Reason behind removing Hawaii’s iconic 'Stairway to Heaven'

Hawaii, besides being home to some spectacular beaches, is also renowned for its iconic Haiku Stairs or Stairway to Heaven. However, the government has decided to remove the famous attraction because of numerous illegal trespassing and injuries at the site, leading to hefty costs.

History of the stairs
Haiku Stairs were built in the 1940s by the US Navy. The 3922 steps can be found up a mountain in Kaneohe, on the eastern side of Oahu. The stairs are not open to travellers because of safety reasons, but a number of people find their way up illegally. Such wanderers often trespass residential fences, and travel through backyards just to get access to the stairs.

Therefore, the Honolulu City Council has now voted to remove the stairs because of high security costs.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, "We recognize the interest the stairs have to certain community groups, however issues such as trespassing, personal injuries, invasive species and overall safety of the public cannot be ignored. Fundamentally, it is inappropriate to have a high-use tourist attraction entering through this residential neighborhood, which lacks in the capacity to provide appropriate facilities or parking.”

In the beginning of the year, a 24-year-old was airlifted out of the region after he injured his knee while hiking the stairs. A number of incidents have been reported in the area in the past. As of now, people who are caught trespassing here are fined $1000.

However, chances are that the stairs won't be removed completely, but the government may just relocate. A budget of $1 million is likely to be allotted for the project.