LIHUE — In a recent online poll question, The Garden Island asked readers, “Who should pay the cost of rescue operations for people who are hurt or stranded on the Kalalau Trail?” Sixty percent voted for the hikers because they
LIHUE — In a recent online poll question, The Garden Island asked readers, “Who should pay the cost of rescue operations for people who are hurt or stranded on the Kalalau Trail?”
Sixty percent voted for the hikers because they were being careless or not paying attention, while 35 percent said the state because it manages the trail.
Only 5 percent felt the county — which already covers the cost — should continue to do so as a courtesy to island visitors.
Earlier this month, 121 hikers had to be rescued from Hanakapiai after heavy rain left them stranded on the stream’s far bank. The county called it the largest rescue operation in recent memory.
The two-day rescue effort cost $3,560.68.
Had the majority of voters had their way, the cost would have been divvied out amongst those stranded, at a cost of $29.42 per hiker.
Following the incident, The Garden Island submitted a government records request for all costs related to the rescue operation, including operating county helicopter Air 1 and regular and overtime pay for all rescue personnel.
“We included overtime costs only,” county spokeswoman Sarah Blane wrote with the county’s response. “We would have paid for the on-duty hours regardless, so it isn’t a cost related to the rescue.”
The total amount included $2,175.81 in overtime pay for Kauai fire fighters and $278.46 for police officers.
The fuel to keep the helicopter in the air, however, was tagged at $1,106.41.
“Costs for pilot time and maintenance of Air 1 is part of the county’s contract with Airborne Aviation, so this is also not a cost to the rescue,” she wrote.
During fiscal year 2013-14, the county spent $378,000 on its helicopter pilot contract, $100,000 on maintenance for the aircraft and $209,893 on its lease.
