Kauai firefighters and rescue specialists were kept busy Sunday assisting an overdue kayaker, an injured hiker and the driver in a one-car accident.

Fire rescue personnel aboard the Kauai Fire Department’s helicopter located the kayaker, who did not arrive at Polihale Sunday morning. The kayaker had apparently paddled out from Kalalau Valley Saturday, decided to spend the night in Milolii Valley and then continue his journey. 

A few hours later, rescuers went to the aid of an injured hiker on the Nualolo Trail at approximately 12:26 p.m. The hiker, who injured her ankle, was found about 1.5 miles from the trailhead and airlifted to Waimea Canyon Park. From there, medics took the injured hiker to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.

At approximately 1:18 p.m., firefighters from the Kalaheo station responded to a one-car crash in Omao near the Kaumualii Highway and Omao Road junction.

A 67-year-old resident travelling west on Kaumualii Highway reportedly blacked out and then veered left, crashing into a chain-link fence at a private residence.

The female driver sustained non-life threatening injuries and her juvenile passenger was unharmed.

A retired police officer and one of his daughters rendered aid to the victims. Medics took the victims to Wilcox Hospital for treatment.