Rescue teams from the Kaua‘i Fire Department were called into action after a 74-year-old hiker suffered an injury at Uluwehi Falls, known to many as Secret Falls, this past Tuesday. According to the Kaua‘i Fire Department press release by the county, the distressed hiker was reported shortly after 4:15 p.m.
Upon receiving the distress call, personnel from the Kapa‘a and Kaiākea fire stations, along with Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, hurried to the scene. The operations were in coordination with American Medical Response (AMR). Flying over the dense terrain that engulfs the path to Uluwehi Falls, the hiker was located with an apparent injury. Shortly hauled by Air 1, they transferred the individual near the 'Ōpaeka‘a Falls Lookout.
Once on the ground, the injured hiker was handled by awaiting firefighters who then passed on their care to the AMR personnel. Ensuring the hiker's immediate medical needs were attended to, AMR provided transport to Wilcox Medical Center for further treatment.
Tackling the remote and often treacherous terrain of Kaua‘i’s hiking trails, the quick and efficient response of rescue teams is vital. Cleared shortly after 5:35 p.m., the site, after the hiker's successful evacuation reflects the ongoing commitment of the island's emergency services to the safety of both residents and visitors.
