Hikers in Hawaii could have to search out a recent technique to reach the Heavens.
The legendary Haiku Staircase on Oahu, Hawaii will finally be demolished after tourists continued to trespass on the legendary landmark despite repeated warnings.
In keeping with the Honolulu City Government, the long-lasting site will likely be torn down by the tip of this month, making good on a motion that town unanimously voted on in 2021.
“I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a press release. “This was a call, after we got here into office, that was long overdue.”
Often dubbed the “Stairway to Heaven,” the Haiku Staircase comprises a treacherously steep series of three,922 steps that winds along a mountain range in Kaneohe, making hikers feel like they’re within the clouds.
Built during World War II by the US Navy, the landmark was shuttered in 1987 attributable to vandalism and littering. Any trespassers are currently responsible for a $1,000 advantageous.
Despite the financial deterrent and the damaging terrain, daredevils, sightseers and social media content creators continued to ascend the steps.
In 2021, Hawaiian TikTokker Camille Leihulu posted a video chastising a travel TikToker, named Sofia McMillan who filmed herself allegedly accessing the feature.
Council members claimed that the rampant trespassing made the Haiku Stairs an expensive and dangerous liability, and likewise encroached upon the local communities, amongst other aspects, per the discharge.
“This decision that was made was predicated upon our respect for the individuals who live in and around the doorway to the steps, our respect for our ʻāina [land and sea], and our respect for each the longer term and the past history of the culture of the Haʻikū community,” declared Mayor Blangiardi.
The demolition will reportedly take no less than half a yr and value $2.5 million, the mayor’s office reported.
Within the interim, it’s best that folks avoid the staircase.
“While the actual removal of stairway modules won’t begin until later this month, the modules are being prepared for removal and present an instantaneous safety threat for anyone trespassing along the trail,” officials warned in the discharge.