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15 hikers airlifted out of Waimanu Valley on Big Isle

A group of 15 hikers had to be airlifted out of Waimanu Valley on Hawaii island after they were stranded due to a rain-swollen stream.

On Sunday, a separate group of five people hiked out of the valley to an area with mobile phone coverage to call 911 for the group of stranded hikers, according to Hawaii County Fire Department Capt. Peter Andrade. The stranded hikers could not cross Waimanu Stream following heavy rains.

A company of firefighters subsequently set up a landing zone near Waipio Valley Lookout and a rescue chopper was sent to extract all 15 hikers from the north side of the Waimanu Valley floor, Andrade said. The hikers were flown out and were uninjured.

The group of five hikers that had made the call of 911 later hiked out of the valley at 8:30 p.m.

7 responses to “15 hikers airlifted out of Waimanu Valley on Big Isle”

  1. justmyview371 says:

    Don’t these m*o*ro*s check on weather conditions before they go hiking and stay away from crossing streams that may be get rain swollen? Why don’t they get charged for these rescues?

  2. livinginhawaii says:

    They should have been prepared to spend the night. Talking about being reckless and irresponsible by putting rescue workers at risk. They should be named and shamed.

  3. wrightj says:

    On the wrong side of the stream, as usual.

  4. reader503 says:

    Thankfully sometime during the ordeal, someone heeded the warning “don’t drown turn around” instead of trying to cross the swollen stream.

  5. SteveToo says:

    To wossy to spend the night and walk out.

  6. cojef says:

    One should prepare for contingencies when embarking on a hiking trip. The ill prepared always call for help when in a jam. Their future can be predicted. Always not prepared for lay-offs,or other exigencies. Cry babies!

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