A hiker has revealed he was left traumatised after hearing a chilling cry for help at the exact moment a young man vanished on a notorious trail in Hawaii.
The Disappearance of Daylenn Pua
In 2015, 18-year-old Daylenn Pua went missing while hiking the Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the “stairway to heaven.” He was last seen on 27 February and never returned, according to Hawaii’s News Now. The trail, which consists of 3,922 steps carved across a mountain range on O'ahu island, has since been closed permanently following the unsettling case.
Daylenn had been sending his grandmother photos of the scenic spots along his journey. One of the last images he sent appears to show a man crouched in a bush behind him, a figure that has since been dubbed the “shadow man.” Speculation grew that this man might have been involved in the teenager’s disappearance.
The Terrifying Scream
Rescuers focused on a narrow ridge after a group of hikers claimed to have heard a cry for help at the same time Daylenn went missing. One of those hikers, using the Reddit handle Dclandry, wrote about the experience: “I could never explain to you the feeling I felt when you hear a cry like that. The hiker did not trust pass and go up the stairs. By the looks of the photographs, he didn't ever make it to the stairs.”
He continued: “We started the hike on a trail about 20 feet from the Kulana'ahane trail. We had hiked about three hours up. We were yelling to each other to make sure the others were okay because we were so far apart. The wind died down for just a half a second and we hear a scream 'help me!'”
The group was so shaken that they called 911. When rescue teams arrived, they allegedly heard more screams, including “I'm down here!” However, the source of the noise could not be pinpointed due to strong winds and rolling clouds.
Dclandry added: “My friend and I that heard the last cry, are heading up the ridge tomorrow the same way that we went Monday. It's hard to explain where the location was that we heard it, as well as where the voice was coming from.”
Legacy of the Haʻikū Stairs
The Haʻikū Stairs were originally built during World War II as an access route to US Navy communication facilities. Despite its breathtaking views, the trail was closed in 2024 due to safety concerns and the unresolved disappearance of Daylenn Pua. The case remains open, and the “shadow man” continues to be a subject of intrigue and speculation.
