Hikers lost or in trouble keep fire rescue crews hopping
Honolulu Fire Department rescue personnel fanned out across the island to assist lost and injured hikers on a busy Sunday.
The first call of the day came at 12:39 a.m. when concerned family members called HFD to report a man who had not returned after going for a hike in the Sunset area. Firefighters located the uninjured man and escorted him off of the trail at 1:30 a.m.
Shortly before 1 p.m., HFD personnel assisted a man in his 20s who was injured in a fall near the waterfall on the Kaau Crater Trail in Palolo. Firefighters placed the man on a stretcher and airlifted him to a designated landing area, where he was transferred to the care of waiting paramedics at 2:19 p.m.
Firefighters returned to the trail at 5:44 p.m. to help three male hikers who had gotten lost. The three were located uninjured and were escorted off of the trail.
Just before 6 p.m., firefighters assisted a family of four that had gotten lost while hiking in Waimanalo. The hikers — two adults and two teenagers — were found uninjured and airlifted to safety by 8:30 p.m.
Firefighters were involved in another rescue of hikers in distress in Manoa at 7:17 p.m. Details of that rescue are not yet available.
In light of the day’s rescues, HFD spokesman Capt. Richard Todd urged hikers to be sure to start early enough to ensure a safe return and to manage their time conservatively.