Daniel earned the trip by winning the First Hawaiian Yes Climb to the Top last April. The competition, which featured the Honolulu Police Department against the Honolulu Fire Department, was part of the Honolulu Triathlon.

He only had to climb 30 stories and 654 steps that day.

At the Empire State Building, he'll have to climb 86 stories and 1,576 steps.

"I predict I'll finish," he said. "My goal is to have fun and represent the State of Hawai'i as well as I can."

Daniel has been training since November. Part of his regimen includes running up the side of Koko Crater.

"It's about 1,100 steps, but those are double steps," he said.

"I felt a lot of pain the first time. It's a long way up there."

Keith Daniel

He also runs up the stairs at First Hawaiian Bank, works out in trials on the North Shore and Windward side.

He wanted to train on Ha'iku Stairs, a 3,922-foot metal stepladder to the top of the Ko'olau Range better known as the Stairway to Heaven, but it has been closed to the public since 1987.

The Empire State Building race is an invitational that is open to 100 to 150 participants.

"I feel quite fortunate to have the opportunity. This was provided to me by John Korff (race organizer) of the Honolulu Triathlon."

Daniel said First Hawaiian is paying for the airfare and the firefighters union is providing four nights of lodging.

"I'm getting an incredible trip out of this," he said. "I want to turn this into something that is more than just me, so I'm raising money for the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai'i."

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