California visitor rescued by air after suffering leg injury on Kukui Trail

Kaua‘i firefighters airlifted a 46-year-old visitor from California on Sunday after he was unable to hike out of the Kukui Trail due to “alleged leg injuries,” according to a news release from the Kauaʻi Fire Department.

On Dec. 7, a Līhu‘e Fire Station rescue crew aboard the county’s Air 1 helicopter responded just after 3:50 p.m. and located the man about 1.2 miles down the trail, which is on the west side of the Waimea Canyon.

Firefighters used an aerial rescue vest to extract the injured man and flew him to the landing zone at Kōke‘e. Once on the ground, the hiker was evaluated by Waimea fire personnel and American Medical Response medics but declined further treatment and was released.

The rescue operation concluded shortly after 6:05 p.m., according to the Kaua‘i Fire Department.