Injured 38-year-old Kansas kayaker rescued from Kalalau Beach

An injured 38-year-old woman from Kansas was rescued Friday (July 4) from renowned — and remote — Kalalau Beach at the end of the 11-mile Kalalau Trail on Nā Pali Coast along Kaua‘i’s northwest shore.

Kaua‘i Fire Department reports that crews with Hanalei Fire Station, Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 and American Medical Response responded to the incident that involved the island visitor, who had been kayaking.

Fire Department personnel were dispatched at about 10:50 a.m. on 4th of July to Kalalau Beach to the report of the injured kayaker. Firefighters arrived just after noon to find the woman sitting in a kayak on the beach and under the shade of trees, being assisted by bystanders.

Responding personnel assessed the injury and splinted the kayaker’s ankle.

Bystanders helped carry the Kansas woman from the kayak to the helicopter landing zone.

She was loaded into Air 1 and transported to Princeville Airport, where she was transferred to awaiting emergency personnel for further care.

The scene was cleared by 12:45 p.m.