Hiker killed by fall from trail | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Jamm Aquino / jaquino@staradvertiser.com
The companions of a hiker who died Sunday afternoon sat while being accompanied by Navy liaisons at Pali Lookout in Nuuanu. The 21-year-old man fell about 50 feet while hiking on the Pali Notches trail.

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JAMM AQUINO
A City and County medical examiner, middle, talks to a companion of a hiker who fell to his death as a Honolulu Police officer stands by the man's body at left at Pali Lookout on Sunday, March 29, 2015 in Honolulu. The man fell about 50 feet while hiking at Pali Notches, and Honolulu Fire had to use a helicopter to transport the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A 21-year-old man died Sunday after falling approximately 50 feet off the Pali Notches trail in Nuuanu.

The man was hiking with a group of four when he fell at about 3:45 p.m.

Honolulu firefighters airlifted the man to a secured landing spot at about 5:30 p.m., according to Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Kendall Ching.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, Ching said.

Firefighters remained at the site until the remaining hikers made it off the trail.

Wet and cloudy weather complicated the rescue mission.

The presence of sailors in uniform at the scene suggested that one or more hikers was in the Navy.

The Pali Notches trail leads to the summit of Konahuanui, at 3,150 feet the highest point in the Koolau Mountains. It is notoriously dangerous, even with dry, sunny conditions.

» On Aug. 16 a 17-year-old girl was injured after she fell while hiking along the Pali Notches ridge.

» On Oct. 27, 2013, four days after he was last seen leaving for a solo hike up the trail, 26-year-old Jan Vankat was found wedged against a tree some 100 yards below the trail.

Vankat suffered serious injuries from the fall and was transported to a hospital. Rescuers were able to use Vankat’s cellphone signal to locate him.

» In September 2012 a 30-year-old Mililani woman was injured when she fell 100 yards off the trail.