Hiking in Hawaii: Moanalua Valley Trail Kulana'ahane Stairway to Heaven: Homemade Adventures

Hey, I'm Charlie. Welcome to Homemade Adventures. Thanks for joining us today. Have you ever wanted to take the stairway to heaven out here in Oahu? Well, I'm going to show you the legal route on how we did it. Alright, stay tuned. Alright, before we get started, I want to just give you guys a quick orientation on where we are hiking today. We are hiking the Mauna Lua Valley Trail, which is also more commonly referred to as the back route for the Haiku Stairs. So the act of being on the actual Haiku Stairs at any point along the route is considered trespassing on government property. So with the legalities out of the way, I'm going to reinstate that this is the only legal hike to take the stairway to heaven. A total of 9.3 miles out and back trail located near Mauna Lua, Hawaii. And it is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The trail is accessible year round. To get to the trailhead, park outside the Mauna Lua Valley Trail and the trail begins just after the green gate. The first 2.9 miles are fairly straightforward with only 100 feet of elevation each mile. Watch out for roots as this is the largest risk that you will have when you climb. The second mile of the trail brings 1,100 feet of elevation and is far more exposed than the trail. It teeters in the middle of sharp angled drop offs on either side. Additionally, along the trail there are several ropes of which people have tied to help with the hike. These are extremely helpful as the trail is pretty muddy, especially if it rains. This is the end of the Middle Ridge Trail. The total hike is 5.2 miles one way with 2,585 feet in elevation gain. Once finally at the peak you will see the Haiku Stairs Radio Tower as it comes into view. The 20 to 30 minute hike to the radio tower is full of its own challenges. The seemingly level elevation from point A to point B can be misleading to the giddy. Also, more so than the Mauna Lua Middle Ridge Trail, the peak to the radio station is far muddier and much more slippery. Significantly more roots are exposed as well. Additionally, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. You will encounter a couple more ropes as you did during the Mauna Lua hike, which will be instrumental in getting down some of the slopes. Hold on tight and watch your footing. About 200 yards from the radio tower, the trail eases up and you begin to see the sweeping panoramic views over Honolulu and southern Oahu, from what we've been told. We were in a rain cloud, as you can see here. Relish this moment and enjoy the views. Although extremely tempting to hike down the Haiku Stairs, it is highly illegal and subject to a fine. Once again, do not take this route. Instead, retrace the Mauna Lua Ridge route and go back to your original destination. A packing list that we recommend is hiking boots or slip over spikes over your shoes, water at least 64 ounces, a rain jacket, conditions can change quickly on this hike, dry clothes in case you need to change, snacks, and a towel. You'll be amazed how muddy you get even on your dry days. Everyone, thank you for joining us on Homemade Adventures today. Every Thursday we will bring you new videos ranging from homemade crafts, floral design, recipes, scuba diving, hiking, travel, motorcycle tips, and so much more. Be sure to subscribe to our channel and click the notification bell so you'll be the first to know when we upload a new video. And make sure you comment below and let us know what adventures you want to see next. We'll see you soon!