Moanalua Middle Ridge to Ha'iku Stairs
Before This past Tuesday, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. so that I could hit the trail early. I picked up three of the best hiking partners a girl could ask for, and headed to Moanalua Valley, where our journey to reach the infamous Ha'iku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) via Middle Ridge began. We hit the trail a little before 7 a.m. and thanks to a carved tree branch, lots of research, question asking/harassing all of my hiking friends who have completed this hike...we did not get lost. One major anxiety was out of the way. We encountered several groups (on the way up and on the way down) who mentioned getting turned around and having a hard time finding the trail that finally leads to Stairway to Heaven. The first three miles of our hike was on a trail I have hiked numerous times ( Moanalua Valley Road ). It is relatively flat, not technical, shaded, and pleasant with just a few spots of mud and puddles. Then the real trail begins, just past a state trail sign and a dr