[KARAH RUCKER]
FINALLY THIS MORNING – IT’S THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” IN HAWAII.
THE HAIKU STAIRS WERE BUILT BY THE U.S. NAVY DURING WORLD WAR two– BUT HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC SINCE 1987.
THE NARROW METAL STRUCTURE — COMPRISED OF NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND STEPS – WEAVES THROUGH A STEEP MOUNTAINSIDE MORE THAN 28 hundred FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
AND WHILE THE STAIRS HAVE BEEN OFF LIMITS FOR DECADES – THAT HAS NOT STOPPED THRILL SEEKERS FROM TRYING TO HIKE THE TRAIL – THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL SAYING THE RISE in SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ONLY ENCOURAGED MORE TRESPASSERS TO ACCESS THE DANGEROUS SITE.
THE $2.5 MILLION DOLLAR REMOVAL PROCESS IS UNDERWAY — WITH THE PROJECT EXPECTED TO TAKE AT LEAST SIX MONTHs.