Hiker rescued from Kauai trail

A visitor from Ontario was airlifted from the Kalalau Trail on Saturday after she fell and hurt her ankle.

The incident happened near mile marker 6 at 12:44 p.m., Kauai County said by email.

A rescue crew aboard the Air 1 helicopter flew the woman, 49, to Princeville Airport, where she took a taxi to Wilcox Hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.

The 11-mile trail leads from Kee Beach in Haena through five valleys and across several streams to Kalalau Beach along the rugged Na Pali Coast.

Volunteers clean Tree Tunnel

Dozens of volunteers, along with Kauai County work crews, cleaned up the so-called Tree Tunnel along Maluhia Road on Saturday.

The county closed the road to vehicular traffic during the annual cleanup, which marks the start of the Koloa Plantation Days celebration.

The trees were planted by plantation owner William McBryde more than 100 years ago.

“This place is historic,” volunteer Julie Souza of Koloa told the Garden Island.

Volunteers and county public works personnel with trucks and heavy equipment cleared out accumulated debris and cut overgrowth. Volunteers from South Shore resorts contributed refreshments.

Koloa Plantation Days next hosts the 17th annual Plantation Days Rodeo starting at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the CJM Country Stables in Poipu. It will be followed by the Bull Bash, the fifth annual Music in the Country with Food Truck Frenzy, and barrel racing starting at 5 p.m.

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Star-Advertiser staff