The state this week declined to take control of the Ha'iku Stairs — a 3,922-step climb to the top of the Ko'olau Range — rejecting a city offer that some hoped would lead to the reopening of the popular hiking spot.

Once a World War II access to radio equipment, the trail was shut in 1987 and refurbished four years ago with the intention of opening it to the public.

But access tangles have kept it shut.

City officials last year turned to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, with its expertise in trail development and maintenance, asking the agency to accept ownership of the stairs, which were mended in 2002 for $875,000.

Citing access issues, ranging from trespassing to parking problems, DLNR Director Peter Young this week said the department is not interested in taking on the attraction, known as the "Stairway to Heaven."

"We have our responsibility with trails and natural areas and while (Ha'iku Stairs) is trail-like, we're not interested in taking it over at this time," he said.

Even if DLNR took on ownership, Young said, the agency likely would seek a private operator to manage hiking there. In that case, agency officials reasoned that the city, which owns the structure and the land beneath it, might as well find someone to run the attraction.

SEEKING A SOLUTION

In 2003, while working to establish access to the Ha'iku Stairs, city officials hired security guards — at a cost of about $1,500 a week — to turn hikers away. But that arrangement could end in December.

A City Council committee on Wednesday sliced in half a budget request for security guards, thereby giving the parks department $43,000 for the fiscal year — enough funding to maintain the current arrangement until the end of the year, said Bill Brennan, city spokesman.

City Council member Barbara Marshall said the move is apparently intended to spur Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration to step up efforts aimed at resolving the matter.

"This administration has consistently said that they will not, under any circumstances reopen the stairs," Marshall said. "And if that's the case, I have grave concerns about spending $1,500 a week for the rest of our lives for security guards. So, we have to do something."

While there are suggestions to dismantle sections of the stairs as a means to further discourage hikers, John Flanigan of Friends of Ha'iku Stairs, said there also is support for addressing access problems and opening the stairs.

"Surely there are enough smart folks around to figure a way to preserve this valuable outdoor asset," said Flanigan, whose group helps maintain the area and had hoped to operate it some day.

PUSH FOR PRESERVATION

In addition to its natural appeal, the stairs have historic value and are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Flanigan said.

The group has collected thousands of signatures on a petition for the opening of the stairs, Flanigan said, noting that it has also received dozens of messages from educators and scientists attesting to the educational and scientific value of the structure.

Under a proposal drafted by the group, the stairs could be maintained and operated at minimal or no cost to the city, with activity level there no greater than when the Coast Guard allowed entry, he said.

But some area residents are leery of any proposal to open the stairs. After the city's refurbishing work, residents complained that scores of hikers regularly trespassed on their properties to get to the trail.

In addition, residents said, hikers often filled all street parking spaces, left trash and occasionally hurled rude comments at individuals who asked them to be more considerate.

PLANS STUMBLE

In April 2005, when Hannemann offered to transfer ownership of the Ha'iku Stairs to the state, he maintained that the city does not have the requisite experience or expertise to operate and manage a nature hiking trail.

The mayor offered three incentives to the state: giving the state land in Ha'iku Valley, taking over maintenance of medians along certain highways and an acquisition or exchange of property for Hawaiian Homes land.

As hope for the proposed transfer faded, some supporters of opening the attraction turned their attention to a resolution endorsed by state lawmakers this year to establish a cultural preserve in Ha'iku and North Halawa valleys.

Current plans for the preserve, however, do not address the stairs, according to Leialoha "Rocky" Kaluhiwa, with the Ko'olau Foundation. Rather, plans stress forging partnerships between landowners in the valleys to protect heiau, burials and other cultural resources.

"The main goal is to establish the partnership, reopen Ha'iku Road and preserve the wahi pana (noteworthy places) and wahi kapu (sacred sites) in the valley," Kaluhiwa said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.