Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge in Oahu, HI is one of our top 5 all-time favorite hikes. This strenuous yet super beautiful trail takes you through breathtaking views, narrow ridgelines, and finally to the famous Stairway to Heaven aka Haiku Stairs. While it is illegal to be on Stairway to Heaven, Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge is perfectly fine as long as you stay off the stairs. So, proceed at your own risk. Every time we completed this hike, we fell in love with it even more.
Note: It is illegal to be on the Stairway to Heaven. Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surrounding areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!
Stats
Where
Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park
1849 Ala Aolani St, Honolulu, HI 96819
Coords: 21.374092, -157.879975
Parking
You CANNOT park inside the park. It is ONLY for park-goers. You can park along the residential street. If you do so, please make sure to obey ALL parking signs and be respectful to the residents.
Restroom
There is restrooms inside the park.
Fee
There is no fee.
Distance
10 miles R.T.
Elevation Gain
2585 ft
Level
Difficult
Time:
8-10 hours
Pet-friendly
PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS ON THIS TRAIL!!
Ideal Weather
Calm wind, sunny days. Don’t go if there’s rain the day before. When muddy, the trail becomes extremely slippery. Wind can be a big factor since you will be on an exposed ridgelines while in the valley.
Weather
Video
Important Things to Know
- Start your hike as early as possible because it is a long hike. The way back is harder than the way there so you don’t want to do it in the dark.
- If there has been recent rain, the trail can get very muddy, therefore, becomes extremely slippery. It is best to avoid this hike right after a recent rain.
- Exposed tree roots and crazy winds can make this hike very dangerous. For a big portion of the hike, you will be walking on an exposed ridgeline at least 1000 ft high and about 2 feet wide, so be careful and take your time.
- It is a very long hike. It took us 10.5 hours total from start to finish. Of course, we were a lot slower since we took our time to take lots of photos. However, the average is from 8-10 hours so plan accordingly.
- Wear hiking shoes with good tractions. You will need all that tractions.
The Adventure
Getting to the Trailhead
The trail for Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge starts at the Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park. You can use your GPS to map your way there. There is a parking lot at the trailhead, however, you cannot park here. It is reserved for parkgoers only. There is limited street parking right outside the park. Please make sure to obey all street signs and be respectful to the residents. Another option is to have someone drop you off.
The Start of the Main Trail
Since this is a long and difficult hike, we started our adventure early. We got to the park right before the sun goes up. Once there, we headed toward the trail that was going up the hill. After a short distance, we saw a green gate blocking the trail. This is the start of the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge. The first 2.5 miles are mostly flat and fairly straightforward. The path is also wide. All the forks on the road will come back to the same main trail, so don’t worry about getting lost.
The First 2.5 Miles
The beginning of the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge is very lush. The dirt trail was weaving through tall tropical plants. It alternates between dirt trails to concrete slabs that cross over the river bed. From the green gate, there should be about 17 water crossings. Depending on the time of the year, there could be a lot of water at the crossings. When crossing over, please make sure to be careful. It can be quite slippery. If you can, try to keep your shoes from getting wet as much as possible. It is a long hike already, without having wet shoes. Our shoes got wet on the way back and it was a pretty miserable experience!
Via off the Main Trail to Start the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge
If you lost track of counting the crossing as we did, the best way is to track your mile. About 2.5 miles, you will see a small sign for “Kulana’ahane Trail” (note: DO NOT take this trail!!) on the left. This sign is small so make sure to keep an eye out for it. Once you see this sign, walk another 15 feet further, and you’ll see a small, worn-out path on your left-hand side. DON’T FORGET TO WALK THAT EXTRA 15 FEET TO THE UNMARKED TRAIL.
Although small and unmarked, it’s an obvious trail. It leads immediately down to the riverbed which you will need to cross over. This is your actual trailhead for Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge. After crossing, there is a tree branch that curves over the trail with the word “Middle Ridge” engraved on it.
The Start of the Climb
The first mile of this trail has about 1100 ft gain in elevation and is mainly through trees. There are a lot of exposed tree roots on this trail, so make sure to watch your footing so you don’t trip. Since you have shelter between the trees for this part, the wind won’t be a big issue. However, the second mile of this hike climbs another 950 ft or so in elevation and is far more exposed, with sharp drop-offs on both sides.
The Ridgeline
Both times we hiked Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge, we were lucky that the trail was fairly dry even though it rained a few days before. However, the wind picked up tremendously, which added to the difficulty and risk of the hike. The wind seems to be a big factor here. Every time we went, we always encounter the winds along this ridge section. Several times, the wind was so strong that I either had to sit down or Dustin had to grab onto my Camelback so I didn’t get blown off the side.
The Rope Sections
Along the trail, there are ropes to help with the steeper hills. These ropes are extremely helpful, especially on your way down, or when the trail is even the slightest bit muddy or wet. That being said, don’t put all of your trust into these ropes. You don’t know how long they had been out in the elements. Also, make sure to be very careful on the steeper sections. The dirt on this trail gets very slippery when wet. As you hike along, don’t forget to look back. We kept getting mesmerized by the views behind us. It was breathtaking.
On a clear day, once you get closer to the top of the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge Trail, you can see the radio tower to the left. For our second time, once we got to the last rope section, it got very foggy. We couldn’t see far at all. The last rope section is the steepest one. There were big rain ruts along the climb. It wasn’t that hard to climb but it was slippery.
