Searching for the stairway to heaven: information seeking about an illegal hiking trail in Hawai`i

ABSTRACT

Outdoor enthusiasts are increasingly using the Internet to discover ‘hidden gem’ activities to undertake while on vacation. Increased foot traffic in off-limit areas and an uptick in the number of distress calls made by injured tourists have led journalists and local authorities to posit that images and videos posted on social media may entice people to trespass and/or undertake physical activities that are more dangerous than they appear in photographs. However, little research has actually examined if such information plays a role in the decision to undertake risky and/or illegal outdoor activities. To address this gap, this study adopts a case study approach to examine how people use online information sources to decide whether to hike the Ha`ikū Stairs, an extremely popular yet illegal hike located on the island of O`ahu, Hawai`i. Results from thematic analyses of 111 open-ended anonymous survey responses showed that respondents sought online information about legality issues, accessibility and facts about the Ha`ikū Stairs. Interestingly, respondents largely indicated that online information dissuaded them from hiking the Ha`ikū Stairs. Such responses have largely been overlooked in the larger public discourse about the Ha`ikū Stairs. Implications of study findings are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Case study
• Hawai`i
• unsanctioned hikes
• Ha`ikū Stairs
• information seeking
• deviant leisure

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the editorial team and anonymous reviewers for their detailed feedback and suggestions. The authors would also like to thank the reviewers at the International Communication Association for their feedback on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Finally, the authors would like to express their gratitude to the participants who shared their thoughts and experiences, making this research possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kelly Bergstrom

Kelly Bergstrom is an assistant professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s School of Communications. Her research examines drop out and disengagement from digital cultures.

Rachel Neo

Rachel Neo is an assistant professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s School of Communications. Her research interests lie in the areas of social media, political communication, and public opinion.