On July 2, 2023, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 3:35 p.m.
for an injured paraglider on the mountain slope above the Makapuu Beach Park in
Waimanalo and responded with 4 units staffed with 12 personnel. The first unit arrived
at 3:47 p.m. to secure a landing zone near the Makapuu Beach Park so personnel could
prepare for a search and rescue operation by air.

It was reported that a 25-year-old male was paragliding in the airspace and suffered an
injury after contacting the mountainside and could not continue on his own.
Rescuers were able to plot his geolocation with a high-level of confidence and were
able to make visual contact with the injured paraglider. Despite windy conditions, Air 1
was able to insert a rescuer onto the steep mountain slope where he was able to
traverse the rough-terrain to arrive at the paraglider’s side. After performing a medical assessment
and providing basic life support treatment, the paraglider was packaged and safely airlifted to the
landing zone where medical care was transferred to the Emergency Medical
Services unit at 4:28 p.m.

All HFD personnel were accounted for with no reports of injuries.