Determined to conquer the off-limits "Stairway to Heaven" on Oahu, Daylenn Pua set off for his adventure on February 26, 2015 — and never returned.
FacebookDaylenn Pua was just 18 years old when he disappeared in Hawaii.
More than a decade ago, a teenager named Daylenn Pua went missing while on an adventurous hiking trip in Hawaii.
The 18-year-old hoped to reach Oahu’s Haiku Stairs, also known as the “Stairway to Heaven.” The metal staircase in the mountains consists of 3,922 steps and has actually been closed since 1987. Nonetheless, the forbidden path has remained a popular destination for daring hikers.
Though Pua lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, he was in Oahu visiting his grandmother when he decided to take the hike. He’s now been gone for more than 10 years, but ever since the fateful day he vanished in February 2015, there are many questions that have remained unanswered.
Daylenn Pua Wanted To Hike The Infamously Treacherous Haiku Stairs
Wikimedia CommonsThe Haiku Stairs overlook Oahu and contain 3,922 steps.
Daylenn “Moke” Pua was an 18-year-old high school student and Hawaiian resident. He was one of seven children. His grandmother described him as an adventurous boy who loved to sing and dance hula.
In February 2015, Pua was in Oahu visiting his grandma when he decided to try to conquer the infamous Haiku Stairs. When Pua’s grandmother learned of his plans to explore the trail, she warned him against it, recalling to KHON2, “I told my grandson that it’s closed down. They’re not letting anybody climb that mountain. It was on the news and I told him that.”
The Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, are known for their spectacular views of Oahu. The stairs were originally built in 1942 for a U.S. Naval Radio Station during World War II. For decades, they captivated countless explorers thanks to the beautiful views — and the danger.
But by 1987, the stairs were closed to the public due to numerous safety hazards. In the early 2000s, there were talks of reopening the trail, but that never materialized. Still, curious hikers remained attracted to the Stairway to Heaven, and the fact that it was forbidden often made it more intriguing.
FacebookDaylenn Pua was one of many hikers interested in the dangerous Haiku Stairs.
The day before he left for the hike, Daylenn Pua posted to Facebook about his plans, sharing his excitement for the challenging climb the next day.
When someone commented on the Facebook post, pointing out that the trail was closed and he could get a fine, Pua responded, “Yes it’s closed and yes you can get a citation, but the citation isn’t that bad!! But there’s other ways to getting to the stairs without breaking any laws.”
Another commenter mentioned that there had been a landslide near the stairs earlier that month. Pua responded that he’d be taking a different route, away from where the landslide hit, and that he’d be cautious.
This alternate route is likely the back trail many adventurers take when there’s an issue with the main trail. The other route takes the hiker through Moanalua Valley and up the same mountain from another side, which can be an even more dangerous climb than the regular trail to the Haiku Stairs.
On February 26, 2015, Pua made his final public post to his Facebook page, stating, “And the hike begins 🍃👟 #haiku.”
At 6 a.m. that morning, Pua left for the trail. He sent some photos of his journey to friends and family as he hiked along, but the pictures eventually stopped coming. And by the next day, he was reported missing.
The Honolulu Fire Department’s Initial Search Was Unsuccessful
newspapers.com/SFGATEThe hiking route that officials believe Daylenn Pua took on the day he went missing.
The Honolulu Fire Department soon began their official investigation, starting a standard three-day-long extensive search of the trail and surrounding areas in the Koolau mountain range and the Moanalua Valley.
They had firefighters and investigators walking along the trails and searching, as well as a helicopter searching from above. The authorities focused especially closely on the last location where Daylenn Pua’s phone pinged, which was a ridge along the trail. Searchers couldn’t find anything.
Officials next turned their attention to a summit trail that runs the length of the Koolau mountain. Sadly, Pua was still nowhere to be found.
But then, as the planned three-day search was coming to a close, two hikers reported hearing a “cry for help” near Moanalua Valley. With this new development, authorities extended the search.
The ridgeline where the hikers heard the cry for help was about a meter wide and had extreme drop-offs. Needless to say, it was a treacherous spot.
Despite investigators’ efforts, they still couldn’t locate Pua or any clear signs that someone had fallen there recently, and five days after he first went missing, the fire department was forced to end their search. But even so, countless volunteers kept the unofficial search for Pua going.
A Shadowy Figure In One Of Daylenn Pua’s Last Photos — And A Lingering Mystery
CrimeStoppersDaylenn Pua sent a number of photos to family members during his hike, including this one, which was later found to include a mysterious man (in the center).
Volunteers included hikers, family members, photographers, and drone operators. Part of their search included capturing high-resolution images that they could closely examine later for any clues.
But as it turned out, the photo that contained a potential clue was one that Daylenn Pua himself had sent to family members shortly before he vanished.
The photo in question included a mysterious figure in the background, believed to be a man. Most of the figure’s body was obscured by branches and leaves, but a man’s head could be seen above the brush.
Immediately after making the discovery, Pua’s relatives shared the image with the authorities, the press, and the public. They hoped someone would come forward who knew anything or could even identify the man.
However, it’s still unclear who the man was or whether he encountered Pua before the teenager vanished. And while volunteers continued their search for him in the mountains until April, they ultimately found nothing.
Of course, Daylenn Pua’s loved ones have never stopped looking for answers. Oahu Search and Rescue also hasn’t forgotten him, and his case is sometimes even re-investigated during training sessions.
“It’s a very big area up there,” Ethan Pearson-Pomerantz, president of Oahu Search and Rescue, explained to SFGATE. “Who knows where he could have ended up? Everybody has their theories, and the evidence may or may not support some of those… There’s always more places to look, and there’s always room to search the same places over again.”
After reading about the tragic case of Daylenn Pua, learn about Dennis Martin, a six-year-old who vanished in the Smoky Mountains. Then, learn about the mysterious disappearance of college student Brandon Swanson.
