Popular Koko Crater stairs might get a $1M boost

The city Department of Parks and Recreation may be getting an influx of $1 million to address the maintenance and repair of the Koko Crater trail.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell included the money in his budget for the next fiscal year to address the continued deterioration of the former tramway tracks, originally built by the military during World War II, at Koko Head District Park. A total of 1,048 steps made of wooden crossties lead to the crater’s summit, but many are missing, hollowed out or loose due to erosion and heavy usage.

In August, the Kokonut Koalition, a group of Koko Crater hikers, called attention to what they called “benign neglect” of the site and advocated for a comprehensive plan to repair and maintain the stairs.

“WE RECOGNIZE how much of a resource this former military installation is to the public,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell in a statement. “With this investment into that area, we very much look forward to seeing what the best option is to address the eroding conditions of the tramway. It is also encouraging to see the involvement of community groups like Kokonut Koalition with this type of planning, as it garners public input and support from the get-go.”

City Councilman Joey Manahan included his own request for $1 million in the Council’s proposed fiscal year 2020 budget to be used to hire a consultant to determine the best approach to stair repairs. Additional funds would have to be appropriated for actual construction and repairs, he said.

“I frequent the stairs,” Manahan said. “I’m there maybe three or four times a week. I love the stairs.”

MANAHAN HAS met with members of the Kokonut Koalition and supports their cause.

“Certainly it’s a huge attraction, not just for local residents but also visitors,” he said. “They see the posts on social media, they’re curious and want to climb the stairs.”

Members of the Kokonut Koalition have met with Department of Parks and Recreation officials and agreed to form a public-private partnership, applied to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and established a seven­-member board.

The group’s long-term goal is to rebuild the stairs. In the meantime, it hopes to work with the city to make badly needed short-term repairs.

“We still have the urgent issue of dealing with erosion problems,” said member Drew Murphy. “This thing is eroding as we speak. Every time there’s a major rain, we lose a tie.”

Kokonut Koalition board president Jane Howard said she is hopeful about city funding, though there’s still hills to climb.

“This is a major milestone for us, where it looks like something concrete could actually happen and we could get the ball rolling,” she said.

The Kokonut Koalition in the fall launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised almost $7,500 so far, still short of its $10,000 goal, for repairs.