Fire rescue personnel rescued a lost, uninjured hiker today from the Mount Kaala Trail in Waianae.
The Honolulu Fire Department dispatched five units with 14 personnel after receiving a 911 call at 1:45 p.m. for an injured hiker on the Mount Kaala trail.
The hiker, a man in his 20s, had been hiking for more than six hours when he became lost and was unable to return to the trailhead on his own, HFD said in a news release.
The first unit arrived at 1:57 p.m. and secured a landing zone for air operations.
Air 1 located the hiker, and inserted rescue personnel nearby. They were at the hiker’s side at 2:36 p.m., assessed him medically and confirmed he was not injured.
He was escorted to an extrication point, where he was hoisted safely aboard Air 1.
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He was taken to the nearby landing zone, where he declined medical treatment.
AllTrails describes the Kaala trail as “a grueling 6.8-mile out-and-back hike with a 3,400-foot elevation gain leading to the island’s highest peak (4,025 feet).
HFD urges hikers to assess their fitness level and hiking capabilities before attempting a trail, and to pick one that suits them.
“Be practical and realistic,” HFD says.
HFD also reminds hikers to stay hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion, muscle cramps and becoming disoriented.