Comment: I certainly raised the discussion as a Manoa Neighborhood Board member.  

1) The $200,000 to dismantle the stairs comes from all Oahu taxpayers. 
2) Trail access in one neighborhood is relevant to trail access everywhere here.

My board was cowardly, however, and bucked.  One board member dishonestly asserted that the stairs are endangering firefighters.  Now, people behaving stupidly on unimproved trails does lead to rescues. But Haiku Stairs had, until 1 recently, no serious accidents for many, many years. Why? Because stairs with handrails are about as safe as hiking in Hawaii gets!

Hawaii's public has historic, legal hiking rights. But we also want people to combat obesity and other sedentary lifestyle effects. Save money and improve quality of life! 

Every other issue to the stairs, like securing access and maintenance, can be resolved. Government must care for the public welfare more than it worries about political influence and lawsuits.