Rescue specialists and fire fighters were called to assist visitors in two separate incidents last week, a county news release states. Two off-duty fire fighters rode on Jet Ski-1 to Hanakapi‘ai Beach at around 7 a.m., and then searched the
Rescue specialists and fire fighters were called to assist visitors in two separate incidents last week, a county news release states.
Two off-duty fire fighters rode on Jet Ski-1 to Hanakapi‘ai Beach at around 7 a.m., and then searched the valley for an overdue hiker who was reported missing in Hanakapi‘ai by his wife at around 10:30 p.m.
Unable to locate the New Hampshire man, the fire fighters returned to Ke‘e Beach and asked his wife to let Police Dispatch know if she receives new information on his whereabouts.
At around noon, hikers coming out of the valley informed the New Hampshire woman, who was waiting at the trailhead, that her husband was waiting at the landing pad in Hanakoa Valley. Apparently, he was dehydrated and was unable to walk out.
The wife then called Police Dispatch and notified them about her husband’s location.
A tour helicopter pilot spotted the man and confirmed his location.
Air-1 and a rescue specialist from the Lihu‘e fire station flew in to Hanakoa Valley at around 1:30 p.m. to rescue the man.
He was then brought to Princeville Airport and released to his wife.
(See A4 for a letter from the New Hampshire man.)
The other incident occurred at Uluwehi Falls in Wailua at around 11:40 a.m.
A tour guide with a kayak company contacted Police Dispatch and reported that a member of his tour, a 17-year-old male from Chicago, had slipped and fell and hurt his knee, and needed assistance.
Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel along with rescue specialists and fire fighters from the Kapa‘a station responded to the call. They piloted boats up to the falls and brought the young man to the boat launch at the Wailua Marina, where awaiting medics then took him to Wilcox Hospital for treatment.
