Friends of Haʻikū Stairs Sue to Halt Demolition Plans in Hawai'i

HONOLULU — A nonprofit group has filed suit to stop the planned demolition of the Haʻikū Stairs, an iconic and controversial hiking route in the Koʻolau mountains of Oʻahu.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday by the Friends of Haʻikū Stairs, challenges a decision by the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) that greenlighted demolition plans backed by the City and County of Honolulu. The group argues that SHPD failed to follow legal procedures and abandoned its own prior stance supporting preservation.

Historic Structure Under Threat

The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the “Stairway to Heaven,” were built during World War II as part of a top-secret naval communications project. Stretching nearly 4,000 steps and rising over 2,000 feet, the stairs have offered rare views of the Windward Coast. Despite being closed to the public since 1987, the stairs remain a draw for hikers, with trespassing arrests and rescues continuing to mount.

The city has pushed for demolition since 2021, citing safety, liability, and security concerns. Honolulu’s 2020 environmental impact statement concluded that removing the stairs was the best option, and the City Council formally adopted the plan in 2021.

Court Filing Alleges Flawed Review

Friends of Haʻikū Stairs claim the SHPD violated its duties by not requiring the city to conduct full historic and archaeological surveys before signing off on the demolition. The group also said the agency ignored a “viable alternative” to preserve the stairs.

In a 2019 letter, SHPD stated its preferred course of action was to preserve and restore the stairs. Yet in April 2024, SHPD informed the city that demolition could proceed. The nonprofit now alleges that this change lacked explanation and did not follow state preservation laws.

“We just think that SHPD’s rapid shift from preservation to demolition without explaining or doing any of the steps necessary under state law was fundamentally wrong and voids the whole process,” said Justin Scorza, vice president of the Friends of Haʻikū Stairs.

The group initially appealed to the Hawaiʻi Historic Places Review Board, but the board did not have enough members present to rule on the case.

Legal Standoff Continues

The City and County of Honolulu maintains that the court does not have jurisdiction over the matter and expects the lawsuit to be dismissed. City spokesman Ian Scheuring said the city stands by its legal position.

The demolition project, expected to take six months and cost $2.6 million, was paused last year after a temporary injunction was issued pending appeal. In August 2023, the Friends group had unsuccessfully argued that the 2020 environmental report was outdated.

While the court denied that claim, the Intermediate Court of Appeals is still reviewing whether the lower court made legal errors.

Ongoing Costs and Safety Concerns

Honolulu has spent nearly $2 million on police overtime to secure the site, the city said, including making over 120 trespassing arrests between June and December 2023. Nearly 200 hikers were rescued from the trail between 2010 and 2022, though there have been no reported deaths.

The legal and public debate over the future of the stairs continues to reflect a broader divide between preservation efforts and public safety concerns.