Exploring Hawaii’s Forbidden Stairway to Heaven
The Haiku Stairs rise out of the morning mist like a ladder to nowhere — or maybe to everywhere. Roughly 3,922 metal steps climb the spine of the Koʻolau Mountains on Oahu, a structure that looks more like industrial infrastructure than a hiking trail. That’s because it was. Built in 1942 by the U.S. Navy to reach a radio antenna facility for submarine communication, the stairs were originally wood and later replaced with galvanized steel in the 1950s. They’ve been closed to the public since 1987. This article covers the stairs’ history, explains why they remain off-limits, and points