Strong winds on Christmas Day left three women stranded in the mountains in Makaha, where they stayed overnight until firefighters rescued them this morning.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. James Todd said the women started hiking the Puu Keaau Trail about 10 a.m. Friday and called for help about 5 p.m. when they couldn’t safely climb up or down in a dangerous area.

Firefighters couldn’t hike to the women before nightfall because they were too far into the trail and flew a helicopter to the area. The pilot, however, couldn’t get close enough to pick up the women because of the gusty winds and treacherous terrain.

Firefighters told the women, one in her 20s, another in her 30s, and the third in her 60s, to stay in place, huddle together, and wait for firefighters to return in the morning.

About 5:30 a.m., firefighters resumed their rescue mission and flew the women off the mountain, one by one, by 8:57 a.m., Todd said. No one was hurt.

Todd urged residents and visitors to pay attention to weather warnings and to be aware of their limitations before hiking.