Two hikers suffer injuries while on Kaua‘i trails over the weekend

Two hikers were rescued over the weekend in two separate incidents after suffering injuries while on Kaua‘i’s trails.

Kaua‘i Fire personnel responded to the first rescue at 2 p.m. on the Makaleha Falls Trail in Kapa‘a where preliminary reports indicated the hiker was hit by a falling rock and became unconscious, according to a county press release this morning.

Personnel with Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 responded to the scene while firefighters with the Kaiākea Fire Station set up a landing zone near the trailhead.

First responders arrived at the scene and discovered the injured hiker at the base of the falls. The hiker was unconscious, with labored breathing and heavy bleeding from an apparent head wound.

Rescuers loaded the hiker into a stokes litter and transported her to a landing zone at the water tank, where firefighters and ambulance personnel with American Medical Response took over patient care.

Ambulance crews continued advanced medical treatment on the hiker as they transferred her to Wilcox Medical Center.

The scene was cleared shortly after 3:30 p.m.

In the second incident, first responders received a report of an injured Utah visitor shortly after 3:10 p.m. on the Kalalau Trail, near mile marker 1.5, unable to continue due to a leg injury.

Personnel with Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 responded to the incident.

First responders arrived on the scene and discovered the injured hiker near the landing zone, where two firefighters carried the patient into the helicopter for safe transport. Air 1 landed at Princeville Airport and transferred the hiker to personnel with the Hanalei Fire Station and later to AMR for medical care.

The scene was cleared shortly after 4:40 p.m.