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Government & Politics

Advocates for the Ha‘ikū Stairs hope a court appeal can prevent plans by the City and County of Honolulu to demolish the popular historic site.

 filed an appeal in Honolulu Circuit Court challenging a ruling by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Division that approved the city’s plans to eventually demolish the nearly century-old stairway, sometimes referred to as the “Stairway to Heaven.”

The appeal stems from an April 2024 letter by SHPD, which notified the Honolulu Department of Design and Construction that it could proceed with a demolition of the stairs. This was a surprising pivot for SHPD, which had previously written another letter to the city in 2019 stating that SHPD would prefer to keep the stairs intact.

Justin Scorza, vice president of the Friends of Ha‘ikū Stairs, told Aloha State Daily that subsequent efforts to get the SHPD Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board to reconsider the SHPD decision came to nothing.

“They couldn’t come to a unanimous agreement,” Scorza said. “So they weren’t able to overturn SHPD’s concurrence with the city.”

With procedural options exhausted, the Friends took the case to court. The suit argues that SHPD’s actions ignored the Division’s own mission to preserve historically significant landmarks — something SHPD already determined the Stairs to be in 2019 — and that the Division failed to secure a full archaeological survey of the project area.

Scorza said polling by the Friends suggests that roughly 70% of O‘ahu residents support keeping the stairs. The Friends website also links to a 

 petition —  titled “Save the unique and historic Ha‘ikū Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) from destruction” — that has received more than 15,000 signatures since being posted 10 years ago.

Construction on the 3,922-step staircase began in 1942 as part of the development of the U.S. Navy’s Ha‘ikū Radio Station during World War II. Since then, the stairs and the decommissioned Navy facility became a popular hiking spot and tourist destination, until they were closed to the public in 1987.

That closure has not deterred people from climbing the Stairs, Scorza said, which is why he believes the City’s plan to demolish them is shortsighted.

“They don’t want to do anything to the other Navy infrastructure up there, that people still want to see and take pictures of,” Scorza said. “So they’re removing the safest and best way to get to the top of the mountain.”

City rationale for the closure of the steps has stemmed from safety concerns and frustrations by neighbors of users trespassing on their properties, both of which Scorza said could be easily mitigated.

For one thing, Scorza said the City and County had previously planned to reopen the Stairs. In 2019, then-mayor Kirk Caldwell stated plans for the City to take possession of the site, with private groups potentially managing access to the Stairs.

Such a plan, Scorza said, could allow users to access the Stairs directly from public roads, instead of having to resort to trespassing.

As for the safety concerns, Scorza emphasized that there has never been a reported death on the stairs. Furthermore, while the city has claimed that there have been hundreds of rescues from the Stairs between 2010 and 2020, those claims are misleading, he said.

“Those rescues were in the area, but not on the Stairs themselves,” Scorza said. “In fact, first responders use the Stairs to find hikers during rescues because they’re safe and direct.

“Besides, other hikes have rescues all the time,” Scorza continued, noting that first responders are regularly called to Koko Head Crater Trail to retrieve injured hikers.

This is the Friends’ second appeal currently in court. A previous lawsuit against the city — this one citing environmental concerns — failed in 2023, but the Friends appealed in 2024, leading the Intermediate Court of Appeals to grant an injunction against the city preventing any demolition work until that appeal is resolved.

As for when either case will get a hearing, Scorza said that’s anyone’s guess. The 2025 case currently has no events scheduled, and no hearing has been held in the 2024 case since September.

Haiku Stairs

<title>Lawsuit against the state aims to preserve Ha‘ikū Stairs</title>

State shouldn't have approved city plan to demolish "Stairway to Heaven," argues lawsuit

Lawsuit against the state aims to preserve Ha‘ikū Stairs

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

  — whose family of brands include Maui Gold Pineapple, Maui Pineapple Tour, Maui Pineapple Store, Maui Chocolate Tour, Lahaina Honey Company and Maui Farm Events —

 has recently expanded its executive leadership team.

