Kauai firefighters perform two hike rescues on Sunday

Kauai firefighters performed two rescues on Sunday afternoon. The first rescue occurred around 2 p.m. on the Makaleha Falls Trail in Kapaa. A woman was injured after being struck on the head by a falling rock and had lost consciousness. Firefighters quickly deployed the Rescue 3 team using the Air 1 helicopter. Upon arrival, they found the woman at the base of the falls. She had labored breathing and heavy bleeding from her head. Paramedics airlifted her to a landing zone, where they continued her care before transporting her to Wilcox Medical Center. The second rescue took place shortly after 3:10 p.m. on the Kalalau Trail. A visitor from Utah suffered a leg injury near mile marker 1.5. The same rescue team reached the scene and safely carried the hiker to the helicopter for transport to Princeville Airport. Kauai firefighters have performed multiple rescues recently, especially on trails affected by heavy rains. Kauai Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson urged hikers to exercise caution. He recommended carrying safety gear and being aware of changing weather conditions, as heavy rains can significantly affect trails and increase risks for hikers and rescue teams.