72
A woman in her early 20s died this morning after falling from a ledge at Kaau Crater Trail above Palolo Valley, according to city Emergency Medical Services personnel.
The woman fell about 30 to 35 feet into a waterfall pool, according to EMS.
Capt. Carlton Yamada, a spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said the woman was with two other hikers above the first waterfall on the trail.
“Apparently she was trying to get a picture looking down and basically lost her footing and ended up injuring herself and landing in the pool,” Yamada said by phone. “When her friends went down to her side, they found her unconcious and started bystander CPR with the assistance of two other hikers on the trail.”
The department sent two crews to the scene, one by helicopter and one on foot. The helicopter got there first, immobilized the woman’s spine, loaded her onto a stretcher and airlifted her to Palolo District Park, arriving about noon, Yamada said.
He said she sustained mostly head injuries.
The second fire crew continued to the waterfall and escorted the woman’s companions, a man and woman in their 20s, off the trail, which was muddy and slippery, he said.
EMS said it received a call after 10 a.m.