Julie Strong has been named director of finance, a newly created role, while Edgar Cordero has been named general manager of Maui Gold Pineapple, the company said in a recent announcement. They started in their roles on May 5.

Cordero, who was formerly the Maui Gold farm manager, replaces former General Manager Rudy Balala who will now step into a new role as a full-time pineapple tour guide with Maui Pineapple Tour, the announcement noted.

Strong, who has more than 15 years of experience in senior financial roles, most recently was chief fiscal officer for 

In her new role, Strong will oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and strategic planning across the company's brands, the announcement noted.

Born in Rockford, Illinois, she moved to the Islands when she was 12 after her dad, who was active duty in the U.S. Navy, received orders to Barbers Point, Strong said in an emailed response to questions from Aloha State Daily. She spent the next two decades on O‘ahu before moving back to the Mainland, but ultimately returned to Hawai‘i and made Maui her home.

Farming has always been close to my heart. My grandfather was a corn and soybean farmer in Illinois, and I spent my childhood summers helping him in the fields or assisting my grandmother in her half-acre garden," she said. "After moving to ‘Ewa Beach in the early ’80s, I was surrounded by sugarcane and pineapple fields, landscapes that have since been replaced by homes and businesses. When I saw the opening for director of finance at the last locally owned pineapple farm in Hawai‘i, I knew I had to apply. It felt like an opportunity to reconnect with my roots and contribute to something meaningful."

Strong says her first priority in the new job is to "establish a solid financial foundation by creating comprehensive budgets and a clear financial plan."

Ultimately, though, she says, her goal is to help Maui Gold sustainably grow and expand, "ensuring a strong future for Hawai‘i’s last locally owned pineapple farm."

Meanwhile, Cordero joined Maui Gold nine months ago. Before that, he told ASD that he spent seven years as the farm operations lead for Bayer in Kīhei.

Cordero, who was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, told ASD in an emailed response to questions that with a passion for both the ocean and agriculture, he earned a bachelor's degree in animal sciences from 

the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.

He began his career in agriculture with Dow AgroSciences in southern Puerto Rico but joined Monsanto three years later and moved to Maui in early 2014, he said.

"My time as a farm manager allowed me to gain an in-depth understanding of pineapple farm operations, from the field level to logistics," Cordero says. "The biggest difference in stepping into the GM role is the broader scope of responsibility. It requires more leadership, strategic planning and full accountability for all aspects of the business."

Cordero says that his top priorities in the new position are to "ensure a smooth transition, enhance sustainability practices, strengthen agronomic performance and maintain a strong focus on safety and regulatory compliance."

When asked about the challenges Maui Gold faces — and also what's good about business today — Cordero is succinct.

"Our biggest challenges are attracting the next generation of farm workers and upgrading our aging fleet of pineapple-specific equipment," he said. "On the positive side, we have a deeply experienced team and a strong commitment to preserving and growing the legacy of pineapple farming on Maui."

Hawai‘i Farm Project CEO John White said in the announcement that the company was excited to welcome the pair to their new roles.

“Their expertise will be instrumental as we strengthen our financial foundation and elevate our commitment to sustainable agritourism, ensuring the continued growth of our brands while honoring the communities we serve.” 

Hawaii farm project julie strong edgar cordero

<title>Hawai‘i Farm Project expands executive leadership team</title>

Julie Strong has been named to a newly created role, while Edgar Cordero is now the general manager of one of the company's most notable brands.

Hawai‘i Farm Project expands executive leadership team

RMHC President and CEO Ed Nishioka

<title>Ed Nishioka</title>

Ed Nishioka

Aloha Spirit

Have you ever thought about hiring a nonprofit for professional services? Maybe it's time to, especially if you're a nonprofit reliant on donations. Here's one way we're turning business expenses into "a built-in impact multiplier."

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