liu; to get some full moon shots over Kaneohe/Kailua. We climbed up the stairs in the darkness as a means to attract less attention to ourselves. We got up to the first landing fairly quickly, and we’re expecting to see the moon just over the clouds on the horizon… Negatory. Just clouds condensing as the moist air blew up toward us. We did get some decent shots, though nothing like how I wanted my crew to experience… especially since many of them are avid, amateur photographers.

We used our headlamps part of the way down, since the heavy cloud cover prevented the city lights from illuminating the stairs… and also because no one could see our lights through the thick clouds.

Summary??? It’s just too difficult to get organize a group of people to witness something that rare. You literally have to drop whatever you are doing that morning/night, if clear, to “just do it.” If you do decide to take the risk of safety, health (from the feces) and trespassing, be inconspicuous and respectful… don’t make this beautiful trail more difficult to access than it already is. Good luck and stay safe.

NOTE: Not all of the above photos were taken during last night full moon. They were taken on several different occasions where the weather was more cooperative. Though slightly dated, they deserved a place in my blog. Please use caution while consuming alcohol on hikes or any other physical activity. Alcohol can dehydrate you and affect your balance, as well as exhibit poor decision making.

To view this location on a Google Map also known as my “Adventure Map“, Click Here. For more adventures of the Lost Trailblazers, either look at my other blogposts and “Adventures with the Lost Trailblazers” photo gallery, or check out David’s website “UnrealHawaii.com“.