A photo sent by a missing teenager during a hike could hold clues to his mysterious disappearance.
On February 27, 2015, 18-year-old Daylenn Pua embarked on a hike up Hawaii’s famous Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the “stairway to heaven.” He had been visiting his grandmother when he decided to explore the popular yet risky trail, but he has not been seen since that day.
The Haʻikū Stairs, originally constructed during World War II, provided access to a former communication station on O’ahu Island. The trail consists of 3,922 steps, and Daylenn sent pictures to his grandmother throughout his hike. Despite her warning against the hike, he proceeded, but then the pictures stopped, and he vanished.
Extensive search operations were carried out in an effort to locate the teenager or recover his body, but no trace of him has been found. Daylenn has now been missing for over nine years.
One of the last photos he sent raised particular concern, as it featured a mysterious figure crouching in the background. Dubbed the “shadow man,” the figure appears to be a person, but its identity remains unknown. If it was indeed a person, they could have been the last to see Daylenn alive. However, the figure may be unrelated to his disappearance, and Daylenn may have fallen victim to the inherent dangers of hiking alone on such a perilous trail.
In 2021, authorities decided to dismantle the Haʻikū Stairs, and work began earlier this year to remove them. It is now illegal to access the area, with any attempts considered trespassing. Though the public was once allowed to climb the stairs, their popularity surged after an appearance on Magnum P.I., leading to overcrowding. This resulted in multiple arrests, with CNN reporting that 14 people were detained for climbing the stairs in recent months.
Due to the stairs’ hazardous condition and difficult location, emergency services have a hard time responding to incidents there. Jason Redulla, chief of Hawaii’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, condemned those attempting the climb, calling it “incredibly disrespectful and self-centred.”
