HA‘ENA — A hiker reported missing on Kalalau Trail around noon Thursday was found safe and well later in the day.
HA‘ENA — A hiker reported missing on Kalalau Trail around noon Thursday was found safe and well later in the day.
The 37-year old visitor from Chile was reported missing by a caller who believed that she had missed her flight, according to the Kaua‘i Police Department.
KPD detectives, Kaua‘i Search and Rescue and Kaua‘i Fire Department were notified and responded, in what became an hours-long search.
KFD dispatched Air 1 to check the Kalalau Trail, where she was believed to be hiking.
The woman was spotted by Air 1 personnel around mile marker five along with a group of other hikers at about 4:30 p.m.
Her identity was confirmed and she stated that she was tired but did not need to be airlifted out.
The woman walked the rest of the way out and was met by detectives at the Kalalau trailhead who verified again that she was safe.
The successful discovery of the Chilean woman is a bright spot in a week that has seen the disappearance of two individuals on island.
Last week, 25-year old New Jersey visitor Matthew Preziose was swept out to sea at Lumaha‘i Beach, while on Monday night 44-year-old Kilauea resident Huy Nguyen disappeared from Rock Quarry (Kahili) Beach.
Extensive search and rescue missions for both individuals were suspended later in the week after yielding no signs of the missing men.
