Hawaii's Stairway to Heaven to be removed
9:17 AM EDT, April 18, 2024
The decision is final, and there's no going back. The iconic stairs in Hawaii, beloved by many tourists, are being dismantled. "I can assure you it was not a whimsical decision," the mayor of Honolulu stated, as reported by CNN.
Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, feature exactly 3,922 steel steps that wind through the Koʻolau mountain range on Oʻahu, Hawaii. Constructed during World War II by the United States Navy, they were initially meant for military access to a radio antenna atop Puʻu Keahi and not as a tourist attraction.
End of the Stairway to Heaven
After realizing the ineffectiveness of the bans, Honolulu authorities started discussions in 2021 about removing the stairs. Following extensive deliberations, the decision to dismantle them was made, though no action had been taken until recently. Rick Blangiardi, the mayor of Honolulu, announced last week that the process of dismantling the stairs has officially started.
"I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision," declared the mayor, as quoted by CNN. He explained, "This decision that was made was predicated upon our respect for the people who live in and around the entrance to the stairs, our respect for our ʻāina [land and sea], and our respect for both the future and the past history of the culture of the Haʻikū community,".
