Exhausted hikers flown out of Kuliouou Valley

Firefighters rescued two women who were stranded Tuesday in the mountains overlooking Haha­ione Valley in East Oahu.

The women, both 20, reached a point where they couldn’t go forward or retreat while hiking the Kuli­ouou Valley Trail and called firefighters for help at about 2:50 p.m., said Hono­­lulu Fire Department Capt. David Jen­kins.

Firefighters landed a helicopter on the ridgeline and picked up both women, taking them to safety at about 3:30 p.m., Jen­kins said.

The exhausted women, who were ill-prepared for the hike, had trekked three hours without any water to the point where they became stuck, Jen­kins said. One of the women, however, was carrying a hula hoop.

Jenkins said the women were in an area where firefighters could land and pluck them off the ridgeline.

Jenkins urged hikers to prepare for hikes by wearing appropriate shoes, packing enough water and researching the trail they plan to hike.

"Don’t go hiking on these mountains on a whim," he said. "Arm yourself with knowledge."