The Top of the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge Trail
After the last rope section, there was a bit more hiking to do. Once you get to the peak of the Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge Trail, the radio tower became clear. At this point, the trail went left and led toward the radio tower. From here, it is another 0.5 mile to go to the radio tower, which sits on top of the Stairway to Heaven.
This 0.5 mile is a whole other challenge and is very deceiving. This short trail is a lot muddier and much more slippery with more exposed roots as well. On top of it, there are several inclines and declines with poor footing. Sometimes, there are ropes that were significantly helpful to get down or up some of the slopes. Make sure you watch your step. A few hundred yards from the radio tower, the trail eases up and you will begin to see the breathtaking panoramic views over Honolulu and Southern Oahu. If you pay attention, you can see the famous Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden below as well!
Stairway to Heaven
When we arrived at the top of the Stairway to Heaven, there was already a small group of people on top of the building. So, we decided to check out the stairs. Being such a huge item on both of our bucket lists, we couldn’t help but go down a couple of flights of stairs on the Haiku Stairs. I can see why they don’t want people on the stairs. The steps are rickety and very narrow. If you decide to go down the stairs PLEASE be careful. We decided not to go any further than the first concrete building. Here are some pictures we took from the stairs. Do NOT take this route back. Make sure to follow Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge to go back to the way you came from.
The climb back up the stairs was no joke. Lured by the beautiful sceneries at first, we didn’t realized how steep these stairs were. Even though we didn’t go down that far, we were breathing heavily on the way up.
Stairway to Heaven Radio Tower
After getting back to the radio tower, Dustin and I were the only here. So, we decided to stop for a short lunch on top of the tower. If you choose to head up to the roof, the easiest way that we found is to climb up using the window. It can be a little bit sketchy and awkward, so having someone to spot you might not be a horrible idea. It also helps if you’re taller than 5 ft. We both have some rock climbing experiences and it certainly came in handy. The view from the tower is spectacular. You can see Stairway to Heaven winding down in the sweeping view of Oahu. This is the best spot to enjoy your delicious lunch and take a break.
The Hike Back
The way back was very challenging. If you think climbing up is tricky, you are going to be tested on the way down. Luckily, most of the very challenging hills on the way down have ropes. The weather can change very quickly on the trail. Once we were down on the ridgeline, the fog was rolling into the canyon like a big wave. We knew that it might make the way down more challenging. Little did we know, the fog brought over rain and even stronger winds. It was a good thing we came prepared. Our Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket were an awesome investment for this type of trail and weather. They weigh almost nothing and kept us dry from the constant wind and pouring rain.
It wasn’t until we reached the trees at the bottom half of the trail, that we had any type of semi-dry ground or shelter from the elements. Once you get back down to the main flat trail, you’re not done yet. You still have to walk another 2.5 miles until you reach the parking lot. Even though this last part is so much easier, however, since we were both tired, it felt like an eternity, especially in wet shoes. Yet, we would gladly do this amazing hike to Haiku Stairs again in a heartbeat! If you’re up for other adventures in Oahu, check out our blogs on the top 10 things to do in Oahu!
These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
adventure gear
These La Sportiva shoes has so much tractions! We used it for everything. Vy’s version.
Dustin’s version for La Sportiva shoes
Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.
Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.
You should always bring plenty of water. Vy loves the Camelback L.U.X.E.
For shorter hikes, the Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is perfect to hold water and your essentials.
If you want something lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket
other things to bring
- Make sure to bring a good headlight just in case. We love the Petzl Actik Head Lamp!
- Plenty of snacks and lunch. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
- First-aid kit
- Gloves for the ropes. We didn’t need to use gloves but if your hands are sensitive, we recommend bring cheap work gloves.
camera gear
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5 Comments
Vahid
I went on this hike last week (July 15, 2023) after reading your post here and watching the youtube. Thank you so much for making these resources. I would not have tried it without them, and I’m so glad I did. I haven’t been on very many hikes, but this one was by far the best, and the most challenging. We were in the clouds for the last 20 percent of the trail and it also rained a bit while near the summit. This made coming back notably slower and more slippery. I should have had better shoes. Still, everything turned out OK, and there were plenty of beautiful views before the clouds. I’m so thankful.
Vy
Isn’t that hike beautiful? We’re so glad you decided to make the hike and made it back safely! Thank you for commenting. Comments like this really make our day and make we felt like our effort are worth it! We hope you get to do more awesome hikes in the future! 😊
Mark
Hi VY,
Just to update you, access through Moanalua Valley to the Haiku Stairs is still illegal. It has been a myth repeated time and time again online that access was legal, however it is still trespassing even before you reach the stairs. There’s a sign at the gate notifying hikers of this. Also, just to make a comment on the last comment, Tours in the valley are also illegal (also a sign saying this).
Heather E Wong
Hi there! I am looking to hike Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge (legal way of Stairway to Heaven). Did you happen to go with a tour guide by any chance? It’s been on my bucket list and i’m visiting next month and have been having trouble finding a tour guide.
Vy
Hi Heather, we didn’t go with a tour guide. We went on our own. We don’t think there is any tour guide for that hike either. Sorry, we couldn’t be any help.