NORTH SHORE — A helicopter airlifted 20 hikers to safety Tuesday after they had been stranded at Hanakapia’i Stream for two days. The hikers, including visitors, were trapped when heavy rains flooded the stream making it impassable. During yesterday’s rescue,
NORTH SHORE — A helicopter airlifted 20 hikers to safety Tuesday after they
had been stranded at Hanakapia’i Stream for two days.
The hikers,
including visitors, were trapped when heavy rains flooded the stream making it
impassable.
During yesterday’s rescue, the hikers were taken to a
helicopter landing pad near the stream mouth and then transported to another
landing pad near Ke’e Beach.
According to unconfirmed reports, the hikers
were rescued by Air-1 Inter-Island Helicopter.
Airlifting the hikers out
was ruled out earlier yesterday because of bad weather. There was no word on
whether any of the hikers needed medical attention.
Earlier Tuesday
morning, the hikers had intended to wait for the streamwaters to subside
before attempting to cross the rain-bloated stream.
Kaua’i Fire Department
Capt. Kaleo Christian and a four-member search and rescue team hiked to
Hanakapi’a Beach to offer their help to the hikers.
Rescuers ruled out
taking the hikers out by boat because of rough water conditions, Christian
said.
Authorities became aware of the plight of the hikers after an O’ahu
resident called the Kaua’i police on Monday to say that two members of her
family, Jack and Daniel Lauer, had not returned from their Na Pali Coast trip,
Christian said.
He said some of the hikers spent the night at the beach and
stayed in tents to protect themselves against the elements.
The beach is
located about two miles west of Ke’e Beach.
