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Haiku Stairs hikers arrested during last-chance trek to Hawaii’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’

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Haiku Stairs hikers arrested during last-chance trek to Hawaii’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’


The soap opera surrounding Oahu’s Haiku Stairs — also known as the Stairway to Heaven —  continues even as the famed landmark is being dismantled.

On April 20 and 21, the last weekend before demolition was to begin, police say that they gave out 60 warnings to hikers, eight citations for second-degree trespass and 25 parking enforcement actions. Second-degree trespassing is a misdemeanor.

On April 23, five people were arrested and charged with first-degree trespassing, according to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now.

The staircase was built during World War II by the US Navy for access to Naval Radio Station Haiku. Its 3,922 steps wind along a ridge to the summit of a 2,800-foot mountain in Kaneohe, affording incredible views.

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It has remained a tourist attraction despite being officially closed to visitors since 1987, and its exposure on Instagram and TikTok has brought even more visitors.

As there are no official trails, thrill-seekers have cut through private property to get there.

This increase in tourism – and the bad behavior that came with it – was among the reasons cited when Honolulu’s city council voted to remove the stairs in 2021.

“Due to rampant illegal trespassing, Haiku Stairs is a significant liability and expense for the city, and impacts the quality of life for nearby residents,” councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina told Hawaii News Now.

Early this month, local authorities announced that demolition would begin on April 22, leading to the flood of hikers taking one last chance to visit the site in recent days.

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“On top of (access) being illegal, it’s an active worksite,” Honolulu PD District Maj. Randall Platt told Hawaii News Now. “There’s heavy machinery. The helicopter is working back and forth so it’s dangerous for people to be up there in the first place. It’s a closed site. It’s a work environment.”

“The city was disappointed and dismayed to learn that so many individuals appear to have recklessly disregarded clear warnings that the project to dismantle the Haiku Stairs has begun, putting themselves – and, potentially, first responders – in harm’s way,” a Honolulu city government spokeswoman said in a statement.

The removal will require one 700-foot section at a time being taken away by helicopter, a process that will cost the city $2.5 million.

It has not yet been decided where the stairs will go after being removed. One local tourist attraction, Kualoa Ranch, has expressed interest in buying and housing them.

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Hawaii

Kauai shines in farm-to-table experiences at Timbers resort

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Kauai shines in farm-to-table experiences at Timbers resort


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – If you’re headed to Kaua’i and looking for a unique farm-to-table experience, Hualani‘s at Timbers Kaua’i serves creative dishes and drinks made with local ingredients and hyper seasonal produce grown on their farm at Hokuala.

Alex Amorin, executive chef at Hualani‘s, and Cory Dotario, Timbers food and beverage director, joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about their fresh, sustainable philosophy and upcoming Ha’aheo o Kauaʻi events, meaning “pride of Kauai” because talent and ingredients are sourced from the Garden Isle.

Among their signatures: honeycomb and goat cheese salad with a lemon vinaigrette (tapping into fall citrus season on their farm and honey from their own apiary) and a Barrel Aged Old Fashioned using their signature “Nagao of Never” bourbon named after a longtime employee, David Nagao, as a way to usher in the holiday season.

Ha’aheo o Kauaʻi lets guests enjoy a hands-on harvesting experience at The Farm at Hokuala and learn about Kauai produce, seafood and meats, and wine pairings.

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Amorin talked about the farm’s organic and biodynamic practices.

“There’s a nuanced beauty to selecting produce in its prime seasonality. The delicate flavor profiles take artistry to celebrate and enhance as the star of the plate. Similar to the artistry of working with watercolors and the delicate skillset that’s involved with mixing paint colors, working with vegetable-forward dishes takes the same approach and it’s ingredients sourced at peak ripeness that allow me to create culinary works of art,” said Amorin, an avid waterman and fisherman.

The next Ha’aheo o Kauaʻi farm-to-table dinner is on December 19 and can be booked on Open Table or by calling (808) 320-7399.

For more information, visit timberskauai.com/eat-drink/hualanis or follow on Instagram @timberskauai.

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No. 10 North Carolina runs wild to overwhelm Hawaii on national TV | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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No. 10 North Carolina runs wild to overwhelm Hawaii on national TV | Honolulu Star-Advertiser




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Hawaii Is Looking For Its Next Supreme Court Justice

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Hawaii Is Looking For Its Next Supreme Court Justice


The Judicial Selection Commission is seeking applicants to succeed Mark Recktenwald, who must retire next year when he turns 70.

Gov. Josh Green is likely to appoint a new Hawaii Supreme Court chief justice next year, his third pick for the five-member court.

On Friday the Judicial Selection Commission posted a vacancy for the position, currently held by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald. By law, judges and justice in Hawaii are mandated to retire at age 70, an age Recktenwald will reach in 2025.

Applicants must be residents and citizens of Hawaii and licensed to practice law here for not less than 10 years preceding their nomination.

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Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald with then newly confirmed Associate Justices Vlad Devens and Lisa Ginoza, Nov, 21, 2023. (Courtesy Hawaii Judiciary)

The term of office of the CJ, as the position is known in shorthand, is 10 years. The annual salary is $248,124.

The Judicial Selection Commission will publish the list of all applicants to its website, and the public will be invited to provide comments. The commission will then forward not less than four names and not more than six names to the governor for his consideration.

A justice’s nomination is then subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

A year ago at this time the Senate confirmed Lisa Ginoza and Vlad Devens to serve on the court.

Recktenwald was named CJ in 2010, after Gov. Linda Lingle’s nomination of Appeals Court Judge Katherine Leonard was rejected by the Senate for lacking leadership and management experience.



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