A 30-year-old man could face a petty misdemeanor trespass charge after he jumped a fence and broke his ankle early Thursday morning while trying to reach the closed Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, in Kaneohe.
A Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said the man took a taxicab to Puoni Place and then broke his ankle while jumping a fence trying to reach the Haiku Stairs trail, which has been closed since 1987.
The hiker called for help, and fire rescue personnel reached him just before 4 a.m.
He was then turned over to police and paramedics.
In February the Board of Water Supply said it is considering plans to demolish the stairs.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle weighs Restoration Day as new holiday
KAILUA-KONA » The Hawaii County Council is considering a resolution that would ask state lawmakers to make Restoration Day a holiday.
Council members support the measure and are set to discuss it at a meeting Tuesday, West Hawaii Today reported Thursday.
Restoration Day represents when the Kingdom of Hawaii regained its independence on July 31, 1843.
Counties can’t declare holidays, but during a committee hearing earlier this month, Councilwoman Maile David called the resolution an important step.
Puna Councilman Danny Paleka proposed the resolution.
“I think we all have a connection to this,” Paleka said. “In the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom, it was inclusive. It included all the inhabitants that were under that sovereign nation. … I think this small matter is just a step in opening the minds to people that, you know what, we can coexist with each other on the same soil, in different countries.”
Hawaii Community College associate professor and Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo leader Noenoe Wong-Wilson says the measure doesn’t go far enough in the eyes of many Native Hawaiians, who appreciate it’s at least being considered.
“During the time of King Kamehameha III … this was a special day in Hawaiian history for celebration and recognition of this important event,” Wong-Wilson said. “We believe this will assist us in bringing the recognition and celebration of this event to Hawaii island as well as the aina.”
