As of 2014, climbing the Haiku Stairs, also
known as the Stairway to Heaven, is illegal. These 3,922 stairs were originally
built in 1942 of wood during World War II so that radio towers could be placed
on the peak that is 2,800 feet above sea level. Radio transmissions from this
site have been heard in India, Tokyo Bay, and Long Island, New York. After the
site was decommissioned, the Coast Guard took over the site and installed the
metal steps and ramps that visitors view today when visiting the site.
The site remains closed to the public because
of the liability issues. Select groups of volunteers have been allowed to climb
the stairs to repair them and clean up trash. When leaving the bottom of the
stairs, these volunteers are 400 feet above sea level.
Over 50 native vascular plant species have been
identified near the Stairs. As the volunteers begin their climb, they pass
through large groves of mango trees, which soon give way to octopus trees,
followed by uki uki plants and lama trees, before they finally encounter loulu
trees.
These volunteers are very active at trying to
get the stairs reopened. Two issues seem to keep this from happening. The first
is the question of whom actually owns the land, while others argue about the
liability issues should someone get hurt during their climb.