Injured hiker rescued from steep Kukui Trail in Waimea Canyon State Park

A 50-year-old visitor from North Carolina was hiking June 17 on the difficult 2.5-mile Kukui Trail that begins just off Highway 550 in Waimea Canyon State Park and leads to the floor of Waimea Canyon in northwest Kaua‘i when they became injured on the steep 2,000-foot decline and had to be rescued by Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel.

First responders received a report of a distressed hiker shortly before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Personnel with Waimea Fire Station and Līhu‘e Fire Station aboard Air 1 responded. Upon their arrival, they discovered the hiker about 1 mile into the trail with an apparent ankle injury.

Initial first aid was administered at the scene.

The hiker was then short hauled using an air rescue vest device — a harness used for the secure lifting of a person in situations where a stretcher isn’t suitable during helicopter extractions — to the Kukui Trail landing zone.

An American Medical Response crew took over medical care for the North Carolina visitor upon landing.

The scene was cleared shortly before 12:40 p.m.