A late afternoon paddle on the Wailua River turned into a full-scale rescue Thursday, as Kaua‘i Fire Department crews pulled 19 distressed kayakers to safety near the Uluwehi Trail after heavy rain rapidly swelled the river. County officials said the group, visitors from Nevada that included 14 minors, was ferried to shore and taken to Wailua State Park. The scene was cleared shortly after 5:20 p.m., and no injuries were reported.
According to a County of Kaua‘i update, Kapa‘a Fire Station Rescue 3, a Kaua‘i Fire Department high-water vehicle and the on-duty battalion chief responded shortly after 2:15 p.m. Crews used kayaks to shuttle the visitors across a swollen, fast-moving channel to Kamokila Village, where the high-water unit then transported them to Wailua State Park. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and American Medical Response supported the operation, the county noted.
Crews Race Rising Water
The county account says responders worked steadily to ferry people across the river as conditions deteriorated, wrapping up the evacuation in the late afternoon. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami “thanked Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel and warned that entering the water during severe weather places lives at risk,” County of Kaua‘i reported. Officials added that most of the group declined additional medical transport once they were back on dry land.
Island Under Flood Watch
According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, a Flood Watch was in effect across the main Hawaiian Islands through Sunday afternoon as a developing kona low funneled abundant moisture northward. The advisory warned that flash flooding could swell streams, close roads and trigger landslides on steep terrain. Federal forecasters also stressed that even a few inches of moving water can be dangerous and urged the public to review NWS flood safety guidance.
Know Before You Go
Uluwehi Falls, often called Secret Falls, is typically accessed by paddling up the Wailua River and then hiking a short jungle trail, a combo that makes it both popular and highly sensitive to weather. That same route can expose paddlers to fast-rising flows during heavy rain, and local visitor guides advise watching conditions closely before heading out. The Secret Falls visitor guide offers route details and safety tips for would-be visitors.
In the wake of Thursday’s close call, officials again thanked first responders for the coordinated effort and urged anyone planning river trips to track weather updates and obey closures while the Flood Watch remains active. County officials and the National Weather Service are both urging residents and visitors to steer clear of rivers and low-water crossings during severe weather.
