Famous to infamous? First responders called to Kalalau for 3rd time this month

Kalalau is already famous for its adventurous 11-mile hiking trail, lush tropical valleys, beautiful waterfalls and stunning beaches.

However, the area of Nā Pali Coast along Kaua‘i’s North Shore that is a popular destination seems to have become more infamous during the past 2 months as a place where people — especially visitors to the Garden Isle — have become stranded in distress or because of injury.

First responders were again called to Kalalau — for the third time just this month — at the end of last week because of an injured visitor.

It was also the ninth rescue incident in the area since March 23.

Kaua‘i Fire Department reports that fire department personnel received a report shortly before 9:15 a.m. May 23 about the injured 32-year-old visitor who had been hiking Kalalau Trail.

Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, Hanalei Fire Station firefighters and an American Medical Response ambulance crew responded.

Firefighters located the visitor — who had suffered an apparent leg injury — at Kalalau Beach.

Rescuers loaded the man into Air 1 and transported him to Princeville Airport, where Engine 1 and Truck 1 assisted with transferring him to awaiting American Medical Response medics.

The scene was cleared at approximately 11:35 a.m.

First responders were last called to the Kalalau area the morning of May 13 to rescue a 25-year-old visitor who was hiking the trail and began suffering severe stomach issues.

The hiker was flown by rescue helicopter from Kalalau Beach — which is located at the end of the trail — to Waimea Athletic Field and then transported to Waimea Fire Station for treatment.

Personnel with Līhu‘e Fire Station and Air 1 earlier the same week on May 11 rescued an injured 30-year-old visitor who was hiking on the trail.

The other incidents first responders have responded to since March 23 in the Kalalau area were:

• A South Carolina visitor was rescued April 18 after becoming distressed while hiking on the trail amid inclement weather, particularly flooding.
• A Tennessee visitor was assisted April 8 after showing signs of apparent heat exhaustion while hiking on the trail.
• A Utah visitor suffering from a leg injury was rescued the afternoon of March 23 from about 1.5 miles into the trail.
• An Ohio visitor was rescued March 27 from near Hanakāpī‘ai Beach after suffering a shoulder injury while on the trail.
• Dozens of hikers were stranded on the trail overnight April 3 after heavy rains caused Hanakāpī‘ai Stream to become too dangerous to cross. With no one needing medical attention, first responders advised the about 50 hikers to shelter in place to wait for water levels to recede and then hike out the next morning.
• Three visitors — one from Germany, another from California and one from Canada —  were rescued April 4 amid inclement weather after suffering injuries that were not life-threatening. The trail was also closed at the time, following the stranding of about 50 hikers the night before.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.