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Hawaii's famous Haiku Stairs to be removed

2021-09-16T17:00:12.693Z


The Haiku Stairs of Hawaii, also known as the "stairs to heaven" are off-limits to visitors, but that hasn't stopped them. Now, they will possibly be destroyed by the City Council.


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(CNN) -

Hawaii's Haiku Stairs, also called "Stairs to Heaven," are likely to be removed next year after a Honolulu City Council meeting to discuss current problems at the site.

The stairs, whose 3,922 steps wind up a 6,000-meter mountain trail in Kaneohe, on the eastern part of Oahu, were originally built by the United States Navy in the 1940s.

The stairs reach a spectacular apex through the clouds and many locals consider the view to be the best in all of Hawaii.

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In 1987 public access to the stairs was permanently removed, but that did not stop hikers, youtubers, adventurers and other tourists from sneaking into the place.

There have been numerous injuries over the years, the latest of which was a 24-year-old who injured his knee and had to be airlifted in April.

"Due to the proliferation of illegal intrusions, the Haiku Stairs represent a significant responsibility and expense for the city, and affect the quality of life of nearby residents," Councilor Esther Kiaʻāina told CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now.

Kiaʻāina, whose district includes Kaneohe, is the author of Resolution 21-154, the proposal to remove the stairs.

On September 8, the Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to permanently remove the stairs.

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"The city has already spent nearly a million taxpayer dollars to remodel the stairs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in safety costs," Councilman Brandon Elefante told Hawaii News Now.

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The measure was sent to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

It is expected to approve the removal of the Haiku stairs and allocate $ 1 million from the city budget to cover the expense.

You have 60 days to make a final decision.

"Fundamentally, it is inappropriate to have a high-use tourist attraction entering through this residential neighborhood, which lacks the capacity to provide adequate facilities or parking," the mayor wrote in an email to the local Honolulu Civil Beat outlet.

"In addition, there is no unrestricted access to the stairs and the principal owner of the land made it clear that he is not interested in facilitating access. Consequently, my administration is aligned with the City Council's resolution to remove the stairs and we intend to go ahead with the necessary plans. "

Once the measure is formally approved, the mayor's office must establish a timetable for the removal and destruction of the stairs.

Currently, there is a maximum fine of US $ 1,000 for people caught trespassing on the Haiku stairs.

CNN contacted the Honolulu Water Supply Board, which owns and manages the venue for comment.

Hawaii

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-09-16

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