LIHU‘E — It took less much less than a week — actually two days — from the time Kalalau Trail from Hanakapi‘ai Beach west to Kalalau Beach reopened to hiking and camping, that the first visitor had to be rescued
LIHU‘E — It took less much less than a week — actually two days — from the time Kalalau Trail from Hanakapi‘ai Beach west to Kalalau Beach reopened to hiking and camping, that the first visitor had to be rescued after a medical emergency.
A 52-year-old visitor from Germany was airlifted from Hanakoa Valley the afternoon of Nov. 3, a county press release states. The trail reopened to the public Nov. 1 after being closed for nearly two months for rockfall-mitigation and other maintenance and enforcement work.
The man had been hiking along the Kalalau Trail at around 1 p.m. when he began feeling ill due to a heart condition.
Another hiker in the area came upon him and then walked towards the trail head until he was able to use his cell phone to call 911.
Kaua‘i Fire Department Lihu‘e rescue specialists and Inter-Island Helicopters’ Air 1 responded to the call and flew to Hanakoa Valley to pick up the visitor.
From there, they transported him to Princeville Airport, where American Medical Response ambulance professionals and KFD firefighters from the Princeville station were waiting.
After undergoing a medical evaluation, the visitor, who was not identified, was released at Princeville Airport.
