Famed Haʻikū Stairs in Hawaii to be dismantled, ending an era

The decision has been finalized: the much-loved Haʻikū Stairs in Hawaii are being dismantled. "I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision," the mayor of Honolulu stated, as reported by CNN.

Despite being officially closed to the public for years, the allure of the stairs and their spectacular views meant that many tourists continued to defy the ban, taking the risky climb to capture unforgettable pictures.

After recognizing the ineffectiveness of the bans, discussions among Honolulu's authorities about removing the famed stairs commenced in 2021. After extensive dialogues, it was finally agreed that the stairs should be removed. Rick Blangiardi, the mayor of Honolulu, recently announced that the dismantling of the stairs officially started last week.

"I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision," Blangiardi reiterated in comments cited by CNN. He elaborated that the decision was made out of respect for the residents living near the entrance to the stairs and for the preservation of the local culture and environment.

Tourists frequently trespassed on private properties to access the stairs, causing disturbances and, at times, damaging the surrounding vegetation. The authorities were also concerned about the risk of accidents resulting from reckless behavior on the stairs.

The removal of the stairs is set to be neither inexpensive nor straightforward. The authorities projected that the demolition could extend over six months, with costs surpassing £2 million.