A 23-year-old male resident was rescued from Makaha Ridge this past Saturday after sustaining injuries while hunting, as reported by the Kaua‘i Fire Department. The first responders, alerted shortly before 2 p.m., embarked on a mission to safely retrieve the individual from the challenging terrain where he had fallen ill.
Teams from the Waimea and Līhu‘e fire stations, deployed aboard Air 1, reached the scene, according to Kaua‘i County. Waimea firefighters navigated steep slopes to locate the injured hunter and provide initial aid. They determined that an aerial extraction by Air 1 was the safest and fastest option given his condition.
The man was fitted with an aerial rescue vest and airlifted to the NASA landing zone in Kōke‘e. He was then transferred to American Medical Response personnel and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Operations concluded shortly after 6:05 p.m., with all personnel and equipment accounted for. Officials said the case underscores the risks of outdoor activity in Kaua‘i’s backcountry, but noted that the coordinated response demonstrated the strength of the island’s emergency system.
