One of Hawaii’s most infamous and beautiful hikes could soon be a thing of the past.
That was the intention when the Haiku Stairs were closed to the public in 1987, too.
But declaring the "Stairway to Heaven" illegal hasn’t deterred thrill seekers and, lately, would-be Instagram stars from climbing the stairs, which are dangerously in disrepair.
Many residents in Honolulu’s Haiku neighborhood have complained about a steady stream of trespassing hikers coming through their property to reach the steps over the years.
Just last month, Honolulu Police made six arrests and issued over 90 citations for $1,000 each, according to Hawaii News Now.
The trail, which guides hikers across Oahu’s Ko'olau Mountains and offers "spectacular" views of Honolulu, would be eliminated in Mayor Rick Blangiadi’s new budget with $1 million used to "dismantle the stairway," the station reported. The mayor preceding Blangiadi had wanted to find a partner to maintain and manage the trail.
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There are groups both for and against keeping the Haiku Stairs.
If the budget is passed, it goes into effect in June.
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The popular site was first built during World War II as part of a top-secret radio station able to transmit signals to ships in the Pacific fleet.
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