3:45 a.m. Waking up and getting ready... WTH was I thinking going on this hike?!
We had planned this hike to be on a Wednesday but I had to lifeguard that day for the kiddies. So Thursday morning I woke up and got ready to set foot on Haiku Stairs. Met up with my other fellow hikers around 4:15 a.m. On the roster was Cassidy, Mikhel, Ashlee, Keahi, Dawn, and Robyn.
5:30 a.m. Arriving in the neighborhood and parking and looking for the trail. We walked up a paved road looking for the cut through to the trail head. Took a left somewhere that led to nowhere. Saw some people behind us. Kept walking up the paved road when the people behind us caught up with us. It was a group of three men that led us to the trail head. At the trail head we took some pictures and what not and started to head up behind the other group. Saw another group of people at the bottom as well, looked like local guys and one girl. We started off before them.
5:45 a.m. Starting our descent up was very difficult. I led the group and the rest was trailing behind. Made a few stop to take pictures of the ascent up. Some parts of the first ascent was almost vertical, like climbing a ladder. Shortly after the local guys and the girl blazed past us on the trail. About 45 minutes into the hike the first look out was reached.
6:30 a.m. Putting down the bags for a bit made for a good rest stop at the first look out. The sunrise was amazing on top Haiku Stairs. It also gave a chance to the hikers behind us to catch up with us. We stayed there for quite a while. Took some pictures from above a rainbow and could see the H-3 and Kaneohe to Chinamans hat from this point. From this point there was another group that was coming up the stairs. It was funny because these guys came to the first rest stop and asked us if we wanted a shot of Jack Daniels! They soon left and went ahead of us.
The next few rest stops got colder higher and more cloudy fast. Nearing the top the steps got a little less steep. I'd say the ascent to the first rest stop was the hardest. Towards the top there was a structure that had a winch, I guess to bring equipment up from the bottom. Of course it was all buss up. The last ascent up to the top was more level and flat. Had sections where they laid metal sheets instead of steps.
About 8:15 a.m. We had reached the top of Haiku Stairs. At the top was a structure that had a satellite. It was cold very windy and very cloudy at the top. I was very dissapointed that we couldn't have a view. With the clouds all around us it was hard to see 50 ft in front of us. We hung out at the top ate snacks and talked story. I just had to do something crazy on this hike like I do on every hike. I decided that I wanted to climb to the roof of this building, keep in mind that the wind was blowing hard and the ground and everything was just saturated with water and very slippery. So I climbed the railing a little bit and I had some help from Keahi to get pushed up to the top of the roof. Took some pics next to the satellite and hopped back down safely.
8:30 a.m. We started our descent. I stayed behind to make sure everyone made it down safely. Ashlee led the way down. As we were going down I was very dissapointed. The weather started to clear up and I was thinking we should have stayed up at the top a little while longer, oh well.
9:45 a.m. We reach the first look out that we chilled at for a while. We saw in the distance on the bottom the people that we met on the hike leaving the trail slowly, they were obviously being stopped by someone down there.
10:15 a.m. We finally reach the bottom and low and behold there is a security guard there...
Ascent up the stairs.
Looking down on the ascent.
Me on the roof of the top structure.
Group picture at the end.
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