On March 2, 2024, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 12:08 p.m. for an injured hiker on the Koko Head Crater Trail in Hawaii Kai and responded with 6 units staffed with 17 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 12:17 p.m. and ascended the trail on foot to begin the ground search. Additional units secured a landing zone nearby in preparation for a search and rescue operation by air.

It was reported that a 35-year-old female, who had been hiking on the trail for about 20 minutes, suffered an injury and could not continue on her own. Rescuers on foot were able to locate her about 200 feet above the bridge and were at her side at 12:33 p.m. A medical assessment was performed and basic life support treatment was administered. She was then placed into a rescue stretcher and moved to an open area for extraction. Air 1 safely airlifted her to the nearby landing zone where her medical care was transferred to the Emergency Medical Services at 1:04 p.m.

All HFD personnel were accounted for with no injuries.

Hiking Safety Tips:
Assess Your Fitness Level and Hiking Capabilities – Compare your level of fitness, ability, and experience with the trail description. Be practical and realistic. There are a wide variety of trails in Hawai‘i, so pick one that suits your level. Ensure you stay hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion, becoming disoriented, and muscle cramps.